4x4 locked in and can get it out

[captain77]

i have a 2000 4x4 explorer xlt and the 4wd is stuck in 4wd high...can any one suggest anything to fix it, could it be the motor or the switch that has gone bad. fell free to email me at amilkman77@gmail.com



thanks
andy

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! See if the motor turns.

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

welcome

 

[IZwack]

The problem is purely electrical (switch, 4x4 module, etc..) -- 4HI engagement has nothing to do with the shift motor. Try disconnecting the battery for a few minutes. If that doesnt work, disconnect the transfer case's electrical connectors so you can drive around.

 

[IZwack]

I'm going to paste this here because Private Messages is a poor way of collaborating in a forum environment:

the transfer case motor harness goes to three different locations. The yellow and orange wires go to the transfer case motor. The blue, gray, green & brown wires go to a fitting on the rear of the transfer case just below the drive shaft. The last three wires gray w/red trace, green & black go to a fitting just to the left of where the transfer case motor mounts. all wires mentioned above are part of the motor harness.
With the transfer case motor disconnected from the vehicle we checked for voltage at the motor brushes. When the selector switch was switched to hi we got 12 volts on the yellow wire and the switch in the dash clicked for about 5 seconds. when the clicking stopped the voltage went to 0. we then switched the selector to auto we got 12 volts of the yellow wire, again the switch clicked for about 5 seconds and when it stopped clicking the voltage went to 0.

The brown wire is what you are after -- that is what provisions 4WD engagement. If you need more info on this wire, search for the "brown wire mod".

 

[BrooklynBay]

I've been sent a few PM's about this too. I suggested that the clicking noise might be coming from the 4X4 module in the dashboard.

 

[gijoecam]

I've been sent a few PM's about this too. I suggested that the clicking noise might be coming from the 4X4 module in the dashboard.

Except there is no 4x4 module in the dash... The GEM controls the Transfer Case Shift relays (which are located in the dash) but there is no stand-alone 'module' to swap out.

The quick simple and dirty way to troubleshoot this problem: First, we need to ascertain if it's a mechanical issue with the case or an electrical gremlin in the control system.

Reinstall the shift motor.

Disconnect the large 12 pin (or is it a 16 pin??) connector at the transfer case. Take the vehicle for a drive. The lights will be blinking, but that's OK. If the binding persists, it's a mechanical issue with the t-case. If the binding is gone, it's an electrical gremlin we need to ferret-out of the system.

Start there and report back.

-Joe