BigDaddy1515
New Member
- Joined
- February 2, 2010
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Central Massachusetts
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 02 Explorer XLT
ok, here go's. I have an 02 Explorer XLT w/ auto 4wd. One day I got a flat on driverside front tire. Repair shop(Who is my best friend also owns/runs an extremely successful Auto Body Shop). He called and said the flat cannot be repaired, vehicle needs tire so he ordered 2 new tires for the front. Later that day, mounted the new front tires and delivered the vehicle to me. I drove approx 15 mins without any noise or issue THEN ba bang...it started!!! repeatedly, there was a constant loud thumping/banging underneath the center of my car. I activated the 4WD "High", it reduced the feel of the thumping but it still existed.
The next day, I took my truck to another mechanic(Friend). He diagnosed my Explorer as needing a new transfer case, "The clutches are slipping".
I took my Explorer back to my best friend, explained what is happening. He knew nothing of the "Mechanics" diagnosis. He unplugged the transfer case communication plug and test drove the vehicle. My Explorer was quiet. NO Thumping. WE were "Baffled" and called a local Ford Dealer and inquired, they knew nothing. They said it sounds like a wheel sensor, maybe...That is an expensive "Maybe". Seemed like NOBODY truly knew what this was.
I went home and began researching this issue. On this site and a few others, I located information that specifically addressed the "Thumping" noise.
REMEMBER...I had brand new tire on the front end w/ older tires on the rear end, my explorer has Auto 4WD.
TRUE DIAGNOSIS.....their are speed sensors on all wheels and a speed sensor on each front wheel shaft and rear wheel shaft. If they do not match each other as they turn, they send a signal to the transmission and engine, telling the car that either front or rear wheels are slipping. There rotation is not the same, rear wheels cover less ground.
THINK ABOUT THIS....new tires have much more tread covering more ground as they roll compared to the used rear tires, which have to turn more to cover the same amount of ground, thus sending different signals to the transmission, not matching the turn coverage, thus activating the AUTO 4WD, resulting in the thumping or banging that is heard.
I read similar blogs and sites, I had 2 new tires placed on the rear end AND...NO NOISE...My explorer is running and driving perfectly, without that ungodly banging sound, so far...
HELPFUL HINT.....If you measure around the tire tread, a complete round circle of front tires compared to rear tires that tells you the distance cover by a full turn/rotation of each tire, from front tires compared to rear tires. Some of the other treads say if their is more than a 1/4 inch difference, it will through of the wheel speed sensors off, resulting in this issue. SO you decide, I hope this is very helpful. NOBODY could really answer or diagnose this problem for me, I was told, Transfer case clutches are slipping, wheel sensors are bad, etc... but I properly diagnosed this problem and repaired it myself. I got 4 brand new tires on my old baby and it is great now. Hope others find this information helpful.
"let;s get ready to rrrrrrrumble"
The next day, I took my truck to another mechanic(Friend). He diagnosed my Explorer as needing a new transfer case, "The clutches are slipping".
I took my Explorer back to my best friend, explained what is happening. He knew nothing of the "Mechanics" diagnosis. He unplugged the transfer case communication plug and test drove the vehicle. My Explorer was quiet. NO Thumping. WE were "Baffled" and called a local Ford Dealer and inquired, they knew nothing. They said it sounds like a wheel sensor, maybe...That is an expensive "Maybe". Seemed like NOBODY truly knew what this was.
I went home and began researching this issue. On this site and a few others, I located information that specifically addressed the "Thumping" noise.
REMEMBER...I had brand new tire on the front end w/ older tires on the rear end, my explorer has Auto 4WD.
TRUE DIAGNOSIS.....their are speed sensors on all wheels and a speed sensor on each front wheel shaft and rear wheel shaft. If they do not match each other as they turn, they send a signal to the transmission and engine, telling the car that either front or rear wheels are slipping. There rotation is not the same, rear wheels cover less ground.
THINK ABOUT THIS....new tires have much more tread covering more ground as they roll compared to the used rear tires, which have to turn more to cover the same amount of ground, thus sending different signals to the transmission, not matching the turn coverage, thus activating the AUTO 4WD, resulting in the thumping or banging that is heard.
I read similar blogs and sites, I had 2 new tires placed on the rear end AND...NO NOISE...My explorer is running and driving perfectly, without that ungodly banging sound, so far...
HELPFUL HINT.....If you measure around the tire tread, a complete round circle of front tires compared to rear tires that tells you the distance cover by a full turn/rotation of each tire, from front tires compared to rear tires. Some of the other treads say if their is more than a 1/4 inch difference, it will through of the wheel speed sensors off, resulting in this issue. SO you decide, I hope this is very helpful. NOBODY could really answer or diagnose this problem for me, I was told, Transfer case clutches are slipping, wheel sensors are bad, etc... but I properly diagnosed this problem and repaired it myself. I got 4 brand new tires on my old baby and it is great now. Hope others find this information helpful.
"let;s get ready to rrrrrrrumble"
