2000 explorer sticks in 4 wheel low

[jarged]

2000 EXPLORER XLS OCCASIONALLY STICKS IN 4 WHEEL LOW AND WILL NOT COME OUT. i KNOW THE PROCEDURE OF HAVING TO HAVE THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH ENGAGED AND IT WORKS SOMETIMES AND OTHER TIMES NOT.
tHIS SEEMS TO BE A SOMEWHAT COMMON PROBLEM - ANY IDEAS WHAT IS CAUSING IT ?

 

[KPT]

Shift motor. There is a thread somewhere on cleaning it or more specially the contacts that tell the GEM what position the motor is in.

 

[jarged]

Thanks for the reply.
I could not find the link or reply you referenced, but I did take the sift motor off and the outer cover that contains the electronics is a sealed unit and not serviceable.
Any other ideas ?

 

[gijoecam]

Without being able to see what the GEM is seeing in terms of inputs and outputs, it's a guessing game at best. Could be an intermittent lack of signal from the neutral safety switch or the brake on-off switch, could be a bad motor, could be a bad switch a $3 relay.... It's tough to guess where the problem lies. 5 minutes with an NGS or WDS scanner at a dealership would pin the problem down.

Now, in general, I would expect that if the system was TRYING to get the case back into high range and failing, it would flash a trouble code. I would lean towards the system not trying in the first place, and that probably eliminates a few things, like the motor itself and the relays (but again, no way to know for sure without a good scanner and a knowledgable tech).

 

[jarged]

Thanks for the reply.
The problem is very intermittent, so trying to catch it on the scan tool is almost impossible at this point.
After what I have been reading I am thinking it has to do with the shift motor and not knowing what position it is in from time to time. I will pull it apart again and take another look - it seems to make the most sense.
Most of the time it works - in fact I can have the key in the on position (KOEO), depress the clutch and brake and place the selector dial from auto to 4 high and to 4 low and hear rthe shift motor working just fine. There is no signs of any strain on the motor at all.
I will see what happens tonight and try to re-post what I found.
Thanks !