98 front diff not engaging

[rammunition360]

hey yall, ive searched a couple times but coudlnt seem to find my exact problem. have a 98 4x4 explorer, the switch says auto, 4 high and 4 low.
when the switch is turned it will illuminate the corresponding light on the dash board. the light does not flash. sometimes in 4 low it says 4 high though? im thinkin that it is a diff problem...anyway, with the front axle in the air i spin a tire the other tire spins the other way so im assuming the diff is good. im assuming the tcase is good since i feel a gear reduction in 4low and im assumig the switch is good since it illuminates diffrent lights and selects gears. what am i missing? are both auto hubs bad at the same time? is there a seperate actuator that could be bad? thanks in advance for the help yall

 

[rammunition360]

ok, i feel like an idiot because i mentioned hubs and there arent hubs. the drive shaft spins when i select 4x4 with the front wheels off the ground. do i have to drive this thing to activate 4x4 like the old trucks? you know the whole back up 5 feet whatever? i thought i felt a gear reduction in 4 low when i put this thing on the trailer to bring it home. ill check again today. i guess the ? is, what locks the front driveshaft to the rear driveshaft on this tcase? is it all mechanical? thanks in advance

 

[rammunition360]

just double checked. does gave gear reduction in 4 low. but does not engage front driveshaft. any help here would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Turdle]

Do you happen to have an ABS light displayed? Correct me if I am wrong, but I "think" the transfer case uses input from the abs sensors to detect wheel spin, which then engages the front drive.


You might try this simple trick. Disconnect the front ABS sensors, reconnect them and try again.

You might also search the site for " brown wire mod" and check if this has been performed to your truck.

Brown wire modification involves installing a switch to "turn off" the front drive and allow true 2wd operation.

 

[rammunition360]

ill be damn. upon further inspection i found a "factory looking" toggle tucked in beside the radio. bam 4x4 locked in. will this switch hurt anything? btw this is strictly an off road truck and Just for helpin me and responding, ill let you pick the nickname for this ole wheelin truck lol.

 

[Turdle]

Sweet, the BWM has been done for you.

It should be no harm, however if you do not care about 2wd you can just take out the switch and solder the wire together. I can see how a switch "might" be an issue on the trail.

I recommend getting a photobucket account set up so you can show us pictures of your truck, and a little about yourself, area etc and I bet then we all could help choose a name for the rig.

Better yet-get yourself an elite subscription and help support our forum. You will then be able to upload pictures directly, where they will stay without using a picture hosting site.

 

[rammunition360]

i like the 2wd option, but, i read that it isnt good on the tcase if i were to feed the homeless with 2low donuts..is this true?