4 wheel drive problems

[taiedman45]

OK I've been having this problem for a while now, my 4wd kicks on when I'm driving on the highway and i don't notice it till i get back into town and take a tight turn. the lights 4wd high and low both flash i think 6 times? and its like every minute or so that they do. and sometimes i cant shift it from 4 high to "auto" but the shift motor shifts in and out of high and low nicely. I've been doing some research and a lot of people say that its the hall sensors on the transfer case. the thing is my case was serviced not too long ago when my trans was so i was wondering if i should try and pull the sensors and clean them or just flush the case? im wondering if there are some little metal filiing that were still in there and made the sensors read wrong.

 

[gijoecam]

Without knowing what trouble code is being stored, it's a guessing game at best. It'll take a high-end diagnostic scanner to read the trouble code stored in the GEM. Any dealership can do it (for a fee, of course).

You can try by changing out the rear axle speed sensor on the top of the rear differential. It fixes the problem 3/4 of the time. if it doesn't fix the problem, you're only out another $15 and 20 minutes of your time to change it.

Search and you'll find tons of possible other causes.... But it's a guessing game at best unless you find out what code is stored.

 

[taiedman45]

yea well i know that the lights are flashing 6 times every minute, does anyone know the flash codes for a 98? i also know someone that works at a ford dealership so i can always just ask him but i haven't been able to get a hold of him in a while, just looking for a quick fix.
oh and Ive tried to pull the sensor off the transfer case, ill try the rear diff too, but with the sensor on the case im afraid im gonna pull to hard on the wires and break it. you guys know if there is an easy way to get it out?

 

[gijoecam]

IIRC, you have to remove the screw that retains the sensor.

Regarding the blinking light, 6 flashes doesn't mean a specific code. It's only the indicator that there is a code stored. It's no indication of which code is stored.

 

[taiedman45]

well ill see if i can get it scanned at the dealership or see if the sensor is making it act up. one step at a time i guess, thanks for the help man.