Please help with stuck 4x4 on 97 xlt

[berad001]

Please help! This is a 97 explorer v6 xlt, it has the electronic 4x4, so it’s either manually put into 4x4 or 4x4 low, or when in auto it will go into 4x4 when the rear wheels spin. Yesterday at highway speed I noticed a lot of gear noise, and then I realized the 4x4 might be engaged. I found a patch of ice made sure it was in auto mode, gave it some gas, and the front wheels are instantly spinning with the rear, when you take sharp turns on a dry surface you can tell it’s in 4x4. Normally when it’s in auto you can hear the computer engaging the 4x4 when the rear wheels spin, now it’s just on all the time. I’m able to put the truck into park and engage 4x4 low, then put it back to 4x4, but for some reason not auto, it just will not go back to 2wd. What can I do, is there a specific fuse that might be the issue? Any info would be awesome guys as I'm at a loss and want to make sure it's not something simple before I bring it into the shop.

Brad

 

[lonestar]

I'm not too familiar with this type of system, but it sounds like your electronic transfer case is being energized at all times. With that in mind, and the information from the infamous "Brown wire mod", try to track down this wire and disconnect it to see if your 2WD returns. Or disconnect the entire wiring harness from the T-case to determine if the problem is electrical or internal.

 

[Blee1099]

Please help! This is a 97 explorer v6 xlt, it has the electronic 4x4, so it’s either manually put into 4x4 or 4x4 low, or when in auto it will go into 4x4 when the rear wheels spin. Yesterday at highway speed I noticed a lot of gear noise, and then I realized the 4x4 might be engaged. I found a patch of ice made sure it was in auto mode, gave it some gas, and the front wheels are instantly spinning with the rear, when you take sharp turns on a dry surface you can tell it’s in 4x4. Normally when it’s in auto you can hear the computer engaging the 4x4 when the rear wheels spin, now it’s just on all the time. I’m able to put the truck into park and engage 4x4 low, then put it back to 4x4, but for some reason not auto, it just will not go back to 2wd. What can I do, is there a specific fuse that might be the issue? Any info would be awesome guys as I'm at a loss and want to make sure it's not something simple before I bring it into the shop.

Brad

Welcome to the site. Your front diffy might have been engaged by the Control Trac 4WD system. Your truck doesn't have a true 2WD system, you can disable it by doing a brown wire mod. The Control Trac 4WD can be a nuisance at times, many of us have disabled it using the same brown wire mod. More than likely your auto engaged when it detected some slippage. If your 4WD lights aren't flashing, I highly doubt is acting up.

 

[berad001]

Welcome to the site. Your front diffy might have been engaged by the Control Trac 4WD system. Your truck doesn't have a true 2WD system, you can disable it by doing a brown wire mod. The Control Trac 4WD can be a nuisance at times, many of us have disabled it using the same brown wire mod. More than likely your auto engaged when it detected some slippage. If your 4WD lights aren't flashing, I highly doubt is acting up.

How can I do this brown wire mod? Any info would be great and thanks for the warm welcome.

 

[TPLYNCH]

In Auto, power is applied to the front wheels from start to 35MPH all the time, so your ice test is not a true indication of anything. Check your tire pressures, make sure they are all the same, and that none of the tires is excessively worn. If all checks out and you still think the auto is staying in 4x4 above 35mph, then try disconnecting your battery to reset the computer.

 

[berad001]

In Auto, power is applied to the front wheels from start to 35MPH all the time, so your ice test is not a true indication of anything. Check your tire pressures, make sure they are all the same, and that none of the tires is excessively worn. If all checks out and you still think the auto is staying in 4x4 above 35mph, then try disconnecting your battery to reset the computer.

Good info, I'll try that right now. I'm 99% sure it's in 4x4 all the time though. Before this happened you'd hear the 4x4 starting at first sign of rear traction loss. Also now at speed you get some serious 4x4 gear whine. When you're taking sharp turns, you can hear the chassie being stressed from the 4x4 on the dry surface. I'm going to try the batt right now, any more info would be great, you guys are awesome with the tech info BTW.

 

[Blee1099]

How can I do this brown wire mod? Any info would be great and thanks for the warm welcome.

Here you go.. This will help you out.. Dead Link Removed

 

[berad001]

Here you go.. This will help you out.. Dead Link Removed

Without pics I'm fairly useless. Where are these wires? I've never worked on an explorer before so I don't know what wires to mess with.

 

[TPLYNCH]

See page 4 of that thread, post # 66. If you read the entire thread, it will make more sense. The process was refined later in the evolution, so reading it in its entirety is recommended.

 

[lonestar]

Here you go.. This will help you out.. Dead Link Removed

24 page tech thread......

Someone did seem to have the same problem you mention

by SBERKAL (page 24)Maybe my 4Auto was messed up and engaging way more than it should, but I've picked up almost 5mpg from this mod since last weekend! I run a few more tanks and get some averages since this is only off 2 tanks, but I'm impressed.

Or maybe I should be depressed since it likely means my 4Auto is overengaging. (Could explain my random tire scrubbing too....damn.)

by DOGFRIEND There are two driveshaft speed sensors; both are mounted on the rear side of the transfer case. The GEM uses the signal from the two driveshaft speed sensors to decide when to engage the front driveshaft in 4 Auto.

check into the speed sensors

 

[bstone]

I had a similar issue on my 93 Explorer XLT. Turned out to me the transfer motor was burned out. A new one fixed me getting out of 4x4, but not before I had to drive almosr 900miles to the closest place with the part (i was on a road trip).