RE: [ihc] New Int. Truck release

[Tom Harais <THarais@xxxxxxxxx>]

Mark... give me manual shifters any day!!!!!!!

Mark:

I'm with you.  I picked up a '93 Explorer as a "back up vehicle" earlier
this year, rather than spend a grand on my old, '87 Honda Prelude to keep it
going reliably.

		(it needs clutch, new alternator, new timing belt, new brake
MC installed & bled, the AC leaks somewhere, there are some rust spots -
runs perfectly with new tires and battery other than that, anyone want it?).


The Explorer has a shift-on-the-fly electronically controlled, 2 speed, Borg
Warner transfer case with full auto hubs.  You just push a button to engage
it or that's supposed to be how it works.  It has a "black box" that
controls the engagement of the transfer case with axle speed sensors,
indicator lights, etc.  There are and all kinds of measurements and
processing involved just to engage the transfer case.  

Recently, I pushed the button to engage 4WD and nothing happened.  I can
hear the power relay "clicking" inside the rear fender well, but the
transfer case doesn't engage and there is no way to manually override it.

The wiring diagrams I was able to obtain only show the "flow" to and from
the box and the control motor without any details.  There are eight or ten
wires going into the transfer case.  All I wanted to do was check for
current to the actuator motor.  All I could do was check the
connect/disconnect for the wires.  

And now, I either have to take it to a Ford dealer to have it diagnosed and
repaired at great cost or take a chance and swap out that control box which
might be a waste of $200 or more.  It is a Ford proprietary product of
course.  

You know, if it was a manual shift it would either engage or not.  Then, it
would either be a linkage problem or the transfer case would need to be torn
down and worked on.  But, that is still simpler to diagnose, repair and
override if necessary.  Electronic controls might seem more luxurious, but
they tie you to proprietary parts and expensive dealer repairs in too many
cases.

Anyone see the cost (dealer of course) of some of these proprietary
headlight units on some of the new cars?  I'm hearing $500/side for a Ford
Taurus, things like that. So, a minor rock chip becomes and expensive repair
thanks to proprietary parts and now competition.  That used to happen only
with expensive, European luxury cars.

Tom H., '76 Traveler