Newbie here

[lottathought]

I have a 99 Explorer XLT 4x4 with the 6 cyl engine.
It has about 102k on it right now.
Had it for 5 years.

I stumbled across your site when looking for information on my current problem.


I was hauling some furniture behind it today and I put it in the 4wd (high) to pull the furniture. Neither the trailor nor the furniture was particuarly heavy but I thought it always pulled better in 4wd..
(Yes, I now know the error in this thinking.)

I started getting a grinding noise and then smoke from under the front of the Explorer.
I stopped and put it back into 2wd as my brother suggested it could be the front transfer case. Things seemed to get a little better but there is still a definate gear whine that I can hear and feel a little.

My tranny was rebuilt at 60K and I am really hoping that is not it. There does not seem to be an issue with acceleration or changing gears.

I will admit that I do not know a lot about the front transfer case or the front diff. To be honest, I have always tried to keep my cars up to date in service but I simply did not know about this service.

I am really hoping that a fluid change will help here.
I have already located the pictured description of the transfer case fluid change that is listed on this site. It will make this process MUCH easier.
It was very nicely done.

I am still looking for as good of a description on the front diff fluid change.

Lastly..any suggestions will be appreciated.
I suppose I have a motor to change gears. I just turn a little switch.

Oh..BTW..my tranny came with Mercon V. Will the transfer case also have the Mercon V or the Mercon III?

And I am supposing that the front diff will use the same fluid as the rear diff.

 

[mesa 33]

Welcome to this forum!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum!

 

[dogfriend]

I am still looking for as good of a description on the front diff fluid change.


Oh..BTW..my tranny came with Mercon V. Will the transfer case also have the Mercon V or the Mercon III?

And I am supposing that the front diff will use the same fluid as the rear diff.

Welcome to the site.

Front diff fluid change is more difficult than the rear because of access to the cover. IIRC (if i recall correctly) there is no drain plug, only a fill plug, so you either have to suck the old fluid out (which I did) or remove the diff cover (which looked difficult because of limited access, but I didn't try it). I haven't seen any threads on front diff fluid change.

In my 97, they specified regular Mercon for the T-case. I used AMSOil Synthetic which is Mercon V rated. I think you can use either regular Mercon or Mercon V without an issue, but make sure to use Mercon V for the trans.
Your owners manual should tell you which fluid.

IIRC, the weight of the front diff fluid is 75W-90 but the rear diff fluid is 75W-140, again, your owners manual should tell you which fluid(s) you should use.