Front wheels not being driven

[ppytprs]

Hi!

I've got a 98 Explorer 4.0l. The drive to the front wheels has stopped working. Currently, it will shift into low range, but no drive to the front wheels in any range. I discover this when trying to pull my boat out of the water. It will normally do it happily in auto mode. A couple of weeks ago, it suddenly didn't work. At the same time, the transfer motor wasn't working either. I hit this with a hammer, and it engages now. But the drive to the front is intermittent. I had a couple of weeks ago it didn't work. Then last week it did. Then yesterday again it didn't. I assume it must be something electronic. Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks,

Paul

 

[410Fortune]

Paul, Your transfer case shift motor may be getting older and losing its ability to shift? They get "out of range" and will stop shifting until you smack it with a hammer

If the t case is in low range you should have output to at least one front tire, but remember with an open front differential the power will go straight to the wheel that slips
4wd is actually only 2wd, one tire in the back and one tire in the front, unless you have a limited slip in the rear or a locker.

Also the 98 v6 trucks use "control trac awd" these transfer cases can be problematic and stop working.... drain the fluid and see if there are any bits of white plastic in there..........the nylon "guides" inside the t case wear out and break leaving you with no 4x4
A BW1354 is a nice upgrade instead of the control trac cases..........

 

[ppytprs]

Paul, Your transfer case shift motor may be getting older and losing its ability to shift? They get "out of range" and will stop shifting until you smack it with a hammer

If the t case is in low range you should have output to at least one front tire, but remember with an open front differential the power will go straight to the wheel that slips
4wd is actually only 2wd, one tire in the back and one tire in the front, unless you have a limited slip in the rear or a locker.

Also the 98 v6 trucks use "control trac awd" these transfer cases can be problematic and stop working.... drain the fluid and see if there are any bits of white plastic in there..........the nylon "guides" inside the t case wear out and break leaving you with no 4x4
A BW1354 is a nice upgrade instead of the control trac cases..........

The transfer motor did stop working until I hit it with a hammer. It seems ok now.

The actual 4 wheel drive seems to be coming and going, so I don't think a worn out transfer case is likely. One day it works, the next it doesn't!
When working properly, the car will happily pull my boat out of the water in 'auto' mode. Today I put it in low range just in case and it came out. But on Saturday, it just spun the rear wheels in any range.

 

[drdoom]

Check the TOD relay. Check the electrical connector at the transfer case. Also back-probe the brown wire when in 4x4 HIGH (or LOW), you should be seeing approximately 6.0VDC.

 

[ppytprs]

Check the TOD relay. Check the electrical connector at the transfer case. Also back-probe the brown wire when in 4x4 HIGH (or LOW), you should be seeing approximately 6.0VDC.

Ok, thanks. What's the TOD relay and where do I find it?

 

[drdoom]

Ok, thanks. What's the TOD relay and where do I find it?

That is your "Torque On Demand" relay, I believe it is in the Power Distribution Box under the hood. Locate the TOD relay and try swapping with a neighboring relay that matches.

 

[ppytprs]

That is your "Torque On Demand" relay, I believe it is in the Power Distribution Box under the hood. Locate the TOD relay and try swapping with a neighboring relay that matches.

I'll take a look, thanks.

 

[drdoom]

I'll take a look, thanks.

I am only pointing out the simplest things first. Post back if you want further assistance, there are many great members here and a wealth of empirical knowledge.

 

[ppytprs]

I am only pointing out the simplest things first. Post back if you want further assistance, there are many great members here and a wealth of empirical knowledge.

It seems to me that it must be something simple because of the intermittentness of it. I dare say I'll be back!

 

[ppytprs]

It seems to me that it must be something simple because of the intermittentness of it. I dare say I'll be back!

So the Owners' Manual doesn't mention a TOD relay, and I've just looked in the power distribution box, and they're not labelled there. It says look in the manual.
I've also noticed that the manual available online doesn't match this car. I tried to look up a warning light recently, and the picture of the dash in the manual was different.