1st Gen Stuck in 4 Low

[92exploder4dr]

I see many issues with people not being able to engage 4WD with the culprit being the transfer case shift motor most of the time, but what about being stuck in 4 Low? It snowed a lot here a few days ago and leaving a friends steep driveway I put it in 4 Low. I got nearly to the top realizing I wasn't going to be leaving so I shut the vehicle off at the bottom of their driveway in 4 Low and after they were plowed out the next day I found I can't select any other transfer case setting. It's just stuck in 4 Low with both lights lit up. Any ideas? Is it also most likely the transfer case shift motor?

I am at a complete stop, brake depressed, in neutral. FYI

 

[JDraper]

Highly likely it's the shift motor. It can get stuck in just about any position.

 

[IZwack]

It is the shift motor - LO range engagement on all Explorers is done via shift motor. I'm not sure if it works on 1st gens but on 2nd gens, an odd trick is to disconnect the battery for a few minutes and reconnect it - forcing the shift motor to reset. Also, are you shifting properly - with the foot on the brake, transmission in Neutral, etc.. ?

 

[92exploder4dr]

I tried disconnecting the battery for a while. Same deal.

How often do Ford's ECM's die?

Looks like I'll be calling around for shift motor quotes...

 

[IZwack]

Looks like I'll be calling around for shift motor quotes...

I know it's probably freezing cold there but you could try removing the shift motor and manually shifting the t-case back to 2wd mode with pliers. Don't forget to chock the wheels because the transfer case will pass through the Neutral zone so it could start moving.

 

[Shrkatty]

Crawl underneath and try tapping the shift motor with a hammer while someone else pushes the transfer case button ... and HOLDS THE BRAKES. I've had that work (temporarily) a few times.

Otherwise, rebuild the shift motor -- which doesn't cost anything. Probably just carbon build-up on the commutator ring.

There's a good set of directions with photographs here: http://www.explorerforum.com/Singleton/web/pages/tcase.html

 

[92exploder4dr]

Update: The shift motor assembly is nothing like I've seen in any repair how-to's. The gear that spins the selector on the transfer case itself has the circuit board and "fingers" enclosed and you can't get to it. Also it doesn't have a screw with the nylon washer on it, it has a heavy duty metal stopper. So either the motor itself is dead or the 4x4 computer is dead. The fuse under the hood hasn't tripped either. I, for now until it gets warmer, just capped and taped any exposed wires and connectors, manually spun the transfer case to 4 high, and am going to leave the motor off for now. I'm lucky enough to have manual hubs so I will just lock and unlock the hubs for now to simulate going from 2WD to 4WD while leaving the transfer case in 4 High.

I knew there was a reason I prefer to buy manual transmissions and manual transfer cases.