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View Full Version : Possible AWD/FWD switch on the fly?


HotBoxer
07-19-2007, 02:45 AM
I was wondering if its possible to either take the fuse out and put an in cabin switch or add a switch into the line to be able to switch between AWD/FWD on the fly. Biggest benefit would be mileage for highway driving but it would be nice to be able to switch it back because I live at the end of a long and windy dirt road but have to drive another 15 miles each way on the interstate to work daily. Hopefully this explains the necessity of on the fly.
oskar_subaru
07-19-2007, 05:08 AM
you won´t save any fuel on thad, the car is still using power spinning all the rear drive components, (driveshaft, diff and axles)

unless you take the rear axles out you will not see any drop in milage
Huffer
07-19-2007, 07:51 AM
I was wondering if its possible to either take the fuse out and put an in cabin switch or add a switch into the line to be able to switch between AWD/FWD on the fly. Biggest benefit would be mileage for highway driving but it would be nice to be able to switch it back because I live at the end of a long and windy dirt road but have to drive another 15 miles each way on the interstate to work daily. Hopefully this explains the necessity of on the fly.

Forester owners and offroaders have done a similar thing to either fully engage AWD or run it FWD... but it's murder on your center diff.
HotBoxer
07-19-2007, 09:35 AM
If its that bad for the car then why is there even a fuse to switch it under the hood then?
Huffer
07-19-2007, 09:50 AM
If its that bad for the car then why is there even a fuse to switch it under the hood then?

For emergency towing.
Khanhfucious
07-22-2007, 04:15 PM
If its that bad for the car then why is there even a fuse to switch it under the hood then?

For emergency towing.

My manual says it's for Emergency use of the Spare Tire.
Huffer
07-22-2007, 05:16 PM
or that. Either way, it's for emergency use only.
I used it to diagnose torque bind.
subyluvr2212
07-22-2007, 09:54 PM
but it's murder on your center diff.

No it's not. Your center diff gets a break actually.

It's hard on the Duty C solenoid, because that fuse sends a constant current to it, when it's used to getting a pulsating current.

I know people who have run for YEARS with the FWD fuse in with no problems.

There will be a slight increase in gas mileage, but not much. Not enough, IMO, to warrant the risk of blowing up the Duty C solenoid and having to take the transfer case off the tranny to replace it.