Full time 4X4 '04
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Full time 4X4 '04
Howdy everyone.
My wife and I have a 2004 Explorer with the SOHC 4.0L. Love it!!! My question: Is it full time 4X4? The buttons on the dash for the 4-wheel drive are "Auto 4X4", "4X4 high" and "4X4 Low". I would think that the "Auto" button would be for driving in changing conditions and the car would decide whether or not it needed to be in 4-wheel drive or not.
Thank you for your input.
Matt
My wife and I have a 2004 Explorer with the SOHC 4.0L. Love it!!! My question: Is it full time 4X4? The buttons on the dash for the 4-wheel drive are "Auto 4X4", "4X4 high" and "4X4 Low". I would think that the "Auto" button would be for driving in changing conditions and the car would decide whether or not it needed to be in 4-wheel drive or not.
Thank you for your input.
Matt
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Joined: Oct 2004
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Matt, your are correct. Auto 4 wheel drive is simply 2 wheel drive. When your rear wheels slip then your transfer case in gages your front drive train and then you are in 4 wheel drive. It will switch back to 2 wheel drive. Also if you go off the side of the road, and hit gravel it may switch into 4 wheel drive and you probably will never even know it. The computer are very are pretty sensitive with different road conditions. So, basically auto 4 wheel drive is just 2 wheel drive. Hope that answers your question.
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94EXPLORER LMTED:
Thank you so much for your help. I do have one more question though. Remember the days of the older trucks? When you have them in 4-wheel drive, and you turn hard (more noticeable on dry pavement) you can fell the wheel move in a manner that doesn't seem right (like the u-joint rotating). I can feel this in our Explorer in 2-wheel drive if I stop, crank the wheel and then go again. This is the first 4-wheel drive that I have ever experienced this feeling in the steering out of 4-wheel drive. Is this normal?
Thank you so much for your help. I do have one more question though. Remember the days of the older trucks? When you have them in 4-wheel drive, and you turn hard (more noticeable on dry pavement) you can fell the wheel move in a manner that doesn't seem right (like the u-joint rotating). I can feel this in our Explorer in 2-wheel drive if I stop, crank the wheel and then go again. This is the first 4-wheel drive that I have ever experienced this feeling in the steering out of 4-wheel drive. Is this normal?
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: UT
I have heard of cases where the control trac computer erroneously engages the front end. I don't think it should do that in 4Auto, but I really don't know, so I've never dealt with a control trac Explorer. Anybody out there who's dealt with this care to comment?
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It seems that the Explorer is always in "4X4 auto" mode, meaning that if the rear tires lose traction, the front end will engage. That's what it said in the manual anyway. You can select to have the 4-wheel drive completely engaged if you choose to with the 4-high and 4-low buttons. Hmm, who'd of thunk that you'd find usable info in the user manual! 
Thanks again guys.
Thanks again guys.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: VA
I am pretty sure that your problem is a sensor that has something to do with the ABS. I think the sensor is in the rear of the vehicle. I have the exact same problem. My new 2004 Explorer is going in next Tuesday for that sensor, and the recalled transmission shift selinoid. Good luck.
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: 3rd Rock
Originally Posted by captchad1
I am pretty sure that your problem is a sensor that has something to do with the ABS. I think the sensor is in the rear of the vehicle. I have the exact same problem. My new 2004 Explorer is going in next Tuesday for that sensor, and the recalled transmission shift selinoid. Good luck.
Enjoy FTE
