4x4 flashing but...

[Elliott hopson]

ok i just inherited this 04 explorer from my grandma and tbh, i dont think she ever used the 4x4. I wanted to see if it worked so today when i put it in 4x4 low, nothing would happen but blink 21 times, it would go in 4x4 high no problem and didrngage no problem. So i pulled the code and it was a u2023. I then cleared and tried again, now 4x4 low and high both work but flash 6 times prior! They seem to engage and disengage no problem besides the 6 blink flash! Note the only way to disengage is by pressing 4x4 auto, is this normal too? Whats the deal?

 

[imp]

@Elliott hopson
I own a 2004. To leave 4X4 AUTO and go to 4X4 HIGH involves depressing the "HIGH" button momentarily, at any time, moving or standing still. The "HIGH" light will immediately illuminate. DON'T do it on pavement!

To leave 4X4 AUTO and go to 4X4 LOW requires stand-still and depress and hold brake pedal while momentarily depressing 4X4 LOW button. It sometimes takes a short time to engage, especially if not used ever. During engagement, the "LOW" light may flash until it engages, during which time the brake pedal must remain depressed, or it will back out.

To go from 4X4 HIGH back to "AUTO", simply momentarily depress the "AUTO" button, at any time, standing or moving. To go from 4X4 LOW back to either HIGH or AUTO, the vehicle must be standing still, and the brake pedal depressed. 4X4 AUTO is the position used for most all normal driving conditions.

The front wheels are driven by an "Electronic Clutch" which allows HIGH to be engaged simply by pushing the button. LOW involves actually moving parts within the Transfer Case, driven by an electric motor, a process which might take a number of seconds to accomplish. AUTO applies the clutch only when wheel slip is detected, and on certain road surfaces where frequent wheel slip can occur, like packed mud with soft spots here and there, the clutch may turn on and off rapidly resulting in a quite uncomfortable, noisy jarring. If that happens, simply depress 4X4 HIGH. DON'T FORGET to go back to 4X4 AUTO before going back on pavement! imp

 

[Elliott hopson]

@Elliott hopson
I own a 2004. To leave 4X4 AUTO and go to 4X4 HIGH involves depressing the "HIGH" button momentarily, at any time, moving or standing still. The "HIGH" light will immediately illuminate. DON'T do it on pavement!

To leave 4X4 AUTO and go to 4X4 LOW requires stand-still and depress and hold brake pedal while momentarily depressing 4X4 LOW button. It sometimes takes a short time to engage, especially if not used ever. During engagement, the "LOW" light may flash until it engages, during which time the brake pedal must remain depressed, or it will back out.

To go from 4X4 HIGH back to "AUTO", simply momentarily depress the "AUTO" button, at any time, standing or moving. To go from 4X4 LOW back to either HIGH or AUTO, the vehicle must be standing vstill, and the brake pedal depressed. 4X4 AUTO is the position used for most all normal driving conditions.

The front wheels are driven by an "Electronic Clutch" which allows HIGH to be engaged simply by pushing the button. LOW involves actually moving parts within the Transfer Case, driven by an electric motor, a process which might take a number of seconds to accomplish. AUTO applies the clutch only when wheel slip is detected, and on certain road surfaces where frequent wheel slip can occur, like packed mud with soft spots here and there, the clutch may turn on and off rapidly resulting in a quite uncomfortable, noisy jarring. If that happens, simply depress 4X4 HIGH. DON'T FORGET to go back to 4X4 AUTO before going back on pavement! imp

Really great info thank you soooo much! So im thinking its working fine, the blinking on 4lo is just the switching going on inside the transfer case. Hope i didnt damage anything, i actually turned with it in 4x4 so i could tell if it was working, which it was. Im definitely not turning it on while on pavement anymore. Didn't realize how hard on everything it is!

 

[imp]

@Elliott hopson
To get an idea of why 4 wheels all connected to the same rig make it difficult to move around a curved path, if you ever have the chance to move by hand, a small trailer having 4 wheels, grab the hitch and try to pull it around a curved path. The tires have to "scrub" since they move about different length radius. This is why drive axles must have differentials in them. A solid "differential" called a "spool" is often used by drag racers and macho enthusiats. Both wheels must turn at the same speed at all times. We used to weld the diff. gears to the case, then skipped and hopped in and out of the burger joint to show off the "locked" rear end. Teen-agers! imp

 

[TechGuru]

A lot of the issues here are kinda answered in the owners manual (referring to turning 4x4 modes on/off)

http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/catalog/owner_guides/04expog3e.pdf