newbie in the 4x4 school

[Tedman]

I just bought my first 4X4 vehicle yep! a explorer xlt 91'.
Didnt mind the 4X4 wasnt working, i was sure that i could fix it with a fuse!
Wrong! so on to the web for help, found this forum and joined it.

read some helpfull threads about rebuilding the shiftmotor and i am sure i will have to do this once i found out if that is my problem.

When pressing the 4X4 button, nothing happens no lights no clicking no 4X4.
I looked at the 40 amps fuse under the hood (thats a good fuse) and hit the shift motor wirh a hammer while my wife was holding the 4X4 button in.
It did not do the trick. no lights o 4x4.
In one of the threads someone spoke of a relay? where can i find this relay?
in the back of my 91 by the jack, i found 3 relays witch is the one for the 4x4?

so many qustions and all i want is go on the beach and have some serious 4x4 fun.

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

Those three relays back there are for the trailer lights. Look in front of the rear washer reservoir and you will see a black box w/ some cooling fins on it. That is your 4x4 computer. There is a white button on it that starts a self test. You'll see a square white button sticking down on the bottom of the module. You push it straight up toward the roof to activate it. If you do that with the connectors hooked up, a red LED next to the module will glow. If you disconnect the connectors, the red LED will flash, apparently indicating that the module is OK but there's a problem at the actuator motor mounted on the transfer case. I would start by making sure that the plug in the 4x4 control switch in the dash is securely in place. They tend to come loose during a radio install and never thought of until you've tried everything else. Check the dumb stuff first.

 

[Tedman]

found the white button

:roll: Hi many thanks for your reply to my question.

I have found the white button on the black box next to the red led, phew!

pressing the white button towards the ceiling doesnt do anything, no red led glowing.
The buttons on the dashboard were conected but i have replaced the 4x4 since it didnt work.
Yet replacing the 4x4 button and pressing the white button did not do anything for me
the 40 amps fuse is still in good condition so i am back to square one.

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

Did you disconnect the wire harnesses going into the 4x4 computer? There is also a fuse under the dash. It is a 15 amp fuse in the #9 position. If that fuse is also good, I would have to say that your controller is bad.

 

[Tedman]

Ok even tho it is raining like madness this fuse i need to check!
I just bought the chilton ford book 26688 (explorer, mountaineer and ranger 91'-99')
study never hurts anyone but in this book they avoid the 4x4 automatic parts, lol i wonder why?
so im back out in the rain, a 15 amp in position 9 that shouldnt be to hard?

stay in touch,ill be right back.

 

[Tedman]

Ok i found the position #9 but to my suprise there was a 30 amps in it and that was a good one. I think this means my controller is dead.
Any sugestions where to get a new one or used?
and if at all posible someone that knows what he or she is doing when they try to fix the auto 4x4. I am ready to pay about anything to get this fixed but i dont want to go to FORD and let them do it.
This just because they knew when designing it, it would break down.

HELP!

and Diff Wack thanks for the help so far, you are a true explorer

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

I just happen to have a controller laying arround. It was good when I pulled it but it's been in my garage for a coupe of years. You could also go to a local junkyard and pull one. It'll have the same guarantee. I know they are exspensive new since the dealer is about the only place to get them. Check this. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7944759874&category=50459

 

[Tedman]

e-bay works

this is fantastic man!
if this is a good it might solve some of my problems, i still think i will have to rebuild the shift motor and for that i can use the thread posted by crankshaft.
If there is anything i can do in return let me know.
I realy apreciate this help :roll:

 

[Tedman]

Grrrrrrrrr replaced and still nothing

Ok I am back again A new day new chances.

:roll:
I replaced the dashboard switch
The controller unit in the rear and to make sure replaced the #9 fuse as well
as the 40 amps fuse under the hood.

Now when i press the reset button on the controller unit the RED led lights up for almost 1 minute (this is probably the time it needs to reset).

And without the conectors conected it just blinked for a few times.

So now i have a red led on the unit but still no lights on my dashboard telling me its trying to engage in 4X4.

back to the drawing table with my problem, I will not give up in the wors case ill transform my XLT into a trailer that i can pull with my wives KIA.


GRRRRRRRR i want my 4X4 working please stop me from doing something stupid (trailer!)