AWD/FWD switch

[TurboSubie]

how can I used the fuse panel in the engine bay to flip on FWD with a rocker panel switch. I remember past post about this saying it is a ground of some sort...how would I wire this in? any ideas??

[StartRestart]

simply put the fuse in there.. cut one of the wires and put long leads on it that go into your cabin and wire it to a switch.. so it just finishes the circuit when flipped on..

ya i did this a long time ago than mdae it better by wiring up to my e-brake light via relay (e-brake turns in an automatic)... first, splice a single wire (that connects to the fuse holder) and add some longer wires to each end so it can reach inside the cabin... than, open up your center console thinger so you can see your exposed ebrake... i bought a 12v relay from radioshack, i forgot what kind of though- it was a long time ago, than if you look on the passenger side of your ebrake is a single wire that connects to a flat metal plate with a black connector... i cut that wire and splice the relay into it, so that when that brake wire was grounded (brake up/on) that would engage the relay to flip and finish the circuit for the FWD fuse ... relays are kinda of confusing if you've never worked with one before...

o ya, i added a basic on/off switch for this too because the signal is relaly weak to flip the relay so mine clicked a lot when on, but held on strong! just was kind of anooying when putting the car brake on and having it click a lot.. alos i didn't feel good starting the car in FWD.. don't ask why.

goodluck`~

[BAC5.2]

Why would you want to do this?

Do you even know what that switch is for?

[THAWA]

if you really wanted to do it, you could do it without cutting any wires. As with most other electrical compontents in our cars the FWD fuse shares a connector design. It's one of the T shaped connectors like the green diagnostic connectors. Go to a junkyard and clip one of the same shape connectors from any of the available connectors in the car. Then do the wiring from that.

[Soarer]

I just put a switch in my 91ss 4eat. I use the car to commute 65 miles each day so I figured that not driving the rear wheels would save some gas on the highway.

I cut the wire just below the fuse on the passenger side shock tower and ran 2 long wires (with wire loom of course) along the wiring harness to the driver side. I have an auto so I put the wires through where the clutch master cylinder holes are. Then I ran it to a switch on the dash.

[ivwarrior]

I figured that not driving the rear wheels would save some gas on the highway.

I highly doubt that it'll save any gas. All that weight for the AWD is still there, and all the rotational parts are still turning, you're just not sending power through them.

[vanlegacy]

Did you notice a improvement in fuel consumption when in front wheel drive only?

[Soarer]

No, I didn't. I drive at about 85mph on the highway and I'm averaging about 20mpg. I didn't change with the fwd switch. Then a buddy of mine told me not to use the switch because he said that the solenoid in the transmission can stop working if you leave it in frontwd too much. Then, you have to pull the transmission apart to fix it.

So, after all that effort, it really wasn't worth it. I basically ended up with a tow-switch.