92' XL: 4WD not engaging, Winter is coming!

[Donner]

How's it going?

I have a 92' Explorer XL with electronic push-button 4wd. After pushing the button, nothing happens and the 4wd will not engage.

First of all, what is the proper procedure for switching into 4wd? By the way, I have automatic locking hubs which are working ok.

How is the 4wd actually engaged by the button? An electronic actuator? A vacuum connect?

Any response so far? (By the way, this is a very nice set of questions you've asked. This is mechanics 101 for me, so thanks! :exp:

 

[JDraper]

Burns posted the proper procedure for putting it in 4wd above. The actuator is electronic in nature, not vacuum controlled. The shift motor going bad is a common problem. Check out the 5th sticky in this forum for the solution.

Remember folks, most of this information is readily available with that little button named "search" or by browsing the stickies at the top of the forum.....

 

[ki1022]

Burns posted the proper procedure for putting it in 4wd above. The actuator is electronic in nature, not vacuum controlled. The shift motor going bad is a common problem. Check out the 5th sticky in this forum for the solution.

Remember folks, most of this information is readily available with that little button named "search" or by browsing the stickies at the top of the forum.....

Thanks for the help, Ill try checking the shift motor and that sticky thread.

I know I know, search..... This my friends truck and I know nothing about it so I figured it would just be easier to post my question.

Anyways, thanks for all the input. You guys reply pretty fast!! I will be sure to update this thread if I diagnose the problem.

 

[Donner]

Good deal!



Hope to see the results posted.

(I appreciate the search feature too, but it is not interactive. How do we get people [like average me] involved - search is okay, but like in this case, somebody called(?) a friend for help when something went wrong, the friend came here, and hopefully both the poster and friend will come back about this and other things...

There's a lot to be learned here, and sometimes when the first response (which didn't happen here) is "go search" or "see link", you can miss a lot from an honest poster. I appreciate the conversation and the explanations (and the humor) is what I'm trying to say.

(Maybe this is a suggestion reply, ah well... nice work!

 

[R.J.]

start with the simlest possible problem and work up from there. if it doesn't go into 4wd high, check the easiest things first. fuse, electrical connections, hit the shift motor with a hammer (like you would a starter).

shift motor is a common problem.

i had had a problem that my truck wouldn't go into 4wd. cleaned up the connections on the motor/t-case and it worked. also found out you have to push the clutch in on a manual trans ex to go into 4wd low

 

[ki1022]

I never updated this 2.5 years ago, sorry.... so I will now. Way to dig up an old thread, right? :

It turned out that the electric motor that connects the 4wd was seized up. Just had to whack it with a hammer a few times to loosen it up, then the 4wd worked just fine. It did great in the snow all winter!

 

[Scaryjerry58]

New here My old lady just bought 92 ford sport very clean one owner, $1600 has 146.on it, having the same problem with the 4WD button, no light comes on, I Will check the fuses and relay. THANKS