Howling noise in 4x4H

[FloridaState]

So I'm totally ignorant when it comes to 4x4 and stuff, this Explorer is the first vehicle I've owned with 4x4 and I've yet to truly use it. But I flipped on 4x4 high today just for kicks and I noticed a rather loud howling/wistiling noise when I accelerate.
Is this normal, or is it a cause for concern?

 

[Glen4X4]

I see you're in FL and you say you just flipped it on. What were the road conditions when you turned it on? If you were on dry road when you turned it on then the noise is because the driveline was binding. You should be on an area where the front tires can slip for the 4wd to be on. Turning the 4wd on when on dry flat road will cause premature wear on the drive train and could cause something to break since both front wheels are driving themselves the same speed and they're not meant to do that on dry, or flat land.

 

[FloridaState]

It was just regular dry, flat road. I guess I won't to that again. lol

Did I just mess something up? Or am I okay from just doing it once for not even a half-mile?

 

[Glen4X4]

You should be fine just don't do it again until you're off road on uneven surface or mud or a reason to need the 4wd or you will screw something up. But for that short of a period its nothing.

 

[FloridaState]

Okay, good. Lesson learned.

Thanks for your help!


Oh, while you're here, I've always wondered if it's good to use the 4x4 in the rain? I hear conflicting stories all the time. But I have the "auto" on my X, so I assume that is sufficient enough, correct?

 

[Joe Dirt]

Yeah, not necessary in the rain to have it on...

 

[Electrohacker]

depends how cold the "rain" is, lol

freezing rain and sleet it may become necessary

 

[Glen4X4]

Yes unless you're getting some freezing rain then it may help you but on ice 4X4 isn't a big help. Auto mode is all you need until you get sleet/hail/snow/freezing rain. If you would use High on rainy roads you're going to encounter the same howling noise because the rain does not provide enough slippage on the road, but mud you can.

 

[FloridaState]

depends how cold the "rain" is, lol

freezing rain and sleet it may become necessary

Yeah, I don't have to worry about that too much in Florida. But it does freeze here, especially in Tallahassee because we're so far north.

A lot of people don't know it freezes down here too.

The worst part is nobody is prepared for it down here. Like a couple weeks ago, when it was 13 degrees, I had a sheet of ice so thick on my windshield I couldn't see, and, being in Florida, I didn't have anything to scrape it off with. So I had to wait for it to melt enough for the wipers to break the ice up. I was late for class. It sucked.

 

[Glen4X4]

you should have lightly tapped on it with a broom or shovel handle to break it up, I've done it when i broke my ice scraper

 

[FloridaState]

you should have lightly tapped on it with a broom or shovel handle to break it up, I've done it when i broke my ice scraper

I will have to try that next time. I don't have a shovel but I do have a broom. I'll keep that in mind!
I probably won't need it until sometime next winter, I think it's almost done being cold down here. Highs been in the 50s and 60s for the past week or so and it's PERFECT weather. We may get a few little cold spells, but nothing like a few weeks ago. "Winter" ends early in Florida.

 

[Elessar65]

Personally I would just leave it in "auto" until you are actually off road, or in some real snow (unlikely in Florida). It is good to turn it on and test it out though, the Low range also. Find a gravel lot or something and make sure everything is working as it should. I've found that if its never used it gets gummed up so to speak and doesn't want to engage when you need it.