97 xlt transfer case problems

[capt morgan]

Wife said the 4wd light started flashing, so I took the explorer to what I thought was a good transmission shop, they told me I need to take transfer case out for $650.00 plus parts and labor.. to find the problem? sad. I guess he did not have the computer to read the codes! I crawled under the car when I got home only to find the vent hose fell off and lost a lot of trans fluid, of course the shops did not mention this problem....added more fuild all was fine....right? wrong, about 2 months later the wife informs me the car has a wierd popping noise and binding feel when she turns. so I go for the test drive that night. wow that was a loud noise, only turning, I did it a couple of time then snap.... all is fine? wrong, about a 6 months later it snows, alot!, wife calls said she had to walk home about 2 miles up hill because 4 wheel drive dosnt work, I took it to a REAL shop with a computer,they told me I need a speed sensor, the car has 3 speed sensors, which one?, still no power to the front output shaft, goes into 4h & 4low, only at the rear wheels????? HELP HELP HELP

 

[NHale623]

There are three speed sensors on your transfer case. Two of them are used by the GEM for the transfer case operation, one for each output shaft. The rear sensor is a piece of cake, the front sensor sucks to get at because you have to remove the shift motor from the transfer case to gain access.

Ask the shop who did the diagnosis which sensor had failed.