'92 4wd problem question

[92_explorer_4x4]

I have read about the issues with the 4wd...I still have one question before I start working on my problem.

Last snow storm the 4wd engaged (finally)...it worked fine for the most part...once in a while I'd hear a "pop" like the gears were meshing...but it kept on going... When I turned the truck off, went inside and came back out the truck was back into 2wd...is this normal? I thought it stayed in 4wd until I hit the button again? So everytime I shut the truck off and turn it back on I have to engage it? I would have tested this myself BUT now my 4wd will not engage...made for a crappy ride into work in 2wd in a snowstorm...luckily it was a small storm...

Any words of wisdom? I want to make sure I don't have a MAJOR 4wd issue...

Thanx...Guy(NH)

 

[88vert]

I would say it is your autohubs making the noise,they are probally junk

 

[Opera House]

Don't remember it doing that

There are some threads about rebuilding the motors. The only thing I would like to add to them is to run in the motor before putting it back on the case. I pulled out the seitch/gear and let it run with a brake lamp in series with the motor to 12V. The motor should easily run with the lamp in series. If it doesn't, it won't run reliably when attached to the electronic module. I cleaned and lubed mine and tried to run it on a bench power pack. It drew over 4A and the power supply went into current limit. Little more work on the motor and it dropped to 1 1/2 amp. Let thin oil work into it and ran the motor for a while and now it is 0.6A and runs easily with a lamp in series.