4X4 Hub Solenoid "Extension Cord"
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Tidewater, VA
4X4 Hub Solenoid "Extension Cord"
I want to make a short "extension cord" that plugs into the 4X4 hub solenoid in my '04 FX4 (on the firewall by the battery) and connects to the factory wiring harness plug (that currently plugs into the solenoid). I'm not really familiar with Ford electrical connectors, so I have a few questions:
1 - Does anyone know if there is a (Ford?) wiring connector that will mate with the two-hole plug that is on the current wiring harness? I looked around on the truck but didn't see one - but there are a lot I probably missed.
2 - Does anyone know if I can buy a harness plug end from somewhere (the dealer?) that will plug into the solenoid valve? If not, I'm thinking that IF I can find a wrecked 4X4 truck I could just cut the end of the harness to serve as half of my "extension"
3 - Does anyone happen to have either or both of those cable ends laying around taking up space that they want to get rid of?
I know this is an oddball question, but I figured no harm in asking. What I want to do is make a short jumper that branches off to a switch on the dash, so I can unlock the hubs while in 4WD LOW, so that I can have 2WD LOW. I could just cut into the existing harness and use some kind of aftermarket connection, but I'd rather have something I can just unplug and restore to stock if I decide it's a dumb idea, plus the factory connectors seem to have a nice water seal on them. Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer!
1 - Does anyone know if there is a (Ford?) wiring connector that will mate with the two-hole plug that is on the current wiring harness? I looked around on the truck but didn't see one - but there are a lot I probably missed.
2 - Does anyone know if I can buy a harness plug end from somewhere (the dealer?) that will plug into the solenoid valve? If not, I'm thinking that IF I can find a wrecked 4X4 truck I could just cut the end of the harness to serve as half of my "extension"
3 - Does anyone happen to have either or both of those cable ends laying around taking up space that they want to get rid of?
I know this is an oddball question, but I figured no harm in asking. What I want to do is make a short jumper that branches off to a switch on the dash, so I can unlock the hubs while in 4WD LOW, so that I can have 2WD LOW. I could just cut into the existing harness and use some kind of aftermarket connection, but I'd rather have something I can just unplug and restore to stock if I decide it's a dumb idea, plus the factory connectors seem to have a nice water seal on them. Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer!
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,205
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From: Along Lake Erie
Originally Posted by Lee F.
I want to make a short "extension cord" that plugs into the 4X4 hub solenoid in my '04 FX4 (on the firewall by the battery) and connects to the factory wiring harness plug (that currently plugs into the solenoid). I'm not really familiar with Ford electrical connectors, so I have a few questions:
1 - Does anyone know if there is a (Ford?) wiring connector that will mate with the two-hole plug that is on the current wiring harness? I looked around on the truck but didn't see one - but there are a lot I probably missed.
2 - Does anyone know if I can buy a harness plug end from somewhere (the dealer?) that will plug into the solenoid valve? If not, I'm thinking that IF I can find a wrecked 4X4 truck I could just cut the end of the harness to serve as half of my "extension"
3 - Does anyone happen to have either or both of those cable ends laying around taking up space that they want to get rid of?
I know this is an oddball question, but I figured no harm in asking. What I want to do is make a short jumper that branches off to a switch on the dash, so I can unlock the hubs while in 4WD LOW, so that I can have 2WD LOW. I could just cut into the existing harness and use some kind of aftermarket connection, but I'd rather have something I can just unplug and restore to stock if I decide it's a dumb idea, plus the factory connectors seem to have a nice water seal on them. Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer!
1 - Does anyone know if there is a (Ford?) wiring connector that will mate with the two-hole plug that is on the current wiring harness? I looked around on the truck but didn't see one - but there are a lot I probably missed.
2 - Does anyone know if I can buy a harness plug end from somewhere (the dealer?) that will plug into the solenoid valve? If not, I'm thinking that IF I can find a wrecked 4X4 truck I could just cut the end of the harness to serve as half of my "extension"
3 - Does anyone happen to have either or both of those cable ends laying around taking up space that they want to get rid of?
I know this is an oddball question, but I figured no harm in asking. What I want to do is make a short jumper that branches off to a switch on the dash, so I can unlock the hubs while in 4WD LOW, so that I can have 2WD LOW. I could just cut into the existing harness and use some kind of aftermarket connection, but I'd rather have something I can just unplug and restore to stock if I decide it's a dumb idea, plus the factory connectors seem to have a nice water seal on them. Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer!
www.waytekwire.com. The Amp or the Molex MX-150 connectors all come with weather-tight seals, and work well. You'll need to buy the tool to crimp the pins on the ends of the wires, so it's not very cost-effective for a simple two-wire job, but they are nice and weather-tight.
As for what you're looking at doing, that will work just fine. You''ll simply need to interrupt the ground signal between the solenoid and the GEM. In other words, with the key on, you'll want to splice your switch into the wire that is dead in 2wd. With the switch on, everything will work as it normally does, but with the switch off, the hubs will remain unlocked.
-Joe