RE: [ihc] New Int. Truck release

[bearbvd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Greg Hermann)]

At 3:45 PM 9/13/04, Tom Harais wrote:
>Mark... give me manual shifters any day!!!!!!!

With that Allison--it's all really electronically controlled anyway. At
least Allison is honest about how you interface with it, instead of
bothering to fake something that looks like a shift lever to operate the
switches---

BTW--which engine is in this new critter ??

Greg
>
>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