4wd won't disengage

[gman1]

I have a 92 explorer with automatic hubs and the front axle does not seem to be disengaging. I'm getting wind up noises on left turns and on straitaway driving. When I make right had turns the noise quits. We put the car in the air, put it in neutral and placed it in 2wd. When I turned the back wheels the front drive shaft and the front wheels turned.

Does anyone know what the solution is to this problem?

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

the shift motor on the transfer case needs to be cleaned/replaced. gunk gets built up inside of it and it and the gears will stop turning, which engae the 4wd. if this isnt helpful, do a search (ive always wanted to say that) good luck! tell us if that fixes it

 

[DeRocha]

I assume you tried to jog the shift motor by :

1) Putting the truck back in 4x4 and then off, then reversing direction to unlock hubs.

2) Putting the truck in 4x4 then 4x4 low then off, then reverse direction to unlock hubs.

 

[gman1]

I tried everything to disengage the 4wd as you described and I even tapped on the shift motor hoping that it would disengage. No Luck!

If there is gunk built up inside the shift motor, are you saying that this would cause the lights to go out and still not fully disengage the front driveshaft? Normally, I thought that the problem with the shift motors was one of not engaging rather than not engaging.

 

[NICE59FORDF100]

well, wouldnt hurt to open it up and look anyway, because it (shift motor) not working can be the result of either engaging or not engaging. where ever the worm gear and dial inside happen to be when it gets gunked up, well, thats where it stops. check it out, especially the springs and contacts on the armature.

as for the lights goin out on the dash, but it still be engaged.....could be the 4wd computer. its located behind the driver quarter panel (where the jack and the tire iron are located). there is a test you can do to the computer by pressing a white button, and watching the LED blink, but i forgot which is which (blinking light verses continous light) im pretty sure that if it blinks, then the computer is fine, there is something wrong with either the switch in the dash, or the shift motor. if the LED stays on, then the computer is malfuntioning. i think this is how it goes.

or it could ne the switch in the dash, but i highly dount this. but, still a possiblitly.

i really think it is the shift motor, because tapping it does not always work. when mine went out, i took a hammer and beat it, but it still didnt enage (yours would be oppisite) but thats my knowledge about it, maybe someone else will help ya out on the computer test.

peace, and good luck

 

[DeRocha]

As mentioned you will need to take the shift motor of the transfer case. This is the only link in the drivetrain which would allow the front axle to turn while in 2 wheel drive. Do you have a manual for this procedure?

When was the last time you used 4x4 and how often do you use it? I know that NOT using 4x4 on a reqular basis will cause problems on the entire front drivetrain.

 

[gman1]

Thanks Guy's

Thanks for the input.

It's really my son's vehicle (he's at college) and I don't think the 4wd has been used regularly. I don't have a manual, but I was planning on using the information from http://www.glue.umd.edu/~singletn/web/pages/tcase.html.


I guess I'll have to get under the vehicle, spray a lot of liquid wrench and get started.

Thanks again.

 

[KevinJTorres]

I had this exact problem 2 weeks ago. I figured since the lights went out, but it was still engaged, that something electrical had to be screwed up. I opened up the jack cover in the cargo area, and pushed the little white reset button on the 4wd brain relay thing. Then, I opened up the hood, and on the passenger side there is a relay box. I found the one for 4wd controls, and I checked it to be ok. I wiggled it around for good measure. Then, I disconnected the wires to the transfer motor and made sure they were clean. I put those back, ensuring they fit snugly. After doing all this I started up the truck again. (I should have done it after each item to narrow it down) Now I found the lights were on again. I hit the 4X4 button, and everything disengaged. Freak incident- I don't know. I engage the 4wd once a month for preventative maintenance. This is the first time this has happened. Maybe this will help you a bit.