1998 XLT sohc STuck in 4WD LOW

[astrochimp]

WIFE put it in 4wd low to get out of a snow bank or something..NOW, no matter what the 4wd low light is on all the time and u can't drive over 40mph.
if the switch is in auto, 4wd high or 4wd low..it doesn't matter

turned car off, put it in neutral, park, reverse...tried several things to make it change..
ANY IDEAS?!?!?!??!

will now SEARCH for answer after i post

[astrochimp]

well wife called and said she got it out of 4wdlo..
she went in reverse at a parking lot and hear
rrrrreEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! underneath or something and it came out of 4wd Lo
got it corrected...went on the highway..
smelled something burning after she got off the highway


this $34,000 vehicle w/75k miles is driving me nuts

[sk1er17]

its not always the vehicles fault

[Blee1099]

She did try putting in neutral to change it out of 4Lo right?

[sk1er17]

to put it in 4low you have to be in neutral. to put it in 4hi you can be in park, neutral, or drive as long as you're under 15mph.

at least once a month you should put your truck in 4hi and drive about a mile- not good to do on the street though or making turns. but its good to get the gears moving and lubed. If you have 75K miles and havent used 4lo at all- that could be the cause of some of the problems...

and if she was stuck in 4low and just playing with buttons and moving/hitting the switch etc. because she didnt know you have to be in neutral then i wish you the best of luck that too much damage hasnt been done...

EDIT: btw, maybe you should mention that 4hi is ideal for the snow, 4low should not be used on slippery or muddy surfaces for traction- its more of a towing feature...

[sk1er17]

"any" speed? id have to check on that one before clicking on 4x4 doing 55.... could have sworn i read somewhere in the manual it limits the speed

[sk1er17]

Ak LTD Xplorer:
so were you testing this out.. in Reverse doing 55mph trying to click it into 4x4 when you hit the POLE?? :p lol

[Billy177]

the high can be engaged at any speed there is no mechanical engaugement (sp) just more power being sent to the electronic clutch

[sk1er17]

i said that because if you're stuck, 4low provides so much torque it usually doesnt help , it only digs you in. The next time your in some mud and its tough to get through, pop it in 4low and see what happens- just make sure theres someone close by with tow straps to pull you out.

better yet- go on a slightly snow covered street, pop it in 4HI and ram the gas.. you'll notice you peel out a little but try to remember how long it took before you got traction and moved...
now put it in 4low and do the same thing... you're not gonna go anywhere for a while because the tires have so much torque the keep spinning..

[Billy177]

unless very deep snow i find the best traction in snow in 4x4high and the gear selector in 2

[sk1er17]

4Hi and second gear with airing down the tires,, not enough torque to spin and dig a rut but enough to pull through some thick thick mud..

[sk1er17]

Originally posted by Billy177
unless very deep snow i find the best traction in snow in 4x4high and the gear selector in 2

thanks billy, i was waitin for someone to jump in here and back up my point... i was getting worried for a minute