Help my explorer only drives in 4low

[jp1985]

Help !!

Today i was driving my truck and it started to make grinding gear noises and seemed to slip out of gear. :roll:

I was trying to make it home and just barely made it when it would complete not shift. it was like putting it into neutral and reviling it anytime i tried to shift it.

I can freely shift into any gears as it sits on my driveway without putting the clutch in.

So i was worried it was either the transmission or the clutch.

My dad was helping me trouble shoot it when he said try 4 high, and still nothing. He said OK now try 4low and it worked perfectly with hub's locked and without and i could do any gears. i only took it like 500 feet to make sure if anything went wrong we could easily push it back.

anyone ever have this happen to them or know what it could be? My dad thinks it could the linkage in the transfer case.

Thank you for any info or advise ahead of time.

JP

 

[kyled07440]

I had something similar happen to me, it was the transfer case.I drove in 4 high for a few days with hubs unlocked and front driveshaft out.then it completely blew.

 

[natenkiki2004]

I've heard of this happen a few other times, it's usually the transfer case. I'm not sure what dies inside that causes this but it definitely sounds like the transfer case.

 

[jp1985]

That's what I was thinking,but not sure of what in the transfer case. Are transfer cases expensive to fix or replace? When I thought it was the transmission I was thinking of scrapping it but I really like my truck and dot want to have to do that

 

[jp1985]

err my shopkey pro says it will be a 6.0 labor hours to fix and 1164.25 for the transfer case making it a grand total of 1813.96 to fix pull and rebuild or replace the transfer case.

Wonder how much cheaper it is if it only the linkage??? and would it still have to be R&R?

thanks all
JP

 

[RangerX]

Are we talking about a manual shift T-case, or push button electric?

You can pick up a used T-case for a couple hundred, and replace it yourself if you case is indeed shot.

 

[jp1985]

its for a manual lock.

 

[kyled07440]

I got a manual t case from a junk yard for 200 bucks.i replaced it in my drive way with a foot of snow, and 20 degrees outside.not too hard to do, especially if you have a garage.lol

 

[jp1985]

I drove it in 4low to the local mechanic. paid 45 to have it diagnosed. It is indeed the T case. They want 412.50 for parts labor to completely fix it. how much are T cases new or used, and how hard are they to replace? if its not to hard to replace i may try and do it myself and save some cash.

The mechanic said he was able to take it out and drive it up to 40mph and shift all gears just fine .
When i shifted it into any gears when not in 4 low it did nothing. Just revved and acted like it was in neutral. He said he took it up to 40mph and shifted through all 5 gears just fine, but it acted like it was stuck in 4 low.

just trying to decided if 412$ is fair or if i should try and find a T case used or new and do it my self.

thanks for all the help on it i was able to tell him what we had thought it was, and probably saved some time on diagnoses.

JP

 

[natenkiki2004]

kyled07440 said he paid $200 for one from a junkyard, unknown condition. He likely had to pull it himself. Then, you get it home and have to remove the old one, disconnecting both drivelines and removing it from the transmission. For $412.50 out the door (better be with a warranty), that sound pretty damn good to me.

But, if you have a space to work, tools and are familiar with drivelines and can find a good working transfer case, do it yourself.



But... you said it's for a "manual lock". Does that mean manual locking hubs? If so, is the transfer case electronic (push button) or is there a stick on the floor that you engage?
If it's electronic, check this thread out:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=202166

 

[jp1985]

manual locking so you cannot use electric shift transfer case they are more of a PITA to find. I found 3 used for 150 already pulled but have horrendous millage. one had 268k and the other had 220k.
I kept searching around and found one at the other shops in a different state. its 150 and it only has 170k miles on it,but would have to pay 50 for shipping.
so 200 for a non rebuilt original with 170k miles.

the quote was actually 514 dollars i accidentally pushed the 4 when trying to push the 5.

So it would be 200 for me to fix it myself+ my own labor. I have a bud who is good at mechs and i think i will ask him tp help so i can do it for 200$

whatda guys think?

 

[natenkiki2004]

Mileage wouldn't worry me much with something like that. The problem is, you don't know if someone was using 4x4 on pavement and severely stressed out the internals. It could have 300k summer miles with very little 4x4 use, you just don't know.

For $514, get a couple cases of beer and have your buddy come over for a good time while you two sort it out.

 

[kyled07440]

I wouldn't pay the 300 in labor for it.if you have the right tools.which isn't anything fancy...it should only take like an hour or so.remove ends of driveshafts.I like to make marks first.but that's your call.unhook Speedo cable.and linkage.remove bolts to t case.remove.clean surface where it meets to tranny.I used some rtv and bolt it all back together.I think that's about it.

 

[jp1985]

was indeed the chain in the transfer case. Took me a long time to track down a manual shift tcase, but i finally got it and ended up putting it in under 3hours not a profession mechanic
Thanks for the help and info guys.