94 Limited 4x4 Emergency

[kskuke]

Hey guys, I haven't posted on here in awhile and I appologize because I pretty much only post when I'm in need of some help but you guys always seem to help me out... I've got a 1994 Explorer 4x4 Limited.... when I bought it the Automatic Locking Hubs didn't work and manually locking hubs had been installed.... 4x4 has always worked like a charm, either in Neutral or rolling under 15mph, one press of the 4x4 button and away I went... as of tonight, with the hubs locked and all, 4x4 will not engage. I live in Michigan and we are experiencing a bad snow storm right now and I NEED my 4x4, don't really have the money for repairs as I'm saving money for a down payment on a newer Explorer so I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions/quick fixes. Thanks in advance!

 

[levishake]

i have a 94 limited also! it sounds like if your hubs are engauged then maybe your shift motor on the transfer case went out, very common. they usaully run around 90 bucks.I would craw under it and put your hand on the motor and have someone kick your 4 wheel in, see if you here or feel anything out of the shift motor.

 

[kskuke]

I'll cross my fingers it's something like that, my dad's the mechanic guy and his "guy" is going to check it out for me tomorrow... hopefully something cheap... I really with I had enough money to put down for a newer... As horrible as it sounds to you Explorer guys (as I am one myself)... I really want a 2000-2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee... they are cheapp around here

 

[Burns]

Here is the shift motor rebuild thread. Read up on this and you should be able to do it by yourself. This is most of the probs you describe.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123542&highlight=shift+motor+cleaning

 

[levishake]

the grand cherokee's are nice, there straight 6, 4.0l engines are tough also. would hate to see you get rid of explorer, if you ever part it out let me know.

 

[kskuke]

the grand cherokee's are nice, there straight 6, 4.0l engines are tough also. would hate to see you get rid of explorer, if you ever part it out let me know.

it's between a jeep and an audi A4 right now... I'm just out of school and on my own with a job now (out of Highschool, and stopped going to college), I'm only making about $25k right now but at 19, I can't complain.. when I turn 21 I'll be making 35k and I just don't know what to expect to be paying, what is the minimum to put down on a car (used, obviously), how much I should expect a monthly payment to be and what pricerange of a car to shoot for.... this has gotten completely off-subject, but I'm sure you guys have bought an automobile or two.

 

[Mud Bug 94]

my bro got an 02 ranger with 17,00 miles on it for $13,000... dont rember how much down but its like $200 a month...minimum which aint bad ...hes 20 and makes $34k a year...BTW try tapping on the shift motor with a hammer or rock it usually frees them up.

-Joe

 

[levishake]

we just bought an 01 expedition recently for 11,000, we dont have any credit so had to put 2500 down on it, it's a 2 year loan our are payments are 400 a month. I'm a stay at home dad, my wife is the one who works, but she's only 20 and she makes 70k a year. I would go back to working but what i could make a year would only pay for the childcare costs,lol. And thats the truth!

 

[Bruce R Leech]

give the shift motor a couple of tapes with a small hammer. it will work 90 % of the time to get you going. then when you have time take it apart and fix it. I have dine many of these and never had to buy one.

 

[kskuke]

give the shift motor a couple of tapes with a small hammer. it will work 90 % of the time to get you going. then when you have time take it apart and fix it. I have dine many of these and never had to buy one.

Thanks a lot guys, as usual.... you are a huge help... I got up this morning and tapped it with the hammer, and it went right into 4x4... my question, however, is should I still take it in to have that motor replaced, or do you think that it will continue to work?

 

[levishake]

I would replace it yourself, if your not sure what your doing then you guy buy a repair manual. Save you alot of money vs having an automachanic doing it. If it's working fine now chances are it's going to happen again, and maybe when you really need it!

 

[mikeinri]

Your wife is 20 and makes $70K??? What does she do (or can you tell us)?

I may need a new wife...

 

[levishake]

She's dancer, very good money, we pay taxes on it so it's all legal. and she only works 5 days a week, 7 hours a day during the day, no night shift. I used to an automachanic but the money i made hardly covered the expenses on childcare for my 2 children so now i stay home and take care of them. It drives me crazy though sometimes i miss having something new to work on everyday.

 

[kskuke]

I would replace it yourself, if your not sure what your doing then you guy buy a repair manual. Save you alot of money vs having an automachanic doing it. If it's working fine now chances are it's going to happen again, and maybe when you really need it!

If anything, I'll have my dad replace it because he knows what he is doing, but I'm just wondering if I can be safe atleast for a couple weeks without replacing it... because once it's nice out, my dad will start driving his Cobra, and I can borrow his truck while he fixes my shift motor. But if it's something you think will stop working again right away, then I'll cope with not having a car for a couple days, and have it fixed.

 

[levishake]

the thing is you wont know when it or if it will stop working again, It's did it once so you never know when it will do it again, I wouldnt want to take the chance where when you need it the most the motor will not work.

 

[kskuke]

the thing is you wont know when it or if it will stop working again, It's did it once so you never know when it will do it again, I wouldnt want to take the chance where when you need it the most the motor will not work.

Well, it's supposed to get warm outside here in a couple of days so I think my dad and I will try and tackle replacing the motor... it seems to be a fairly east job, hopefully this is true?..

 

[levishake]

oh yea, there real easy to replace, wont take you long at all.

 

[Bruce R Leech]

Just fallow the instructions on this board to take it apart and clean it up repair the Little plastic thingy. you will save 100 to 300 dollars that you can use to take your wife out for a night on the town. you need to do this because I am going to be after your wife if you don't take care of her.


Bruce

 

[mikeinri]

Get in line Bruce...

Seriously, all you other guys are focusing on the wrong part of this thread! Of course it's the t-case motor, he said he'll fix it.

Now, about finding wife #2 who's only 20, obviously smoking hot, and you can stay home and work on Explorers all day... Well, we can only dream!

BTW, my wife is in great shape, and we just recently had a beautiful baby, but she's no 20-year old dancer... LOL

Mike

 

[Bwana Bob]

Thanks a lot guys, as usual.... you are a huge help... I got up this morning and tapped it with the hammer, and it went right into 4x4... my question, however, is should I still take it in to have that motor replaced, or do you think that it will continue to work?

Do the shift motor overhaul, when you get the time. You can take the motor assembly off and work on it indoors. I just did mine and the job was very easy. The problem usually is not the motor itself, or even the position sensor (though you should clean both) but the plastic bushing on the gear stop. The bushing in mine was shattered and I replaced it with a short piece of 1/4" i.d. fuel line, as in the instructions.

The overhaul only cost me $5.00 for a hardened T20 security Torx bit.

If you want to replace the whole shift motor assembly, you can get them at NAPA, either new or rebuilt.

Bob

Bob