Manager Forum

This car belongs to a car lot. I replaced a stepper motor in the cluster last week and noticed that the message center was unplugged and the MIL was blacked out with silicone when I had the cluster apart. After I plugged in the message center it reads "AWD disable". They want it fixed but I can find no codes other than a fuel tank pressure volts high, that is intermittent. The Awd message still comes up even when the code isn't present. No other codes in any other modules. All the tire sizes match. In the owners manual it reads that the Awd is disabled when you have the spare tire on. Any suggestions other than unplugging the message center?

The AWD disable light usually comes on when the wheels are turning at different speeds. Check your tires carefully for size differential. You can monitor wheel speed in the ABS controller. Perhaps a sensor is out slightly, but usually it's wheel size. These are very sensitive. Check for codes in the ABS system too. Might lead you somewhere.

You can also lab scope the sensors

does it look like maybe 1 or 2 tires were replaced? simple test. take chalk and mark side of tire near ground with a line to the ground. drive around the parking lot. have some one spot you for d/s front tire chalk mark to be straight up and down, just like when you started. inspect all lines, are they all straight up and down? if not you have diff size (physical) not metric size stamped on sidewall. 1 or more tires have been replaced.

purchase 4 new tires awd disabled light should go off. this is a nice feature, better than replacing a transfer case.

what about the wiring? could this be related? a short in the harness? i agree with ric and would drive vehicle with my scanner reading the abs sensor. if one is reading off it would shut down the awd. sounds like the dreaded "many hands, many ideas, black out the light, syndrome" wonder what was done to repair the problem before it was blacked out. saw a bulletin on awd but it said about other codes. 03-05-25-004A

I think I found something after I posted yesterday.Havent had time to go into it yet, but there are a few lines of data that is really the only way to see why its disabled. There aren't really any DTC's for the AWD. My problem seems to be indicated by the line "AWD CKT status ----- OPEN". Supposedly the PCM can detect an open, short, or good circuit. Why they didn't make a DTC for that is beyond me but at least I figured it out. I'll post up what I find.

There is a TSB on the hubs, but it will throw a code in the ABS module. The tires are all the same size and brand. That is only relevant after the vehicle is in motion. This message comes up immediately after clearing it even sitting still. I'm pretty sure there is gonna be a broken wire, loose connection, or bad AWD solenoid.

good hunting. i'm glad to hear that others take their work home. many, many, times i've woken up with the answer to a problem. lately i've been forgetting them after i go back to sleep. ya i know. write them down dummy. i do them i can't read my writing. sad part is i'm serious. i call the shop from my cell and leave myself a message. sometime that's interesting as well.

" Shop this is Steve. Its 3plm and I just wi=oke up and figuered out why the #$%^#$&^% GREEN FORD wont start. Call me back "

Found a rusty terminal in the plug on the solenoid, but I also had no continuity between any of the terminals on the solenoid. I ordered a new solenoid and plug and it won't be here till friday. We'll see.

Jeff @ Able Auto wrote:" Shop this is Steve. Its 3plm and I just wi=oke up and figuered out why the #$%^#$&^% GREEN FORD wont start. Call me back "

man, sometimes it goes just like that.........

Replaced the plug and solenoid and fixed it.

great find. thanks for posting the fix................

Good job! Thanks for the follow up!