Just bought 05 drivetrain problems!

[nhwoodshome]

I bought a 2005 explorer 4.0 with RSC. When I'm on slippery wet pavement moving from a dead stop if the tires spin or slip I get a violent grabbing, grunting, vibration noise. It almost seems to come from the front axle but I'm not 100% sure. The vehicle has 117K and it even did it when I went from a paved road to a dirt road once. Someone said it was the vacuum operated front hubs not engaging but I thought they were constantly engaged. I couldn't get it to stop unless I stopped and turned off the vehicle and restarted. As a side note I bought an extended warranty from ( Autosave ) and reading the fine print the warranty is worthless, $500.00 might as well been flushed down the toilet! You also have to have the oil changed every 4K or 4 month's at a lube center or the warranty is void! Most internal engine and trans components aren't covered as well as axles! Any suggestions? Praying it isn't in the transfer case.

 

[Dave8338]

Sounds like a few things are happening.
The grunting / groaning could be the traction control trying to engage the front diff and or the ABS kicking in, to control traction. 2005 was the first year for RSC and it sounds like it is trying to engage.
Unless they changed the hub set up in 2005 (don't think so), they are not engaged at hubs, it is done in the transfer case. Could be a sticking transfer case shift motor...

If your right rear tire is worn significantly more than the other three, is can exaggerate the problem.

 

[05XLimited]

If the wheel sensors detect different speeds at the wheels the automatic 4X4 will kick in and attempt to get all wheels spinning at the same speed. Sometimes the auto 4X4 kicks in abruptly and makes noises that sound terrible. Does the grinding and grunting continue after the slipping has stopped?

 

[nhwoodshome]

Yes it continues to shudder, until I shut off the vehicle and restart, I turned off the RSC and it made no difference. A trans shop said they have seen this before and think I have a tire that has a circumference that is off by at least 1/4 inch even though they are all the same size and none have been replaced. They say they have a tool to check the circumference. I also have a 2000 explorer and I had to replace a tire after 10K and it didn't cause any issues. It has TPMS, all the pressures are at 40PSI and the message center flash's tire pressure monitor, but after I reset it's off until I do a restart. It has BF Goodrich rugged trails half worn.