does my 4 wheel drive still work

[ccbyrne]

I was driving up a hill that hadn't been plowed yet and my back end skidded onto grass. I started going up the hill in 4 wheel drive and currently all four tires are on mud and grass. the two back tires are spinning and the front ones are doing nothing. I have it set to 4x4 high, tried 4x4 low too and still the front wheels look as if they have no power going to them.

 

[99bugeye]

had that same problem with my 99 sport. Put it up on jack stands and tried the 4x4 that way. Manually turned the the shaft on the transfer case and it worked in both high and low. Had to replace the transfer case motor.

 

[shadowless127]

deff sounds like a bad t-case motor. When you turn on 4Lo do you hear a "clunk" sound?? if not then your t-case motor isnt engaging.

 

[stkline81]

Same Problem 97 XLT

I have the same problem. I'm currently stuck in my driveway in 2 feet of snow. The 4wd light comes on on the dash & I hear the "clunk" but the front tires don't spin at all. Any suggestions?

 

[ccbyrne]

yea i hear a clunk and sometimes a bit of rattling. its like it really wants to go but just can't quite get there. ha i admire the effort though.

biggest snowfall of the year and my ex isn't even gonna get shoveled out. when i can afford it i'm gonna have to get someone to look at it. from what i've read it's almost definetly the transfer case or transfer case motor.

 

[xdviper]

Even while it's on Auto, it won't move the front tries just a little bit?

Today was about 8-12inches of snow in Newyork and man did I have a blast. Donuts, Drifts, you name it, I did it today.

 

[FishinFord]

I came into a slight problem, when i switch mine from auto to 4x4 high its fine, and lights up, but when i go to 4x4 low, nothing happens and 4x4 high still stays lite on my dash? And ideas? the 4x4 high works fine, used it today in 18" of snow, but idk whats up with the low setting. ALSO its a 99 XLT.
-Kug

 

[xdviper]

FishinFord, did you engage the transmission into N before putting it on low?

 

[FishinFord]

no i didnt thanks, i completely forgot about that.

 

[xdviper]

Yeah...

I think I found out something about my X today, I got stuck in about 1 1/2 feet of snow/ice a couple hours ago, i couldn't get out so I put it in 4x4 high, and only two wheels were spinning, the right front and the right rear, but when once i put it back on auto, all 4 started spinning... I did manage to get out on auto instead of 4x4 high.

is that normal?

 

[bluestream1]

Yeah...

I think I found out something about my X today, I got stuck in about 1 1/2 feet of snow/ice a couple hours ago, i couldn't get out so I put it in 4x4 high, and only two wheels were spinning, the right front and the right rear, but when once i put it back on auto, all 4 started spinning... I did manage to get out on auto instead of 4x4 high.

is that normal?

That makes no sense. All it does by going into auto is to have the ECM sense wheel slipage before it powers the "brown" wire to send power to the TC ball ramp type clutch to lock in front output shaft. If you don't have the Trac Lok option all you can expect is one wheel on each axel to spin when stuck.

4x4 high locks the clutch at all speeds. Not to use this on dry pavement as the wheels can't slip

 

[xdviper]

That makes no sense. All it does by going into auto is to have the ECM sense wheel slipage before it powers the "brown" wire to send power to the TC ball ramp type clutch to lock in front output shaft. If you don't have the Trac Lok option all you can expect is one wheel on each axel to spin when stuck.

4x4 high locks the clutch at all speeds. Not to use this on dry pavement as the wheels can't slip

I'm pretty sure I have the control trac option on the X as it says it under the Explorer emblem. But when stuck today auto had all tires spinning meanwhile 4x4 high just had 2 wheels spinning. Wouldn't it always be spinning all four wheels if it was on 4x4?
Thanks

 

[99SportX]

Because you have open differentials (not lockers or limited slip) you will only have two wheels spin when stuck. It sucks, yes. I have been stuck in only a few inches of snow when I had open diffs on each end. It is pathetic. On an open diff, the power will go to the wheel with the least resistance (i.e. no traction) which does not help at all.

The 4hi and 4 low settings only lock the link between front and rear so they will receive equal power and spin at the same speed.

The fact that you had different results between 4hi and auto may just be a fluke. Those settings have no effect on the differentials.