[JeryMurph]

Does anyone know how the clutch that sends power to the rear wheels is controlled on a 2005 AWD Escape. I have heard that the unit has it's own pump and the clutch is applied hydraulicaly. The hydraulic pressure is controlled through a solenoid with a pulse width modulated signal form the engine controller. We are doing an experiment with this vehicle and want to be able to command the clutch on ourselves. We just want to lock it up in the easiest way. I am sure it is not as simple as just appling 12 v to the connector.
any ideas?

 

[The J]

Is there a way for you to hook up a logic probe to the signal line? That might be your best best. If it's PWM-controlled, then you would at least need to determine what voltage the PWM is running at (it might not necessarily be 12V).

If you can feed your own signal into the clutch solenoid, then you could try starting at 50% PWM duty cycle and slowly adjusting it up and down to see how the unit reacts.

I'm only going off of the info in your post; I don't actually know how the AWD is controlled in the Escape. Oh, and insert disclaimer here about how you're on your own with this and all that... :lightning:

 

[Billyk]

I'm not going to get into how this unit is controlled but I will provide photos of how often this unit engages:

at a stop light

pulling away from the stop light

letting off the throttle

in short, the 4WD system engages everytime you pull away from a stop and when ever you hit the gas pedal. Yes, it engages frequently and I don't see the point of trying to lock the system.

 

[JeryMurph]

Thanks Guys
We should be able to record the voltage that goes into the unit while launching. We could do it with the front on ice do the rear is commanded full on, that ought give us an idea how to control it.
We are running an experiment that measures tire deflctions for various combinations of tire pressure,wheel torque and vehicle weight. One test will be with the front axles removed and the vehicle being driven exclusivly with the rear wheels. They will be low speed tests. The vehicle the school has for us to use is the 2005 Escape, but a vehicle with a conventional transfer case would have been easier for what we are trying to do
Regards.

 

[SilverAthlon]

Wow, that sounds like lots of fun! We have lots of ice up here in MN!!

 

[megascape]

wiki, Bill has the answer your looking for..PM him