Just bought a 96 Explorer Sport 4x4 need help with 4wd

[mccoyxx]

Hey ppl. I just went today and got me a 96 Explorer Sport 4x4 with a V-6 ... the man I purchased it from said sometimes when you are going slow it sounds like it is trying to engage into 4wd without hitting the button inside. He said it never does it at anything higher than about 30mph , but this sounds like it could end really bad if I don't do something ... any suggestions/fixes? .. thanks ... RSM

 

[Cyanoacrylate]

Some suggestions

Does it actually go into 4x4 (e.g. light won't light when you push the button)? If not it could be the 4x4 motor problem (search the forums - you'll find the fix well documented, had to do it for my '92 ranger - worked great).

If it sort of goes into 4x4 (light goes on but doesn't get the additional traction of the front wheels), it could be front a wheel bearing / locking hub problem (the auto locking hubs are confusing - someone could have reassembled them incorrectly).

Also could be noise coming from the transfer case, transmission, etc. which mimics the 4x4 engagement sound - mine usually just sounds like a loud click / clunk.

You'll probably need to verify where the noise is coming from (e.g. have someone run alongside the truck while its making the noise) to try to identify the problem.

Oh, if it shudders when starting from a stop, while turning right or left, it could be a differential problem - that is also known and supposedly an easy fix but I don't know what it is. Forum search recommended.

BTW my experience is all with gen1 Explorers / Rangers (92 ranger, 94 explorer) and yours is a gen2 so YMMV re my comments above.

 

[mccoyxx]

To be honest I dunno exactly

It hasn't done it with me so far, but it does shutter when i am stopped sometimes. I was sitting on the 4 lane the other day waiting to turn and it felt like I was giving it gas and holding the brake at the same time ... just kinda jumpy feeling ... even when dead stopped ? ... it does need a wheel assembly though , its very rough and makes a roaring sound and when i get to around 50-60 mph it feels like I'm riding horseback ... not really funny, but very different to be in a vehicle doing that .... anyways I am going to try to get the new hub assembly soon and maybe this will correct the problem ... as I said it hasn't felt like it is trying to go into 4wd to me ... it just gets noisy in the transfer case sometimes a little and kind of rattles ... just going to replace the hub and see how that goes, then probably just drive it til something breaks ... then I'll know for sure what the culprit was .... thanks for the info though, will try to check things out a little more thoroughly when I put the hub in ... RSM

 

[gijoecam]

Does it actually go into 4x4 (e.g. light won't light when you push the button)? If not it could be the 4x4 motor problem (search the forums - you'll find the fix well documented, had to do it for my '92 ranger - worked great).

Not on a 96. Different system, and the shift motor's got nothing to do with it.

If it sort of goes into 4x4 (light goes on but doesn't get the additional traction of the front wheels), it could be front a wheel bearing / locking hub problem (the auto locking hubs are confusing - someone could have reassembled them incorrectly).

No locking hubs either. 0 for 2.

Also could be noise coming from the transfer case, transmission, etc. which mimics the 4x4 engagement sound - mine usually just sounds like a loud click / clunk.

Nope. No clicking or clunking involved on a 96. 0 for 3

BTW my experience is all with gen1 Explorers / Rangers (92 ranger, 94 explorer) and yours is a gen2 so YMMV re my comments above.

Aaaah, that explains it.... Wrong ball park....

 

[rockcrawler]

i was kinda stumped when i started but then you said the hub was bad. just my experience- i had one going bad so i ended up getting a deal on 2 hubs and ball joint. while i was doing that i also did a service on all my fluids so that when i started to look into 4x4 prob i had a fresh fluids(eliminate contaminant factor) never had problem since. my 4x4 prob though was just lights would come on. if it is engaging yours is more severe than mine.

 

[mccoyxx]

Hey guys thanks for all of the responses. I think I am going to do just that by the way, I found a deal on 2 hubs online. Does it really matter which brand ? I know many parts are made cheaply and I don't want to replace them and wait 3 or 4 months and have to do it over. I found some Timken I believe they are for around $65 each on Ebay ... says they retail for around $150-200 , but most places I looked they are about $130 - 140 ish ... would those be better than any other brands ? ... this is my first 4wd and I don't plan on roughhousing it much, just using it when I need it for snow and mud mainly. I just want to get everything working properly. Also ... any suggestions as to why it would sit and feel like I am pressing the brakes and gas at the same time while its stopped ? It does this with or without the brake pedal pressed. Weird ... anyways thanks again for the replies and keep'em coming guys ... RSM