02 EB went int 4x low while on the freeway

[MikeP123]

My wifes 02 Eddie Bauer 4x4 v8 went into 4x low this morning while she was on the freeway. The road was dry/ no ice. The button wasn't accidentally pushed and the last time we used 4x was last winter. She was able to get it out of 4 low by pulling over putting it into park and repeatedly pushing the 4x buttons until it came out. Has anyone out there had this happen before? Any ideas? Thanks

 

[hitman17mk]

i cant image what that was like, i would assume it would lock up the tires, but i dont think it would actually go into to 4 low, the t-case gears would just grind liek a **** until you slowed down.

 

[MikeP123]

She was just merging onto the freeway at about 35 mph and yes it did go into 4 low. Compression skids, redlined and all. Plus she's 7.5 month pregnant to boot. Now it won't go into 4 low at all.

 

[hitman17mk]

i unno y it would do that. i know on my jeep i can get that thing INTO 4low unless i;m doin 2mph or under if not it grinds leik a *****

 

[explorer4x493]

i unno y it would do that. i know on my jeep i can get that thing INTO 4low unless i;m doin 2mph or under if not it grinds leik a *****

Remember family site!

 

[rrgone]

My wifes 02 Eddie Bauer 4x4 v8 went into 4x low this morning while she was on the freeway. The road was dry/ no ice. The button wasn't accidentally pushed and the last time we used 4x was last winter. She was able to get it out of 4 low by pulling over putting it into park and repeatedly pushing the 4x buttons until it came out. Has anyone out there had this happen before? Any ideas? Thanks

Hi Mike,
You're gonna want to search on this forum for 4X4 Control Module. They are failing and/or causing various symptoms in the 3rd gen Explorers. Seems like the '02 model year is the most likely to have 4X4CM failure, but other model years have failed too. I remember reading at least one other post where a truck spontaneously shifted into 4X4 Low under speed. A very dangerous situation, to say the least.

If you or your wife must continue to drive the truck while waiting for parts or diagnosis, then disable the 4X4CM so that it cannot recur. Do another search on disable 4X4 in this forum. I have seen posts where people have removed a fuse, and where someone else pulled the connectors off the CM.

Feel free to post back up if you have any more questions. Let us know what you do.

 

[mjp3262]

You have to be in Neutral with your foot on the brake to switch to 4x4 Low ! Doesn't seem possible for that to happen while moving unless she put it in neutral and had her foot on the brake and was pressing the button. Too many coincidences for all that to happen.

 

[JDraper]

You do realize that the last post was 5 years ago...

 

[04Ex]

You do realize that the last post was 5 years ago...

Lol

 

[Triton8273]

You do realize that the last post was 5 years ago...

Hey, he was just trying to be helpful....right?????