1991 explorer 4X4 problem

[silkakc]

Hi,
This is a nice forum....maybe someone here can give me some guidance. My Explorer's 4wd started acting up last march. It would kick in 1 out of every 3 attempts or so. I have the push button 4x4 button on the dash.
This year, it won't kick in at all. The button does not light up naturally. I do hear a clicking sound back in the cellunoid- or whatever it's called- it's the thing inside the wall of the cargo area in the back of the truck - it has the trap door over it. Other than that clicking noise- I hear nothing engaging in the motor on the transfer case. ( I know there's some kind of a motor that engages the hubs- that's the motor I'm NOT hearing!!) My engine motor does react when I push the buton though. I hear it kickdown- like engines do when the AC comes on.
Any ideas? Anything I can rule out like the dash module or the cellunoid in the back- since the signal appears to be getting there?

Thanks so much for any help you can give me!
Lori

 

[Chew_12]

Im not a big mechanic but my friend had his 4x4 go out and it was his transfer case, check to make sure that your differential is working or the button that you press is not shorted out.

 

[Chew_12]

I meant the transfer case not the differential

 

[HH1]

you may want to pick up a manual on your truck. Check the Fuses...from what you said it sounds like an electrical/switch problem.
If it was a mechanical/gear problem you would have had a noise accociated with it nine out of ten times. ie: "I was going down the snowy road at about 45mph when i pushed the 4x4 button, the truck listed from left to right with a thunderous BOOM from under our feet."

 

[parli22]

That sounds like one of the most common problems that accure with the 4wheel drive on early generation explorers. What the problem is is one of two things either your automatic hubs are blown or you electronic shifter motor on the transfer case needs to cleaned. I leaning towards the dirty electronic shifter motor. Mainly it accured with one of my project Navajo. So either clean the motor or if you can replace it.

Look into a searcvh about how to clean it. The Procedure will only take about 1hr

 

[silkakc]

Parli22
It sounds like your right, because that motor is not running. You use to be able to here it kick in when you pushed the button. But the button lights don't come on. So I'm not sure if it's the button switch or the motor on the transfer case.

 

[bbink]

you may find it worthwhile to check out the following site. It has a lot of good information for Explorers. I know on a previous visit out there that there is a way to check the solenoid that's behind the cargo panel. There is additional information for checking the motor on the transfer case too. Good Luck

Dead Link Removed

 

[parli22]

It most definately will be the shifter motor do to age and junk that collects inside the gear. So just look around the site for the procedure.

 

[silkakc]

Parli22
You are right!
Thanks alot.