4Low not working

[masospaghetti]

Hey all,

I drove an Ex with 4 wheel drive for the first time the other day. I was driving maybe 3-5 mph and shifted into 4Low. There was an enormous clunk, the truck shook, and 4-low engaged. Now 4Low will not engage.

What may have been damaged? And how difficult is it to replace?

Thanks all

98 Explorer, 4WD, 5-speed manual.

 

[drdoom]

You should not have engaged 4LOW in that manner...read the manual, you must be stopped, foot on the brake, in neutral. Same to disengage.

It is hard to say exactly what could have been damaged, but possibly just the shift fork or shift shaft. Personally, I do not find repairing the 4405 case to be difficult. YMMV

 

[masospaghetti]

Yeah I know that now, but now I need to deal with it.

Although that brings up another thing - why would Ford even allow 4Low engagement when moving if it is destructive to the system?

 

[yavapaires]

Well, on my 96 Ex 4 low will not engage if not completely stopped with a good amount of pressure on the brake pedal, and in neutral. Even with the old type 4x4 system (manual), you couldnot shift into 4wd low without being stopped. I have owned a bunch of 4x4 trucks, used them hard, and never had any trouble as long as I treated them right.