2 questions- 00 Explorer
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From: Newport, WA
2 questions- 00 Explorer
1. I want to add an auxillary cigarrete lighter plug that is switched on/off with the key for the Sirius radio but there are no empty spots in the fuseblock that are switched. Would a fusetap in the radio fuse with a 10A inline fuse do the trick?
2. The rig has the full time 4x4- if I were to buy a switch from a rig without the full time 4x4 would that be all that's necessary, or is the T-case or some other part different also? Looking for a few more mpg by not having the full time 4x4.
2. The rig has the full time 4x4- if I were to buy a switch from a rig without the full time 4x4 would that be all that's necessary, or is the T-case or some other part different also? Looking for a few more mpg by not having the full time 4x4.
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From: Davis & Newcastle, CA
I'm not familiar with how the explorer's 4x4 system works, but even if you could disengage the transfer case, you're front hubs would still be locked in and thus all your front drivetrain components woulds still be spinning (axle shafts, differential internals, front driveshaft). Therefore you wouldn't be saving any mileage anyways...
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From: Belle Mead NJ
When I added a peak (has amber parking lights in it) to my truck I used of of them kits that you get from Autozone that you pull the fuse out and plug in a fuse with 2 slots. 1 for the orig circut and 1 with a wire comming out for whatever you want.
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
1) How much power does the Sirus radio need? i doubt it's very much but better to know than guess. The way I'd do this would be to tap into the power wire for the existing lighter, insert a relay, and switch the relay with the radio power lead.
2)You truck is actually all wheel drive, not 4 wheel drive, the difference is in the transfer case. To make the rig truely part time 4wd you would have to change the transfer case and install lockout hubs on the front wheels.. not a small job if it's even possible.
2)You truck is actually all wheel drive, not 4 wheel drive, the difference is in the transfer case. To make the rig truely part time 4wd you would have to change the transfer case and install lockout hubs on the front wheels.. not a small job if it's even possible.
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From: Davis & Newcastle, CA
One more note. You've got the right thinking to install an aux cigarette plug for the Sirius power. I've got Sirius in my truck and I hardwired it to the fuse panel by snipping the cigarette adapter off of the power plug (I've done this in the past without problems). Well after the install my unit would not power on. Took me over an hour of checking all my wiring over and over until I realized that the cigarette plug had a voltage reduction chip inside of it 
I cracked open the plug and hardwired that voltage reduction chip INLINE on my circuit, then rehousing it in the cigarette adapter plug again. Pretty trick job I did if I do say so myself
You can see that wires go in 1 end, and different wires come out the other!
My brother installed an aux plug in his truck like you're doing, that worked out much better 
Moral of the story, CHECK THE PLUG FIRST!
I cracked open the plug and hardwired that voltage reduction chip INLINE on my circuit, then rehousing it in the cigarette adapter plug again. Pretty trick job I did if I do say so myself
You can see that wires go in 1 end, and different wires come out the other!
My brother installed an aux plug in his truck like you're doing, that worked out much better Moral of the story, CHECK THE PLUG FIRST!
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From: Newport, WA
Originally Posted by Conanski
2)You truck is actually all wheel drive, not 4 wheel drive, the difference is in the transfer case. To make the rig truely part time 4wd you would have to change the transfer case and install lockout hubs on the front wheels.. not a small job if it's even possible.
I'll have to research more to see what it would take, if its even possible, to convert the rig (notice I said rig, not truck 
) to a "normal" 4x4.Chris- I kind of like the idea of doing something similar to what you've done, as I've got a power adapter that the screw-on tip is broken. Help me understand a little better what you did though- basically you opened the cigarrette lighter adapter, ran wires from the voltage reduction chip (one hot one ground I assume) out of the plug to the appropriate spots in the cab? Did you do any kind of a fuse inline also?
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From: Davis & Newcastle, CA
Originally Posted by superduty4x4
Chris- I kind of like the idea of doing something similar to what you've done, as I've got a power adapter that the screw-on tip is broken. Help me understand a little better what you did though- basically you opened the cigarrette lighter adapter, ran wires from the voltage reduction chip (one hot one ground I assume) out of the plug to the appropriate spots in the cab? Did you do any kind of a fuse inline also?
Lemme know if that any of that makes sense.
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From: Newport, WA
No worries. So crack the plug open and there are two wires in there to snip and run to the appropriate spots- sounds easy enough to me. One to ground, to to the radio power lead with an inline fuse. Thanks for the help man!
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Newport, WA
Originally Posted by Skandocious
I didn't bother using an inline fuse, seems overkill, but feel free
Good luck brother.
Good luck brother.
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From: Davis & Newcastle, CA
Originally Posted by superduty4x4
Yes, but you said you ran your power wire to the fuse block with a fuse tap, which gives you a fuse to rely on if something should go wrong. If I ran a power wire straight from the back of the radio to the Sirius unit without a fuse in there somewhere I'd be worried about burning up the Sirius player if something weird happened that would have caused a fuse to blow. Is my logic good here or not?
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From: Davis & Newcastle, CA
Originally Posted by superduty4x4
Yeah I suppose you are right
If you're careful then you can crack open the power adapter without breaking it, and it'll snap right back together.Here's some pics of my finished install in my 95 F150:
Now it's gotten moved over and theres a trans temp gauge in its old spot:
Good luck buddy
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From: Newport, WA
I like what you did with the antenna! My F250 has a Lund lighted visor on it, so I ran the antenna wire under the windshield trim, along the inside of the visor, then out the center of the cab up front- looks clean that way. I'm glad I'm not the only one who insists on having the Sirius on the driver's side- a couple people have asked my why I don't put it in the middle of the window- which is mostly due to the fact that I hate having wires laying all over my dash. Plus, I can turn it to whatever station I want and my wife can't change it to something lame
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From: Gilbert
Originally Posted by superduty4x4
I'm glad I'm not the only one who insists on having the Sirius on the driver's side- a couple people have asked my why I don't put it in the middle of the window- which is mostly due to the fact that I hate having wires laying all over my dash. Plus, I can turn it to whatever station I want and my wife can't change it to something lame