explorer?

[treel98]

anyone know what if any year explorer are full time 4x4


friend thinks they are but i dont know

 

[swynx]

All of the v8 explorers are awd I'm pretty sure all the 4.0 versions are part time.

 

[adsm08]

95-end of production had AWD as an option. As a generalization swynx is correct about the split on the engines from 95 to 2001. My BIL has a 2002 V8 with selectable 4x4, and last year I did a torque converter seal on an 08 Mountaineer with a V6 AWD, so there are exceptions to the rule in the later years.

Frankly, the Explorer AWD sucked. It was the worst system Ford tried to use. It wasn't even a true center differential system, it was just a transfer case permanently locked in 4-hi, so if even one of your tires is just a little off from the others it hops and bucks and won't even drive in a straight line and then things blow up. I would not want an AWD Explorer.

 

[ab_slack]

Frankly, the Explorer AWD sucked. It was the worst system Ford tried to use. It wasn't even a true center differential system, it was just a transfer case permanently locked in 4-hi, so if even one of your tires is just a little off from the others it hops and bucks and won't even drive in a straight line and then things blow up. I would not want an AWD Explorer.

With that it should buck around turns even with all tires matched as the rear won't exactly track the front in a turn and net shaft turns will be different. I can't see how they got away with it.

My 02 Explorer with V8 us not AWD. It is labeled 4WD. The 4WD can't be turned completely off. 2WD has auto 4WD. Basically acts like a traction control system and when slip is detected it switches into 4WD. I notice it kicking in mostly during wet weather when accelerating and especially when accelerating while turning (like pulling out from a cross street). Also when in the snow, if I haven't already shifted into 4WD it will kick in regularly. Makes a clunk when it does this.

For similar model years I have only seen the AWD badge on mountaineers

 

[adsm08]

Actually, it can work quite well. It's just VERY picky. I have 4 tires that are spot on on my BII and no working 4x4 indicators. I have forgotten it was in 4-hi and driven to work on dry roads without noticing several times.

There is also a viscous coupler in the AWD t-case, to allow for some slip, but that doesn't make is a center diff. And those couplers like to burn up.

The 4x4-auto is better, but almost as dumb. It's t-case doesn't have a viscous coupler, and if one of the wheel speed sensors dies (happens often when the wheel bearings go, and that happens often as well) it assumes wheel slip and locks in 4x4. I have seen several Explorers towed in over bad wheel speed sensors because they couldn't be driven. The people thought the front end or the trans was about to blow up.