4wd problems

[Ballistic223]

I have a 92 explorer that I drive as a work vehicle and use during bad weather. Today it was very ice and I kicked 4 hi in and went on my break at work. Later when I tried to disengage 4wd it will not come out, no relays clicking nothing. I even opened the 4wd comp compartment and had my wife push the button to kick it out and nothing. I hit the reset button on the bottom of the computer and the red light came on and didnt not go off, no blinking or anything. Anyone have any ideas on this? I searched teh forums and couldnt find anything like this.

 

[troy11556]

well is the 4x4 light on still????
if its not manually disengage it and see if it reengages when you move forward or backward. try to engage it again and see if the hubs are actually engaged.

 

[DeRocha]

I have a 92 explorer that I drive as a work vehicle and use during bad weather. Today it was very ice and I kicked 4 hi in and went on my break at work. Later when I tried to disengage 4wd it will not come out, no relays clicking nothing. I even opened the 4wd comp compartment and had my wife push the button to kick it out and nothing. I hit the reset button on the bottom of the computer and the red light came on and didnt not go off, no blinking or anything. Anyone have any ideas on this? I searched teh forums and couldnt find anything like this.

Did you read through the 4x4 troubleshooting guide?

Things to try

• Gently tap the shift motor on the T-case to jar it into making better contact.
• Unplug the Battery for 10 minutes (which will reset all the computers in the car).

 

[Ballistic223]

The light on the dash and on the switch went off when I turned off the truck and turned it back on. But it is still in 4wd. I was wondering if it is normal for the light on the computer to stay on when the button is pushed.

 

[DeRocha]

The light on the dash and on the switch went off when I turned off the truck and turned it back on. But it is still in 4wd. I was wondering if it is normal for the light on the computer to stay on when the button is pushed.

How do you know it's still in 4x4?

From the troubleshooting guide you must 1st unplug the two connectors on the left side of the module before you press the button..

Checking the 4x4 module (rear trunk).
Unplug the two connectors that plug directly into the module (left side), turn the key on and push the reset/test button on the module. The LED should flash four or five times and stop. If the LED flashed the four or five times, the module believes it is ok internally, and you'll need to check the external parts like the 4X4 switch, shift motor, magnetic clutch and wiring harness. If the LED did not flash at all or kept flashing continually, the module is telling you that it is damaged internally. (check for power & ground).

 

[troy11556]

get under and manually turn the shaft 1/4 to half a turn that will disengage the hub. the move forward listen for the hubs to click telling you they reengaged. if they do then tap the shift motor on the transfer case. if it dont engage try engaging 4x4 again. and listen to hear the hubs engage. if they do disengage and drive in the opposite direction and listen for the hubs to disengage. its easier to hear with both windows down.

 

[Ballistic223]

Ok,

I know that 4wd is not disengaging because when you go to drive, it is very obvious. Try a differnt 4X4 switch and that is not the culprit. If the shift motor is messed up will it cause the relays to not click?

 

[troy11556]

yes the shift motor can cause it. but the question is how do you know its not disengaging. not to assume your stupid but i had people tell me that to find out it is disengaged. but what i am trying to figure out is if the problem is the shift motor/transfer case or if the problem is with the hubs. both can cause the problems you are talking about. now if its not disengaging did you manually disengage the hub by turning the shaft a1/4 to half a turn. and the other question is when you reverse direction do you hear the hub disengageing and reengaging. the auto hubs on these will do that. thats y you dont try to rock the truck out if it is stuck.......we need a little more information to be able to help you.

 

[Ballistic223]

The hubs are working like they are supposed to. And it is very obvious that it is still in 4wd when you get on ice/snow in parking lot and hit the gas I am going to try and tap the shift motor and see if that will let me get it into 2wd and if that dont work I will just pull the shift motor and manually put it in 2H, then either just try to rebuild the one on it or buy a new one.

 

[DeRocha]

Did you disconnect the battery to reset the 4x4 computer? If the computer got into a funky state it may need to be reset (pushing the reset button may not work).

A broken stop bumper only causes problems ACTIVATING 4x4. It will not cause any issue deactivating 4x4.

 

[troy11556]

you dont have to remove the motor to manually disengage it.

 

[DeRocha]

you dont have to remove the motor to manually disengage it.

If the T-case is Stuck in 4x4 how can you get it back to 2H manually without removing the shift motor? :scratch:

 

[troy11556]

the motor turns the shaft if the motor is stuck in 4wd and you manually turn the shaft it will disengage the hubs. now if its a problem with the motor they will reengage then i would reccomend checking the wires to the motor on the t-case. but if they stay dis engaged then it will limit where the problem is hence if they reengage them look at the hubs themselves. if they dont the problem is behind the shaft and the motor or t-case....... just remember to either back up after you turn the shaft to listen for the hubs to disengage"or the opposite direction of the last travel direction". if they dont disengage then its the hub's remember the hubs on the gen 1's will engage and in oposit direction disengage and reengage. thats y rocking is bad if the hubs are not disengaging at all then the problem is with them not the t-case or motor.

 

[DeRocha]

the motor turns the shaft if the motor is stuck in 4wd and you manually turn the shaft it will disengage the hubs. now if its a problem with the motor they will reengage then i would reccomend checking the wires to the motor on the t-case. but if they stay dis engaged then it will limit where the problem is hence if they reengage them look at the hubs themselves. if they dont the problem is behind the shaft and the motor or t-case....... just remember to either back up after you turn the shaft to listen for the hubs to disengage"or the opposite direction of the last travel direction". if they dont disengage then its the hub's remember the hubs on the gen 1's will engage and in oposit direction disengage and reengage. thats y rocking is bad if the hubs are not disengaging at all then the problem is with them not the t-case or motor.

Your above statement Only details how to manually unlock hubs nothing about how to manually disengage 4x4. The original poster Ballistic223 indicated he is stuck in 4x4 and it isn't just locked hubs. As such the ONLY way to manually disengage 4x4 is to remove the shift motor and rotate the selector shaft back to 2H.