AWD problem and a few others

[Blackstang3o2]

97 Mountaineer AWD V8

I noticed in the recent snow fall we have had here that the awd system in my mountaineer really dont seem to work. I tried to get up a icey hill and i was just spinning. So i rolled down the window hung my head out and noticed only the rear would spin the front would only catch only so often when the front would start it would climb and then the front would stop spinning and i would make no progress. The same hill in my awd eclipse the eclipse would run right up it no problems. Is the ford system designed this way or do i have a big problem. What can i do to correct it. It just seems to be rwd with front assist when it feels like it.

I have also noticed duing the day when i puch the overdrive button it lights up but when i turn my headlights on the od light does not stay on. Is this normal?

This is a great web site and everything I have figured out about this truck i own to this site like my brakes, shock install and i have learned my headlight swich is supposed to light up. I just couldnt find the answers on these two.




Thanks,
Mike

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

you mean whent he o/d light off button is depressed the light comes on......it is supposed to do that. The o/d is automadiclly on when you start the truck.

 

[Blackstang3o2]

you mean whent he o/d light off button is depressed the light comes on......it is supposed to do that. The o/d is automadiclly on when you start the truck.

yes the light comes on the dash but if i turn on the headlights the light goes out, if i turn the headlights off the light comes on. I think i have noticed this problem before with the awd not being functional but i dont remember if it was my mountaineer or not. I just noticed the overdrive light the other day. I know i had the same problem in my svx the awd stopped working and it became fwd the was just a trans probelm that was fixed. Im probally just gonna run it down to the local trans shop and see what they say. I dont have any other problems it drives great any other time.