4WD Low not engaging ... help!!!

[fastcougar]

I have a 96 Sport 4x4 with the 2WD/4WD Hi/4WD Low electronic selector. It snowed about 8-10 inches the other day and I went out to play on a back road that never gets plowed. Before getting into the deep stuff, I decided to stop, put the truck in Neutral and then shift to 4WD Low. 15 seconds later, I look down and the indicator light was showing nothing, like it was in 2WD. It also felt the like the car was stuck in 1st gear as it wouldn't accelerate past 25MPH. I put the truck in reverse and backed out of the trail I was on thinking it better NOT to get stuck. When I started to head forward again, both the 4WD Hi/Low indicator lamps started to flash along with the OD Off lamp. I promptly stopped the truck, turned it off and took a break and had a smoke. I turned the truck back on and shifted the selector into 4WD Hi and everything was back to normal. However, I no longer have 4WD Low. I'm pretty sure this is a problem with the transfer case. Can anyone shed some light on this???

 

[Nicaraguense]

From what you are telling us

Sounds like it WAS in 4 Low. 4Low is pretty low man. You will have trouble getting it past 25mph. As far as the lights go. I dunno. You might genuinely have an electronic problem.

 

[fastcougar]

Re: From what you are telling us

Originally posted by Nicaraguense
Sounds like it WAS in 4 Low. 4Low is pretty low man. You will have trouble getting it past 25mph. As far as the lights go. I dunno. You might genuinely have an electronic problem.

Trust me, it wasn't in low ... I was in 2WD ... the back end was all over the place. I am a great winter driver (license plate says CUNDSNO) and I know when I am in 2WD. The truck was definitely in 2WD. Everything is fine now except 4WD Low will not engage.

 

[Nicaraguense]

Sound like

Sounds like the electric enguage is burned up. But, I don't know that for a fact.

 

[fastcougar]

It must have been the cold weather. I think it was frozen because today it is 45 degrees outside and it is working again.

 

[Nicaraguense]

I have control trac

I guess I don't know what it is like to spin my rear tires anymore.

 

[Peter]

yeh well if it happens again, pop of the 4x4 control center or whatever its called on the dash, mabye the button is weird, mine gets like that somtimes..also crawl under and make sure all the wires going into the transfer case look ok, with no ice on them and etc, that could do it

 

[Blee1099]

Is it an intermittent problem? The reason I ask is because my GF's old limited X had the same problem. Her wouldn't engage in 4wd low but it was fine in 4hi or auto. Never could figure out why it did it. I first though maybe the wiring that sends the signal from 4WD LOW was at fault or possibly the TOD clutch but I never had the chance to find out. Unfortunately it was totalled earlier this year. Still miss that truck. Got to love those heated leather seats, message center, and all the other stuff my 97 XLT doesn't have.

 

[fastcougar]

Originally posted by Blee1099
Is it an intermittent problem?

That was the first time it had happened. The part that scared me the most was the 4WD and the 4WD Low lights flashing along with the O/D Off light! I had the tranny rebuilt at 87K miles (127K now) and I had a flashback of having to fork over $1200 and do without the truck for 2 days. Scared the crap out of me! I have had it in 4WD Low 3 times since without incident and everything worked great (climbing snowy/slushy hills).

 

[Jetstream]

Jetstream

I have a high milage (176,000) mile 2nd hand Explorer with control trac 4x4, occassionally the 4x4-HI and 4x4-Low will flash at the same time. I am assuming it is an input sensor acting up, currently there are no fault codes available...sounds to me like this is becoming a common problem. Anyone have any clues, or what sensor might be acting up? The rear ABS sensor has been replaced with a new one, which ties in, but still get the 4x4 flash.

Thanks
Jet stream
97 Explorer Sport
4.0L OHV V6
Control-Trac

 

[doug53224]

Flashing 4x4 high, low and od lights

I put my truck in low and was just about to hop the curb to pull a Hummer off of the football field at the local high school.
The cops showed up and said she would ticket me if I damaged the grass.
I was not going to take the chance.
The homie in the bling bling hummer must not have had it in 4wd or something.
Anyways, my truck would not come out of 4low, but the light did go off, like it should.
I was thinking the problem would go away after I drove for up the block then switch it in and out of 4hi, 4low and auto, However it did not.
Then while in 4low and not able to get out of it, the 4hi, 4low and the od off lights were blinking.
I drove it home, fired up the garage heater and put a fan blowing hot air underneath to warm it up.
Went into the house to look up the answer here and found it in under 5 min.
I disconnected the neg batt cable, hit the brakes, waited 10 min , hooked the cable back up and only the 4low light was on and the switch was in 4low.
Fixed. ooo yeaaa

I took a pic with my cell phone of the stuck Hummer.
If someone mails me I will sent it to them to post.


Thanks once again forum

98 Explorer Sport
No mods

 

[96eb96]

I had a few occasions where my 96 did exactly what the OPs truck did. I reseated and cleaned the GEM (behind the dash) and transfer case connectors with electrical contact grease and it seems to have cured it for a few years... I was told to do this as a first step by a dealer tech. I see it shows up occasionally on other explorers as well. It does seem to happen in very cold weather, could also be a something sticking or binding.

 

[garye]

why 911

why is this a 911 sounds like the truck is working:thumbdwn: