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Feels like it's stuck in fulltime 4X4

patrickemb

New Member
Joined
January 20, 2007
Messages
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City, State
oklahoma
Year, Model & Trim Level
99 limited
I have read dozens of post and can find nothing similiar to my problem. I have a 99 limited explorer V-6. I have made one post and got no answer. Thought I would try again. Have learned a little more about my problem. Every time I make a turn either direction it feels like the front wheels and drive are wanting to lock up or in full time 4X4. I have checked out the CV joints and they appear fine no boots are cracked or broken. Can you have a bad joint if the outward appearence is fine? Droped the front drive shaft and the problem goes away. Pulled the T-Case motor checked it, seems to operate as it should. Thought about the brake line going from the steel to caliper replaced drivers side but didn't fix problem, other side looks ok as well. hubs seem ok also. Any one have any ideas, this is really driving me a little nuts, don't mind fixing it if I just knew what to fix.
 



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If when you take the front drive shaft out and it fixes the problem, that sounds like the 4wd is engaged. You can get under it and shift the t-case out of 4x4 manually.
 






Do I take the T-Case motor off and manually turn the shaft? When I took the motor off to see if it was changing positions when I moved the knob on the dash I noticed the letters L - N - H stamped on the housing of the T-Case. The motor went from H to L when turning the switch on the dash. It never stopped at the N position. Is that where is need to be for 4X4 AUTO?
 






If when you take the front drive shaft out and it fixes the problem, that sounds like the 4wd is engaged. You can get under it and shift the t-case out of 4x4 manually.

Uuuh, not on a 99 Limited.

First we need to narrow it down to being either a mechanical problem or an electrical problem. Take it on a short drive to make sure it's locked-up. Then, lay underneath it and unplug the transfer case shift motor connector. It'll be a square plug, with 16-pins and 14 wires. Your 4wd lights will blink, and the CEL may come on, but don't worry about it. Take it for a short drive with the connector unplugged and see if it still feels like the 4wd is engaged. If so, it's a mechanical problem with the case. If not, it's an electrical problem, and we'll have to troubleshoot further.

Try it out, check back, and let us know what you find.

-Joe
 






I have already tried that. read one of your earlier posts. It still did it with the motor unplugged. I expected to see the lights on the dash come on like you said but I never got any lights on if that makes a difference.
 






I have already tried that. read one of your earlier posts. It still did it with the motor unplugged. I expected to see the lights on the dash come on like you said but I never got any lights on if that makes a difference.

Then we know it's a mechanical issue with the t-case itself, not an electronic issue. You'll need to drop the case and see what's going on inside. I suspect a problem with the TCCC binding up. Parts will be fun to find... May want to look at a salvaged unit, rebuilt unit, or start hittin' people up for parts.

Also, can a moderator please move this to the appropriate forum? Thanks!

-Joe
 






I might also add that the lights on the dash work. When I put the car in neutral and brake on shift to 4X4 high the dash light comes on and the same in 4X4 low. Is the t-case motor supposed to stay in and allign with the "H" stamped on the housing when in the auto mode or move to the "N" stamped on the housing?
 






H.

The shift motor does not have anything to do with the transfer case lockup. The transfer case shift motor is only used to engage and disengage the planetary gearset for low range. Lockup is handled by the transfer case clutch coil which is controlled by the TOD relay or the GEM itself.

Therefore, if you unplug the transfer case connector and the problem persists, you know it's not an electrical issue causing the GEM or TOD relay to engage the case.
 






Guess I'll be dropping the t-case. Are there any threads out there on how best to do it and any problems I might encounter?
 






I have read dozens of post and can find nothing similiar to my problem. I have a 99 limited explorer V-6. I have made one post and got no answer. Thought I would try again. Have learned a little more about my problem. Every time I make a turn either direction it feels like the front wheels and drive are wanting to lock up or in full time 4X4. I have checked out the CV joints and they appear fine no boots are cracked or broken. Can you have a bad joint if the outward appearence is fine? Droped the front drive shaft and the problem goes away. Pulled the T-Case motor checked it, seems to operate as it should. Thought about the brake line going from the steel to caliper replaced drivers side but didn't fix problem, other side looks ok as well. hubs seem ok also. Any one have any ideas, this is really driving me a little nuts, don't mind fixing it if I just knew what to fix.

yes, it is possible for cv joints to be bad even though it looks good from the outside...it might make a "clicking" sound when you make turns in either direction. I think there is an electronic actuator right on the transfer case that turns it on and off....try disconnecting it and actuate the 4wd by hand and see if the driveline turns like its on 4wd.
 






yes, it is possible for cv joints to be bad even though it looks good from the outside...it might make a "clicking" sound when you make turns in either direction.

However, when he dropped the front driveshaft, the problem went away. If it was a CV joint issue, the problem would have persisted, but it did not.

I think there is an electronic actuator right on the transfer case that turns it on and off
No, there is not. As I already explained in my previous post, the shift motor is solely responsible for the low range planetary engagement and disengagement. It has nothing to do with the lockup.

....try disconnecting it and actuate the 4wd by hand and see if the driveline turns like its on 4wd.


Again, if you had read the previous posts, you would see that he already did that (by unplugging the connector) and the problem persisted (verivying that it's a transfer case internal problem)

-Joe
 






This happened to my '99 back in 2001. It was a mechanical lockup and would not disengage 4wd. I ended up getting another tcase from a junkyard and swapping it out.
 






im having very similar problems with my 98 AWD 5.0L. there is a grinding, groaning noise coming from what feels like the front when i make a turn from a stopped position.

As stated above, with the AWD, can i trouble shoot this but getting the symptom to occur then unplug the 4wd actuator and see if it goes way to start to narrow this down?

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178145
 












im having very similar problems with my 98 AWD 5.0L. there is a grinding, groaning noise coming from what feels like the front when i make a turn from a stopped position.

As stated above, with the AWD, can i trouble shoot this but getting the symptom to occur then unplug the 4wd actuator and see if it goes way to start to narrow this down?

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178145

Nope. The AWD case behind the V-8s is a full time transfer case that uses a viscous coupling. It's function is completely different than the system in the V-6s. Unplugging it doesn't disconnect anything.


Now, that being said, your noises could be a bunch of other things... U-joints, CV joints, and other axle components can make those noises. If you could describe the problem a bit more in-depth (when it does it, how it sounds, what changes the noise/feel, etc) we'd all be happy to help!

(Please start a new thread for it though. Thanks!)

-Joe
 






thanks Joe,
heres the thread
 






Then we know it's a mechanical issue with the t-case itself, not an electronic issue. You'll need to drop the case and see what's going on inside. I suspect a problem with the TCCC binding up. Parts will be fun to find... May want to look at a salvaged unit, rebuilt unit, or start hittin' people up for parts.
Hi! I have this situation with a 1998 Explorer.

Why are the clutches binding up? Because they're worn?
I'm guessing that the ball-ramp (cam assembly) is forced into the locked position by something (no electrics hooked up for that matter).

I recently changed the chain but assembly was the reverse of disassembly. And besides it was acting the same way before (before the chain slipped, now the tires slip).
 






I pulled the front drive shaft late last winter. I figured that I would repair it before this winter. The problem has been fixed. Oldest daughter totaled it sat. night before Christmas. One way to solve the problem.
 






I pulled the front drive shaft late last winter. I figured that I would repair it before this winter. The problem has been fixed. Oldest daughter totaled it sat. night before Christmas. One way to solve the problem.
That's exactly what I want to avoid as my sister drives the Explorer. The front drive shaft was out for a while but I put it back after changing the chain. Winter has been mild but the cold is back (-12 degrees Celsius today) and they don't want to pull the drive shaft any more.

What needs to be changed? The clutch pack?
 



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I also have the same problem with my 98 explorer sport. I made a tread asking about it before I found this. Without the front drive shaft there is no binding. I'll have to put the drive shaft back in and disconnect the wires to see if the problem is mechanical. I had thought about doing that, but I was not sure if the wires were unpluged if it would tell the T-case to stay in 4H. I'll give it a shot tonight and report back with my findings. Thanks guys.
 






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