low range trobble

[unabonked]

On Saturday, while coming back from sledding with my friends, I stopped to help out at the scene of an accident. It happened on a snow and ice covered (very steep) hill. I fliped into low range and made my decent (even the other 4x4s wern't willing to go down the hill). After making sure everyone was alright, i returned onto the main road. The low range would not disengage, and i ended up driving about 20 miles at 15 miles an hour to my ford dealership. I could hear no noise of when i fliped the switch from low to auto or 4x4 high.

I'm getting other repairs done to the truck at the same time (air bag and new leafs to replace my monos), but was wondering what the probable cause was. Is this common? The way my dealership works is i talk to the mechanic rep and not to the actual mechanic, so he isn't much help.

 

[Robert]

Occasionally the transfer case shift solenoid can get hung up and not allow you to shift into Low or back out of Low. It usually happens when you don't use your 4x4 frequently but can also happen for no apparent reason (part failure). Did you try turning off your Explorer and restarting it when you discovered it wouldn't come out of Low? That causes the solenoid to go to its home position and can sometime get it working properly again. I had a strange occurance on mine once immediately following the removal of my solenoid (by me). The first time I used 4x4 Low several weeks after messing with the solenoid, my Explorer made a loud "whirring" sound after I put it back in Auto after what amounted to about a 20 mile off-road trip, all in Low range. The frequency of the "whir" tracked my speed and was very loud. I pulled over, and put it in Park. I revved it up and the noise was gone. I put it into Reverse to get back onto the road when it acted like I was in neutral accompanied by the "whirring" noise. I shut it off and restarted it and it worked fine all the way home. My guess is that you have a problem with your transfer case shift solenoid.

 

[unabonked]

yeah, i tuned it off, fliped the switch, turned it on still nothing, i even tried roling backward while off to try and slip it back in (it used to work with my mom's) still nothing. now my truck is getting fixed for the 2nd time in 2 weeks. not only that but the fools at ford messed up me Hella H3 lights instalation so i had that fixed at a mechanic, they messed it up too! i need the damn things water proof, but my factory stock fogs keep going out on the drivers side. but thats for another thread

 

[TPLYNCH]

Disconnecting the battery for a while can fix also. If that doesn't work, taking a rubber mallet (gently) to the T/F case shift motor has been known to free it up.

 

[unabonked]

Well i brought it to ford. the transfer case blew. My ball joints also wore out and my airbag was defective. $2400 to fix it. This is 2 weeks after i had it brought to a family friend who is also a mechanic and getting repairs that cost 1200

maybe i should be a lil lighter on the gas.

 

[TPLYNCH]

I hope you were still under/or have an extended warranty......