Transfer case hanging up in low!

[Rodeo Joe]

This morning I moved the X up into the driveway after clearing the snow in 4WD low because of the hill I'm on. Later I go out and I can't get it out of low even though the dash switch is in the Auto position. I tried a few things like restarting it and backing it up, then it starts to make this God awful grinding noise like the starter is engaging and then the 4WD low light goes out. Not do leave well enough alone, I try this again to see what happens! You know the story, same thing....noise and all. I don't have an owners manual so the problem probably is me not knowing how to use the transfer case properly. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Joe

 

[Billy177]

try cleaning your shift motor there is a thread around here somewhere

 

[dman726749]

you were in neutral right? you must be in neutral for it to go in and out of low

 

[Rodeo Joe]

Pardon my ignorance, this is all new to me and without the owners manual I've been lost. So when I want to go from 4WD low to Auto I need to go to neutral first then cheange the selector to Auto? Thanks for the replies!

Joe

 

[boominXplorer]

this is the order to go in to 4wd low...
-neutral
-move switch to low
-reverse 10 feet
-the drive

Order to take it out
-neutral
-auto or 2wd
-reverse 10 feet
-drive

 

[Rodeo Joe]

Thanks, I'll give it a try in the morning. Too damn cold right now!

Joe

 

[Hoppy]

you don't have to reverse 10 feet everytime you switch the selector. The only trucks you have to back up with is the first generation explorers because you have to disengage the front hubs. Even so that is wrong, they say to back up 10 feet, they should have said to go in the opposite direction 10 feet because what if you were last in 4wd and were reversing? The hubs need to turn forward to disengage. You don't even have to go 10 feet as a matter of fact. If your hubs are lubricated well, you just have to drive in the opposite direction until you hear two clicks from the front end. Should only be about 6 inches, not 10 feet. Remember that is only for the first gen ex's. 91 to 94. The newer explorers have the front drivetrain rotating anytime the vehicle is moving.

 

[Rodeo Joe]

Originally posted by Hoppy
If your hubs are lubricated well, you just have to drive in the opposite direction until you hear two clicks from the front end.

OK, not to get away from the original post but I'm not really sure how well the hubs are lubricated. Any tips on what to check? I know, I should do a search! Thanks for the replies!

Joe

 

[Hoppy]

Joe,

You don't need to lubricate your hubs because you don't have an older explorer with the Twin Traction Beam front suspension. These trucks only were equipped with these hubs and front axles from 91 to 94. 95 and up don't have that. You don't have to reverse at all to go back into 4 auto or 2wd. You do however have to stop, put truck in neutral so you can switch between 4 low and 4 high, and vise versa. Just make sure you do that and you are ok.

Hoppy

 

[Stench]

my 97 Xlt didi the same thing so i paid 400 to fix it, it was the transfer case shift motor, trying cleaning or looking into raplacing it