4x4/speedo problem

[jcolley]

Hey guys, new guy here. I have a 03 Sport Trac 4x4 XLT. I was driving through the pasture a few weeks ago and put my truck in 4wd high with no problems. I crossed a small mud hole without any problems at all, and then parked and shut off the truck for about 10 min. after restarting the truck and turning around I got stuck in the mud, really should not have gotten stuck its just a spot that never dries out completely, then I realized that my front tires were not spinning. I tried to shift to 4 low but the light would not cwitch from 4 high. After messing with the switch I finally got to 4 low but same problem with tires not spinning. After being pulled out I could not get the 4 low light to go off at all, and the truck was still in 2wd. When i got out on the highway and uo to about 60 mph I looked down and speedo showed i was running about 25- 30mph. When I got home I unplugged the 4x4 control module, and the 4 low light shut off. I drove down the road again and speedo seemed to be working just fine. I reconnected the 4x4 cm and light came back on and speed screwed up again. Its now unplugged again but winter is coming so I need to get it fixed. Does anybody have any idea what would cause this? I think I need a new 4x4 cm, but wanted to get other opinions before i buy a new one. Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

[John_Rock]

1st - Procedure for going into 4-Low

• Stop the truck
• Keep your foot on the Brake
• Put the gear selector in Neutral
• Turn the switch to 4-Low
• Wait for the 4-Low light before going into Drive or Reverse.

Same procedure to take it out of 4-Low except turning the switch to 4-High or 2-High.


When you were in the mud how do you know the front wasn't turning? Because you couldn't see the front driver's side tire spinning? The front differential is an Open differential. So which ever front tire has less traction will be the one that spins. So maybe the front passenger side was spinning??
Was the 4-High light on?

 

[jcolley]

My brother was standing outside the truck watching the tires after i said i thought that they were not spinning. the 4 high light came on as soon as i turned the switch the first time and when i finally got it in low it went out. now only the low light is on no matter where the switch is turned to.

 

[jcolley]

OK, I have tried tapping on the shift motor, and unplugging the 4x4 cm for 20 min hoping it would reset, but no luck. Im guessing its the 4x4 cm thats bad, any other ideas before I drop $190 on a new one?

 

[John_Rock]

When you move the switch to the 4x4 High mode, do you hear any clicking noises coming from the 4x4 control module? If no, then it's probably the control module gone bad. If you do hear the clicking then it's probably the shift motor at the transfer case.

 

[Project_Sparta]

I wish ford would have made a manual tranfser case

 

[John_Rock]

I wish ford would have made a manual tranfser case

They do. It's just usually put in Ranger 4x4 trucks. You can find them at the junkyard and swap it in. Same model # as ours, it is just a BW1354 manual transfer case.

 

[jcolley]

Yea it clicks when I try to shift to 4 hi or 2wd either one, but the 4 low light stays on no matter where I turn the selector. And it stays in 2wd, it won shift out.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Have you put the truck in neutral first and then turn the knob to turn the 4x4 low off?

 

[jcolley]

Yep, neutral and foot on the brake.