snowed in with no 4wd

[nmhillbilly]

Problem first started with 4x4 lights flashing and not shifting into 4wd well and now not at all. Will shift into low range (can tell by the gearing) but with no front wheels driving. Really screwed in the mountains. It used to work alright if shifted while in neutral but progressively got worse. P.S. Too poor to go to ford dealership. Have decent knowledge of automotive workings but not used to all this computeral stuff. Please give your input Thanks

 

[mpierich]

Start here:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123542

 

[jimbo74]

wait a second.. it is shifting? or isnt? you said it used to shift bad, then not at all, and in the next sentence you said low range works..... do the ligths on the dash light up?
also, low range does not work if the vehicle is not in 4x4

 

[nmhillbilly]

ok it locks into low range but the front wheels don't spin. the geaing is low but the front wheels aren't pulling the vehicle. lights stay on for a minute or so then flash. Positively no front wheels drivin' the truck. was able to get into auto today by shifting drive to reverse bout 10 times. Somthing with hubs or somthing. don't know.

 

[nmhillbilly]

looked at thread

looked at rebuilding shift motor but mine is a little different. The only positions are H, L, and N. I read that there is a factory option for a switch position for neutral. Motor turnt to L when switched to low and H all others. Seems to work right. I reckon it because of the command track auto 4x4. Maybe I'm dumb but there are some clutches or somthing that kick in the front wheels to drive. Let me know

 

[TPLYNCH]

Is the front driveshaft from the t/fcase to the front diffy turning in Low?? Mark it or hang string from it, drive forward in low for a little ways and see if the mark moves/string winds around the shaft. If it does, that means the t/fcase is working. In that case, i'd bet your problem is with the vacuum disconnect on the front differential.

 

[nmhillbilly]

Front driveshaft is spinning in low range. Must be the vacuum disconnect then. Anyone know what might be wrong with it or what usually goes wrong with them. Any Ideas would help alot.

 

[jnld]

I was just going to say go look at all your vacuum lines that sounds like that will do the trick.The same thing happend to a buddys rig.

 

[nmhillbilly]

checked that vacuum was getting to the disconnect. It is. the vacuum motor on the axle turns about 1/8 turn. Just wondering if that was normal. Whats the next step after checking the hoses.