4wd/trans problem. What is it?

[koedyker89]

okay, so i bought my wife a 99 explorer xlt V6 4wd for christmas. well the day after i drove it off the lot the O/D light starts flashing, so I take it to a trans shop to pull the code and its 2nd gear ratio. they say it needs rebuilt. so i have them put another trans in and its fine for a day, then comes back on so then they put another trans in it, same thing. so i knew its not just the trans. so I started driving in 4wd high and bam theres the problem. noise while turning and sometimes decelerating (kinda jerks). Then i stopped and put it in 4wd low and it makes a noise (maybe grinding, assuming its not locking and unloking properly). I need to know whats up I spent $3000 on the thing then $1600 on the trans that may or may not needed replacing. all the thing I have read are similar in situation but not exatly and alot of them have different solutions. help me her christmas gift suck just a little less.

 

[masospaghetti]

Sounds like two unrelated issues.

1 - Transmission throws a 2nd gear ratio code that persists, even after two transmission replacements.

2 - 4WD system is suspect.

I unfortunately have no experience with the 5R55E transmission so hopefully someone else can chime in.

Regarding the transfer case, it is NORMAL that there will be noise and binding while turning while in 4WD HI - all four wheels are locked together, and when you turn, not all wheels travel the same distance so there is a lot of stress on the 4wd components, hence the noise and binding.

Does it not engage 4WD low at all? It just makes noise? It could be your shift motor not engaging properly (or out of adjustment), or internal to your transfer case.