4x4 engages with cup holder use

[swynx]

Family member has a explorer with a 5.0, says when they put a drink in the rear cup holder it engages the auto 4x4.

Any ideas? I’ve not messed with a 5.0 explorer.

 

[adsm08]

Just sell it.

 

[Snoranger]

5.0L Explorers only came in 2wd or AWD... how does it engage 4wd???

 

[Bird76Mojo]

That's the (north American market only) Big Gulp module doing it's job to compensate for the added weight that 64oz soft drinks put on people..


(in all seriousness, I have no idea why it would do that, but I do imagine removing the console will lead to an obvious wiring problem)

 

[fastpakr]

5.0L Explorers only came in 2wd or AWD... how does it engage 4wd???

This. The transfer case doesn't even have any wiring or linkage going to it. It just transfers power to the front end as front and rear driveshaft speeds drift apart.

 

[Dirtman]

This is why I have always argued about cup holders in cars. 70 years ago cars didn't have cup holders and they worked just fine. Now these modern technological disasters add so many cup holders that the vehicle reliability goes out the window. Do you want to drive around with your double whip cinnamon cream latte or do you want your damn car to start every day? I buy cars to get where I need to go, not as beverage transport. And you know what, if i do wanna transport some beverage there's a marvelous invention... ITS CALLED A COOLER! I can use my cooler and suffer zero, literally zero loss in vehicle efficiency or reliability. Try that with a cup holder.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

This is why I have always argued about cup holders in cars. 70 years ago cars didn't have cup holders and they worked just fine. Now these modern technological disasters add so many cup holders that the vehicle reliability goes out the window. Do you want to drive around with your double whip cinnamon cream latte or do you want your damn car to start every day? I buy cars to get where I need to go, not as beverage transport. And you know what, if i do wanna transport some beverage there's a marvelous invention... ITS CALLED A COOLER! I can use my cooler and suffer zero, literally zero loss in vehicle efficiency or reliability. Try that with a cup holder.

Coming from a guy that eats chowder while driving and splashes it in to the vents... ?

 

[Dirtman]

It flew into the vents because I was holding it in my hands and not storing it in a ridiculous, unreliable, and flat out dangerous cup holder! I'd rather have a functional, reliable truck with no cup holders and a slight smell of chowdah than a good smelling truck full of dumb cup holders that make it so unreliable it borders on useless! You want your cup holders fine, but dont expect me to stop and help you when your broke down on the side of the highway... but at least you'll have a cozy spot to rest your cup of Earle grey tea while you wait for a tow truck!

 

[adsm08]

This is why I have always argued about cup holders in cars. 70 years ago cars didn't have cup holders and they worked just fine. Now these modern technological disasters add so many cup holders that the vehicle reliability goes out the window. Do you want to drive around with your double whip cinnamon cream latte or do you want your damn car to start every day? I buy cars to get where I need to go, not as beverage transport. And you know what, if i do wanna transport some beverage there's a marvelous invention... ITS CALLED A COOLER! I can use my cooler and suffer zero, literally zero loss in vehicle efficiency or reliability. Try that with a cup holder.

I agree with all of this.

Just today I had to remove the factory cup holders from an Escape to diagnose a 4x4 issue.

 

[Curious Hound]

I agree with all of this.

Just today I had to remove the factory cup holders from an Escape to diagnose a 4x4 issue.

A lot of times, the problem is the big cup holder / phone holder sitting in the driver seat.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

And the third time I burned my manly bits with coffee is when I installed four cupholder in my ranger.

That issue gets difficult to explain after the second time.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

And the third time I burned my manly bits with coffee is when I installed four cupholder in my ranger.

That issue gets difficult to explain after the second time.

Dont drink and drive!

 

[Snoranger]

I'm still sitting here wondering how a full time AWD system with no electronics, just a chain drive transfer case with a viscous coupler, can engage 4wd...
It can't. It's always in 4wd. The viscous coupler allows the front front and rear driveshafts slip a little. If that's bad, you better have a working parking brake or a flat driveway... if not, it will slowly roll away.

 

[Dirtman]

I'm still sitting here wondering how a full time AWD system with no electronics, just a chain drive transfer case with a viscous coupler, can engage 4wd...
It can't. It's always in 4wd. The viscous coupler allows the front front and rear driveshafts slip a little. If that's bad, you better have a working parking brake or a flat driveway... if not, it will slowly roll away.

Cup holders!!!

 

[Snoranger]

Cup holders!!!

I guess we need more info on said cup holder then...
Are they factory cup holders?
Are they huge add-on cup holders and we're talking about moving enough weight around that it changes the front to rear weight bias, thus making the AWD slip more or less? (Ford was very adamant about tire wear on these AWD systems. They recommended that all the tires be changed at the same time and with the same exact tire. That was even before the roll-over lawsuits.)