clunking in and out of 4x4 mode. Please help?

[ShawnNoffy]

The clunking happens mainly when I am going up a slight hill. Seems to me like the 4x4 engages and disengages over and over. I can feel the steering wheel pull left or right when the "clunk" happens. Usually is has a "binding" sound/feel to it as well. Today when I was coming up to a stoplight and pressing the brakes, I could feel the ABS "crunching" feel in the brake pedal. It seemed like the ABS was kicking in.

Now, when the binding and clunking happens, usually to get it to stop, I press the "4x4 High" button, followed directly by pressing the "Auto" button just above it. This disengages the 4x4 mode for the time being. Until it happens again.

I am not sure what is going on and would love some insight.

Thank you,
Shawn

 

[apenland01]

tires

You can use the search feature in the forum to find many posts about this issue.

Generally it is from mismatched tires and it forces the 4x4 to switch on and off because the PCM thinks the tires are slipping.

The Explorers are very picky about tire sizes and just a few millimeters can cause this to happen.

The main thing to check is that all 4 tires are exactly the same brand and exactly the same size with similar tread life. If there is any discrepancy, you will likely have a problem.

There could be a mechanical problem, but 9 times out of ten, tires are the problem.