1998 explorer awd wont disengage

[southernbound]

My son has a 1998 awd explorer. A couple of weeks ago his wife was comming home from work a smelled hot gear oil. She limped it home and when he looked it found the housing actually cracked leaking out all of the. He found a used one and changed the whole assy. including the axles. It made it back and forth a couple days and started making noise. He took it back and got another one and within a couple days started making a hot oil smell again. At this time I am concerned that it is stuck in 4wd and will not disengage causing damage to this 3rd diff. It has the 5.0 engine,auto trans. How can you troubleshoot this system. Is it possible to disable the front diff. so that it doesnt damage this 3rd front diff. Any assistance you can offer would greatly be appreciated

 

[vroomzoomboom]

the awd in a 5L truck wont disengage. it is meant to be permanently in 4wd (no 2 hi, or 4 low). you can pull the front drive shaft out, and not harm the transfer cause, however it may "drift" in park. other words, it may roll if it is on any kind of incline even if the trans is in park.

 

[southernbound]

I have since talked to my son and found they had put 2new tires on the front of this unit a couple mounths ago before this happened. Is it possible that by doing this it has messed up the signals from the speed sensors causing it to enguage the 4x4 drive because of the different size tires front and back

 

[vroomzoomboom]

you cant switch the 4x4 off on a awd truck (please dont think of that response as me talking down to you, i am saying that in a friendly matter ). it is permanently in four wheel drive. however, if the tires are miss matched in any way, yes, it could cause damage to the system.

 

[Turdle]

I have since talked to my son and found they had put 2new tires on the front of this unit a couple mounths ago before this happened. Is it possible that by doing this it has messed up the signals from the speed sensors causing it to enguage the 4x4 drive because of the different size tires front and back

Bingo.


There are no sensors, it is purely mechanical.


Tires must be matched, as a set. Tires of different brands, although the same advertised "size" will spec out to different revolutions per mile.


You might find the transfer case was damaged from the tire speed being different front to rear. They are not all that expensive.

Or, you could do this for selectable 4x4 operation

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166726&highlight=4406

 

[southernbound]

Think its better.

Thanks for all the help. Put two new ones on the back and it seems to heal up for the time being. Changed the fluid in the transfer and didnt find any filings or things out of the normal.