Thread: D2 auto modification to select manual mode when in high range.

I think there must be two computers that receive information as to whether low is selected or not, you may need 2 switches, because if you bridge one of them the engine ECU may also believe it's in low and run different fuel maps etc, what are you trying to achieve?

Cheers James

There's only one switch on the transfer which switches to ground, I love manual mode in low but on the beach high range manual mode would be really good.
So looking at the wiring in RAVE looks like an easy mod.

I think from my very scratchy memory the signal goes too the slabs ecu for hdc too be enabled in low, then from there up to the engine ecu you run a different map and different fueling with different throttle feel, I've driven one that had a wiring issue along these lines running the low range map and it wasn't that pleasant to drive, but if you check out the connector wiring in rave it may show exactly the path it takes, obviously the auto ecu is involved as well, but what you are planning could be done, I've had the auto ecu and the engine ecu disagree about whether it was in hi or low range, in fact it is only one wire to trick the engine ecu into running low range maps

I.e you would need to still provide the engine ecu with the high range signal wire

My D2a is the second auto 4WD that I have owned all the rest have been manual transmissions and I find that the auto eats a manual transmission on the beach hands down, Why would you want to modify the transmission so that it behaves like a manual box and loose the advantage of the auto in sand?

One section of local beach d2 goes better low range 4th in manual mode. As it just holds the gear and torque convertor is locked. Section has a few soft patches.
Flick of a switch auto or manual mode.
My manual 4wd currently eats the d2 on sand and it's manual.
Anyway will try it and see what results.
TCM to ECU comms in manual mode shouldn't have a great effect as the auto will be manually shifted so torque limits kick down points etc won't be needed compared to the transfer being in high and ecu thinking it's in low or vice versa.

If you are driving in dry sand IMHO you should always be in low range so that the revs are as near as possible to 3000RPM Torque Converter equalization or in actual Torque converter lock. You can do this in manual mode quite easily.


In high ratio the odds are you will be using fewer revs and heating up the transmission fluid as the more slip in the Torque Converter the greater the heat rise.

Regards Philip A

I'm also after information on this as I would rather labour my engine in 4th rather than rev it's nutters off in 3rd.