HELP!! '97 Explorer Control Trac stuck in 4x4 Low??

[UnorthodoxCreat]

Well I decided to do a little offroading tonight in the snow we just got and wound up getting myself stuck. I was using 4 wheel high then switch to low. Before I gave up getting unstuck I tried switching back to high but the low light will not go off no matter where I put it. I got yanked out by a Bobcat and drove 10 minutes to home and the 4wheel low light still wont go off. I havent verified as just getting home was my main concern but I think it is stuck in low not just the light on. Any ideas? Could it have been from reving too high? What can I check first? Need to know ASAP.

 

[IZwack]

Well first lets verify that the vehicle is indeed in 4LO: are the RPMs about twice as high as they should be?

 

[UnorthodoxCreat]

I put in in 2nd gear (2) and at 20mph its about 3K rpms. I'd guess thats twice as fast but I couldnt say for sure. Pretty sure its in full time 4WD cause it wont slip around at all like normal, just goes where you point it. Could hear a little whining so I'm guessing it really is stuck in low.

I've been searching and read it needs to be in neutral to be switched into low. Its quite likely I didnt do that but I'm not sure. Never got stuck like this so was thinking the best.

 

[IZwack]

Agreed -- it really is in 4LO. Okay well with that, theres a little trick that seems to work for ppl on this forum: put the rotary switch on the dash back to AUTO and then disconnect the battery cables. Wait a few mins and then reconnect it and see if the transfer case goes out of 4LO.

 

[UnorthodoxCreat]

I unhooked the battery and then hooked it back up. I started it up and it was still in Low so I put it in reverse and it made a really weird sound so I quick put it back in Park. The noise stopped and all 4WD lights went off. Took it for a spin and all seems well again. Slips then grabs quickly in Auto, goes like it should in 4WD high. Hopefully theres no serious damage done and learned my lesson. Thanks very much for the help.

 

[lilhitman2986]

change the atf in the t-case

 

[operator52]

That happened to me once in my 97 ranger and I simply pulled the fwd fuse then reinstalled and all was well