4WD won't disengage

[dirtjockey44x]

This is my first post, so please go easy on me if I'm being a little repetitious here about a common / previous topic...

I own a 1998 Ford Explorer XLT, V6. Everything is stock. I use if for about everything that I can - driving to work, hauling ATVs, occasional light Off-Road, etc. After some snow / ice driving about a month ago, I switched it back to 2WD. (switch on the dash). I immediately noticed that the heavy pull from the 4WD didn't go away. I first shrugged it off as being an ice / cold thing keeping it from disengaging. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

It's still locked in 4WD. I have taken the front drive shaft off to save my drivetrain and tires. Is there a quick fix or home fix that I can do?Is there anything I can do to troubleshoot the transfer case issue? I read about a "brown wire mod" in a post that I read searching on this topic. What is it and would it work?

I'm a decent mechanic. If it's a driveway or garage fix, I can pretty much handle it. I don't want to resort to taking to a mechanic who I'd pay to do the same thing that I could do.

Anything that you could recommend would be great. Thanks!

 

[TPLYNCH]

Try disconnecting your battery for ~10 minutes first and see if that fixes it. also, make sure all the electrical plugs to the T/Fcase and shift motor are still intact. If that doesn't work, you can pull the shift motor, clean it and reinstall (see thread in the usefull threads forum).

Worst case is the T/F case is seized - there is a recent thread with the exact same topic floating around in which this was the case I believe.

 

[gijoecam]

Actually, pulling the shifter motor won't make any difference. If simply unplugging it doesn't work, pulling it won't help any more as it's not the shifter motor that engages the front end.

Indeed there was someone else with this same exact problem recently. If you unplug the harness with the brown wire in it from the transfer case, it is guaranteed to cut power to the TOD coil inside it and should disengage the front driveshaft. If it doesn't, it's toast and needs to be torn apart and rebuilt.

-Joe