Need An Opinion........

[Aussie_jase]

Hi guys,
Just need some advice. I recently had a problem once again with the 4x4 on my 97 xlt on the weekend. When changing from 4x4 low back to auto the 4x4 lights would flash six times together every minute or so. It doesnt always do it, sometimes it will change once or twice and then the third time it will be stuck in 4 low with the flashing light. I know this code can mean bad speed sensors but the lights never flash when driving normally or when in 4 high? , only when i want to change from 4 low. So i took it to the ford dealer, they said they couldnt find anything wrong with it and the car works fine..... Obviously it doesnt or i wouldnt be getting stuck 40 klm from home with the truck in 4 low....crikeys. Anyways, i got it back yesterday from ford and they said they replaced the shift motor!! $650AUS, wowsers, which they covered under warranty for me. But what i want to know is, do you think it was the shift motor causing this problem seeing as though it only occured when changing out of low range?? I'm hoping it is fixed because ford over here have no clue as to what they are doing. Any opinions would be great.

 

[DasFrem]

That does sound like a shift motor problem, but before I would have replaced it I would have flushed the transfercase to see if that would fix the problem, but seeing as ford put the new motor in, they probally replacese the fluid as well (and for free, you can't beat that).

 

[checkedout]

Sounds right. My 96 had the same problem. I took it to a shop and they took the motor off and cleaned the brushes for me. It's been fine ever since.

 

[Aussie_jase]

I had Ford drain and replace the tranfer case fluid when it had it's major service about 2000 lkm ago, so not that long ago. I have tried the new shift motor on a straight bit of road driving in a straight line, stopping, shifting into low, driving , stopping, shifting out of low. Seems to be working fine but its yet to prove itself on the sand, which i will be testing tommorow because the old one used to work fine on hard ground to. Fingers crossed.