2003
SUV 4x4 Operations
The
following information is subject to change without notice. Contact dealer
to verify.
4x4
System Availability
| Drive System |
Escape 4x4 |
Explorer
Sport 4x4 |
Explorer
Sport Trac 4x4 |
Explorer
4Door 4x4 |
Explorer
4Door AWD |
Expedition
4x4 |
Excursion 4x4 |
| Control Tracฎ |
|
|
|
S |
|
S |
|
| Control Tracฎ
II |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Part-time Electronic Shift-on-the-fly |
|
S |
S |
|
|
|
S(1) |
| All-Wheel Drive (AWD) |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
|
S = Standard
= Not available
(1) With Pulse Vacuum Hublock (PVH) front axle system.
2003
SUV 4x4 Operations
The
following information is subject to change without notice. Contact dealer
to verify.
Front-drive
Axles
Today's wide range of 4x4 systems offers numerous front axle
configurations. Ford SUVs use three types:
Monobeam
-
A traditional design that uses a conventional tube axle with steering
knuckles mounted at each end
-
Used on all Excursion 4x4 models

Short- and Long-Arm (SLA) Independent
-
Used on all Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Explorer 4-Door and
Expedition models
-
Differential assembly is mounted to the front frame
-
Equal-length halfshafts transmit power to the front wheels
-
Torsion bar springs used on Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac and
Expedition 4x4 models
-
Coil springs used on Explorer 4-Door and Expedition 4x2 models

MacPherson Strut Independent
-
Coil spring is positioned over a shock absorber
-
Fewer parts and less weight than conventional suspension systems
-
Used on all Escape models

2003
SUV 4x4 Operations
The
following information is subject to change without notice. Contact dealer
to verify.
Escape
Control Tracฎ II (Escape)
- Escape has a full-time four-wheel drive system called Control Trac II.
This system is different than other Ford four-wheel drive systems
- Four-wheel drive engagement is quiet, smooth and transparent
- Provides two rotary settings: 4x4 AUTO and 4x4 ON
- 4x4 AUTO should be used in most driving conditions. In this mode, the
drivetrain automatically proportions more torque to the rear axle when
slippage occurs
- 4x4 ON is comparable to the 4x4 HIGH mode found on other Ford
four-wheel drive systems. In this mode, a solenoid in the rotary blade
coupling locks the front and rear axles together. This setting is
intended only for off-road or winter weather where no pavement remains
uncovered - it is not intended for use on dry pavement
- Control Trac II does not use a conventional transfer case. It uses a
transaxle-mounted power transfer unit and a rotary blade coupling to
transfer power between the front and rear axles
- Components of this system include a power transfer unit mounted to the
transaxle, a 2-piece driveshaft, a rotary blade coupling and a rear axle
differential
- The power transfer unit transfers power from the transmission to the
driveshaft. This unit replaces the transfer case typically found in
conventional four-wheel drive systems
- The 2-piece driveshaft carries power from the power transfer unit to
the rotary blade coupling. The 2-piece design of the driveshaft reduces
noise and vibration
- The rotary blade coupling is the brain of the system. In 4x4 AUTO
mode, it senses differences in speed between the front and rear wheels.
When slippage is detected, it pumps hydraulic fluid to activate a
clutch. The clutch redirects power to the rear axle differential. The
rear axle differential sends power to the rear wheels. When the front
and rear wheels are spinning at the same speed, the rotary blade
coupling disengages the clutch pack and power is directed back to the
front wheels
2003
SUV 4x4 Operations
The
following information is subject to change without notice. Contact dealer
to verify.
Explorer
Sport 2-Door and Explorer Sport Trac
Part-time Electronic Shift-on-the-fly (Select Drive)
- On models equipped with electric shift, an electro-magnetic clutch is
used to spin up the front drive system from zero mph to vehicle speed.
When the transfer case front and rear output shafts are synchronized,
the spring-loaded lockup collar mechanically engages the mainshaft hub
to the drive sprocket and the electro-magnetic clutch is then
deactivated
- The electronic shift-on-the-fly, also referred to as a part-time 4x4
system, includes a full-featured, 2-speed transfer case
- The system is activated using a rotary switch on the instrument panel
with three positions: 2WD, 4x4 HIGH and 4x4 LOW
- In 2WD mode, the transfer gear is disengaged, sending engine power
only to the rear axle. This mode delivers normal traction
- The 4x4 HIGH mode provides four-wheel drive with full power to both
axles. It is only intended for severe winter or off-road conditions,
such as deep snow and ice (where no pavement remains uncovered), and
shallow sand. 4x4 HIGH should never be used on dry pavement, as the
vehicle will bind when going around corners
- The 4x4 LOW mode supplies four-wheel drive with full power to both
axles and includes a lower gear ratio for low speed. It is only intended
for off-road applications that require extra power including deep sand,
steep grades, and when pulling a boat and trailer out of water. 4x4 LOW
should never be used on dry pavement
- Can be shifted between 4x2 and 4x4 HIGH at any speed
- At temperatures below 32F, shifts from 4x2 to 4x4 HIGH should not be
performed above 45 mph
2003
SUV 4x4 Operations
The
following information is subject to change without notice. Contact dealer
to verify.
Explorer
4-Door

Explorer 4-Door control buttons shown
|
Control Tracฎ
(Explorer 4-Door and Expedition)
- This system includes electronic logic and a full-featured, 2-speed
transfer case
- For Explorer 4-Door, the system is activated using push buttons on the
instrument panel: 4x4 AUTO, 4x4 HIGH and 4x4 LOW
- For Expedition, the system is activated using a rotary switch on the
instrument panel with four positions: A4WD (four-wheel drive auto), 4H
(four-wheel drive high), 4L (four-wheel drive low), and 2H (two-wheel drive)
- The 4x4 AUTO (or A4WD) mode provides four-wheel drive with full power to
the rear axle, and to the front axle as required for increased traction.
This mode is appropriate for any driving, whether on dry pavement or in
adverse conditions; though for extreme winter weather or off-road driving, a
customer may choose to switch to 4x4 HIGH (4H) or 4x4 LOW (4L)
- The 4x4 HIGH (4H) mode provides four-wheel drive with full power to both
axles. It is only intended for severe winter or off-road conditions, such as
deep snow and ice (where no pavement remains uncovered), and shallow sand.
4x4 HIGH should never be used on dry pavement, as the vehicle will bind when
going around corner
- The 4x4 LOW (4L) mode supplies four-wheel drive with full power to both
axles and includes a lower gear ratio for low speeds. It is only intended
for off-road applications that require extra power including deep sand,
steep grades, and when pulling a boat and trailer out of water. 4x4 LOW
should never be used on dry pavement, as the vehicle will bind when going
around corners
- 2HIGH (2H) uses the Integrated Wheel End System (IWE) to disengage the
front driveline at the wheel ends and send all available engine torque to
the rear wheels. With 2HIGH engaged, a 4x4 Expedition operates as a
rear-wheel drive vehicle
- Only the Explorer 4-Door Control Trac automatic models can be retrofitted
with a Neutral Tow Kit through a Ford dealer to allow the transfer case to
be shifted to Neutral. This permits the vehicle to be flat towed for
extended distances (such as behind a motorhome) without risking damage to
the automatic transmission. Explorer 4-Door AWD and Expedition do not have
this capability
- The Control Trac system is for the customer who needs
4x4 capabilities for various reasons and situations. Unlike All-Wheel Drive,
Control Trac allows the customer to lock the front and rear driveshafts
together in 4x4 High and 4x4 Low modes and is intended for severe weather or
off-road conditions
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) (Explorer 4-Door)
-
The full-time All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system is permanently engaged
through a one-speed transfer case
-
Sends power to all four wheels 100% of the time, automatically
-
Does not require the driver to actively engage the system
-
The AWD system employs a center differential, normally delivering
approximately 65% of engine torque to the rear wheels and 35% of engine
torque to the front wheels
-
If the front wheels or rear wheels slip, a viscous coupling inside the
transfer case automatically reapportions engine torque to the wheels on
the axle that still has traction
-
The viscous coupling is a contained unit consisting of a series of
clutch plates in silicone fluid. If wheels on either axle slip, a
shearing force created inside the coupling provides a locking torque to
resist the slip and transfer torque to the wheels on the axle that still
have traction
-
Since it employs a single-speed transfer case, the AWD system is not
intended for serious off-road use. Full-time AWD cannot be locked into
"4x4 High" or "4x4 Low"
-
This AWD system is for the customer who wants four-wheel drive
capabilities for safety and security but does not want the complexity of
other 4x4 systems
2003
SUV 4x4 Operations
The
following information is subject to change without notice. Contact dealer
to verify.
Expedition

Explorer 4-Door control buttons shown
|
Control Tracฎ
(Explorer 4-Door and Expedition)
- This system includes electronic logic and a full-featured, 2-speed
transfer case
- For Explorer 4-Door, the system is activated using push buttons on the
instrument panel: 4x4 AUTO, 4x4 HIGH and 4x4 LOW
- For Expedition, the system is activated using a rotary switch on the
instrument panel with four positions: A4WD (four-wheel drive auto), 4H
(four-wheel drive high), 4L (four-wheel drive low), and 2H (two-wheel drive)
- The 4x4 AUTO (or A4WD) mode provides four-wheel drive with full power to
the rear axle, and to the front axle as required for increased traction.
This mode is appropriate for any driving, whether on dry pavement or in
adverse conditions; though for extreme winter weather or off-road driving, a
customer may choose to switch to 4x4 HIGH (4H) or 4x4 LOW (4L)
- The 4x4 HIGH (4H) mode provides four-wheel drive with full power to both
axles. It is only intended for severe winter or off-road conditions, such as
deep snow and ice (where no pavement remains uncovered), and shallow sand.
4x4 HIGH should never be used on dry pavement, as the vehicle will bind when
going around corner
- The 4x4 LOW (4L) mode supplies four-wheel drive with full power to both
axles and includes a lower gear ratio for low speeds. It is only intended
for off-road applications that require extra power including deep sand,
steep grades, and when pulling a boat and trailer out of water. 4x4 LOW
should never be used on dry pavement, as the vehicle will bind when going
around corners
- 2HIGH (2H) uses the Integrated Wheel End System (IWE) to disengage the
front driveline at the wheel ends and send all available engine torque to
the rear wheels. With 2HIGH engaged, a 4x4 Expedition operates as a
rear-wheel drive vehicle
- Only the Explorer 4-Door Control Trac automatic models can be retrofitted
with a Neutral Tow Kit through a Ford dealer to allow the transfer case to
be shifted to Neutral. This permits the vehicle to be flat towed for
extended distances (such as behind a motorhome) without risking damage to
the automatic transmission. Explorer 4-Door AWD and Expedition do not have
this capability
- The Control Trac system is for the customer who needs
4x4 capabilities for various reasons and situations. Unlike All-Wheel Drive,
Control Trac allows the customer to lock the front and rear driveshafts
together in 4x4 High and 4x4 Low modes and is intended for severe weather or
off-road conditions

Expedition Integrated Wheel End (IWE) System shown
2003
SUV 4x4 Operations
The
following information is subject to change without notice. Contact dealer
to verify.
Excursion
Part-time Electronic Shift-on-the-fly with
Pulse Vacuum Hublock (PVH) Front Axle System (Excursion)
-
Similar switch and positions as Explorer Sport and Explorer Sport Trac
-
Pulse Vacuum Hublock front axle system allows the driver to engage the
front hubs from inside the vehicle and to shift into or out of
four-wheel drive at up to 55 mph or at a standstill
-
To disengage, current speed may be maintained without having to stop or
travel in a reverse direction
-
PVH allows total disengagement of the front wheels, resulting in
optimized 4x2 performance
-
Excursion models feature manual override capability. This permits the
driver to lock the hubs at the front wheels if preferred
-
The PVH system allows for synchronous hublock engagement when the
customer shifts on the fly. This provides for virtually silent 4x4
engagements and disengagements
-
The PVH system can be disengaged from the cab of the vehicle while
maintaining the vehicle's current speed and direction, offering true
freewheeling from the cab
-
No shift delays in cold weather
-
This system optimizes fuel economy because all front driveline
components are disconnected at the wheels in the 4x2 mode
-
4x2 mode PVH is optimized because the front driveline is static
-
The PVH system does not require regular front axle/wheel-end service
intervals (under normal driving conditions)

Rotary Switch