Our trip to the Michigan Assembly Plant 10/22/18

[Ranger850]

So, if you DON'T engage the locker manually with the button, does it stay open if a wheel spins or will it lock automatically when wheel slip is detected.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Only one of those switches is for the locker. The rest are tow /haul mode, traction control, disable auto stop /start, and (I think) fog lights.

One would think an e locker would play a role in tow mode and traction control... but I don't know for sure. My guess it that it does.

I miss my engineering job at times like these... years ago I would have had access to technical specs that would solve the mysteries we are discussing.

 

[Uncle Gump]

So, if you DON'T engage the locker manually with the button, does it stay open if a wheel spins or will it lock automatically when wheel slip is detected.

The information I looked at yesterday seemed to indicate that there was some automatic functionality. Meaning that the left and right wheel speed was monitored and would engage the locker at some threshold of difference. What was unclear was if the switch had to be ON or if it was truly automatic despite switch position.

 

[Ranger850]

The information I looked at yesterday seemed to indicate that there was some automatic functionality. Meaning that the left and right wheel speed was monitored and would engage the locker at some threshold of difference. What was unclear was if the switch had to be ON or if it was truly automatic despite switch position.

 

[Uncle Gump]

fastpakr... What system the "disable auto start/stop" switch is tied to? I'm getting older and forget stuff and I've been away from the daily automotive grind for to long. What am I missing?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

fastpakr... What system the "disable auto start/stop" switch is tied to? I'm getting older and forget stuff and I've been away from the daily automotive grind for to long. What am I missing?

My guess is the auto engine stop at intersections/stoplights.

 

[Uncle Gump]

My guess is the auto engine stop at intersections/stoplights.

Good lord... of course that's what it's for. Did I mention I'm getting old.

I use to think 3 or 4 years before I officially retire... I would buy one new truck and take that one to the grave. I'm just not sure anymore. To much technology for a guy that cut his teeth on carbs and pointed ignitions. For the price of new trucks today... leaves a bunch of budget to just build a glass bodied 70's bronco with some modern twists... then drive that one off to the final sunset.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Yep, I can build something extraordinary for the price of a new truck. But I enjoy building stuff. I also grew up in the era of carbs and points. I graduated just as computers were coming into schools. Ive started learning efi since I started playing with Rangers.

 

[bobbywalter]

So, just looking at the switch array... There isn't just an ON/OFF switch but rather mode switches. I'll bet each mode has its own algorithm(s) to determine when it engages and when it disengages. While I'm sure there is a MPH threshold that overrides this system... 5 MPH seems low and 25 MPH seems more realistic. I still think that once this system is locked and under power/load it won't unlock until a software algorithm says it's safe to do so. Anything less seems detrimental to the locker/differential to me.

Without a pile of technical/software specifications in front of me that's all I got... and it is all a guess.

I do think that 90% of the buyers could benefit from this system... there is the 10% that might be better off looking to the aftermarket for an option that will better meet their needs.

i disagree about the 90 percent. more like 75 percent if the product is explained...what will clarify it is the actual selection...if it disappears after a season then it was indeed 95-99 percent un-needed.

The information I looked at yesterday seemed to indicate that there was some automatic functionality. Meaning that the left and right wheel speed was monitored and would engage the locker at some threshold of difference. What was unclear was if the switch had to be ON or if it was truly automatic despite switch position.

what did you look at?

the auto traction functions are specifically by torque manipulation and brake bias via wheel speed...it works incredibly well..

i have been doing versions of this manually for nearly 30 years...started out with locking out rabs for burnouts....

eventually we went with manual manipulation with the simpler kelsey systems.

i had to because with 300 hp and large 35 in tires, destroying a dana 35 is easy to do with a full time locker or spool. stopping the low traction wheel out front manually "two footing" proved a good way to go and is extremely cheap to do, especially with a 4 wheel abs truck. it is very very crude and potentially dangerous depending on how it is executed


in the modern sphere...with mandated asc/traction control the best solution for positive tire lifted traction is a spool.

it is why i use lockers. no way to compare it. but very few people need this that dont venture down the minimum of class 2 trails and unimproved roads...


this locker is not part of the normal traction control. activating indeed causes its own custom algorithm. by passing it will cause its own set of issues as well. the pwm control of it is not so sensible to me...gm and jeep is just on or off with its own limiters like everything else. possibly its just to save on the coil

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The information I looked at yesterday seemed to indicate that there was some automatic functionality. Meaning that the left and right wheel speed was monitored and would engage the locker at some threshold of difference. What was unclear was if the switch had to be ON or if it was truly automatic despite switch position.

It is probably so someone spinning a tire doesn’t engage the locker and grenade the diff.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Bobby... you're making me think too hard man. But that is exactly what I like about you... your posts keep my mind active.

First... I confessed to knowing little about e lockers and that what I learned was a few clicks of the mouse.

As for 90% of the people benefiting from this feature... I'll change to get closer but now south your figures.... probably 40% of the people could care less about it and could live without it. Of the 60% left... 90% could benefit from it (includes myself). The 10% left (you) might want to explore the aftermarket.

As for what I looked at to base my answer on.... it was a truth table that showed active states and I think it was in a ford pub. I can't seem to find it now but I was poking through F150 information. It laid out rules for activation in various modes and ABS active state was referenced. I assumed (which is never a good idea) that meant that there was overlap in operation with the traction control system. Same with the tow/haul mode... I think of the guy pulling a bigger boat then he needs out of a slippery boat lanch. Maybe it's too logical to engage a differential locker seamlessly for traction and hauling to be the truth.

At any rate... I will refrain from posting what I think about this until some more real data is made available.

 

[bobbywalter]

i will try to get the data.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

As for what I looked at to base my answer on.... it was a truth table that showed active states and I think it was in a ford pub. I can't seem to find it now but I was poking through F150 information. It laid out rules for activation in various modes and ABS active state was referenced. I assumed (which is never a good idea) that meant that there was overlap in operation with the traction control system. Same with the tow/haul mode... I think of the guy pulling a bigger boat then he needs out of a slippery boat lanch. Maybe it's too logical to engage a differential locker seamlessly for traction and hauling to be the truth.

At any rate... I will refrain from posting what I think about this until some more real data is made available.

It is likely it is the computer knowing the locker is engaged so it isn't trying to work the rear brakes and fight with the locker.

 

[Will]

Active traction control (doesn't limit engine power, just modulates brakes) works pretty darn well. We did a bunch of rocks in the quarry at Attica without using the locker.

I was turned off of traction control in my Speed3 trying to get up my slippery driveway and the car would just turn off the power and sit there. Once I figured out to turn off the traction control, it went up no problem. I bought the Toyota and while figuring out what all the switches do came to realize the active traction control setting was a whole different deal. With it, you don't need the e-locker. Especially me, since a full-time 4x4 ain't doing donuts anyway.

 

[bobbywalter]

full time 4x4 does donuts.


really fun and scary ones.