truck wont go out of 4x4 | Ford Explorer Forums

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truck wont go out of 4x4

exploder81

Member
Joined
June 21, 2012
Messages
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City, State
vancouver british columbia
Year, Model & Trim Level
1994 ford explorer xlt
Hello to everyone! Well i had the X out yesterday exploring some glorious mud holes when i happened to come upon one swallowed up my X. I wish i could post a pic! Anyways the truck was submerged in water to the point where the drivers seat was submerged. Well my truck has the electronic 4x4 push button shift on the dash but warn manual locking hubs in front. I now cannot turn off the 4x4 or the low range. I tried pushing it and holding it in but the transfer case does not want to disengage. Any ideas how to get the 4x4 to turn off? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thx again for the wonderful and informative site!
 



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Remove shift motor and turn the shaft to 2w. Then test the motor and see if it's working. If not then rebuild it :)
 






Ok so the motor is on the transfer case? Also is there a sensor that tells the light to turn on the dash. So if i turn the shaft to 2wd will the lights on my dash turn off too? How easy is it to rebuild? Sorry for all the questions but would like to get it back on the road asap. Thank you
 












You could check the "-4x4- computer" in the drivers side panel in the rearcargo area.
 






Ok thx. How will i know if its the 4x4 computer? I think i will start with the motor first since i tried it today and the motor didnt work. But then i guess the computer is next. Thx for the tip. Any info i can get is greatly appreciated.
 






~~ UPDATE ~~ i removed the 4x4 motor and i started to turn the shaft to 2wd but it would only go paryial way and wouldnt "clunk" into 2wd and the vise grips i was using started to strip the triangular shaft so i stopped. Is there any other way to do this more better than pliers? Also i got out the sensor but there is another brown wire going into the t.c and is attached to main harness. Does this one pop out too or can i cut it or? Thx again
 






you will have to cut the wire-- but leave it long!
 






Ok perfect thx! Also i have found a 1991 X for super cheap, are the parts interchangable with my 94?
 






91 "should" be fine
 






Ok i think i ran into another problem. I had my front pass side tire off cleaning up around everything and i put the tire back on and tried to tighten up lug nuts while it was still in the air and the wheel spins freely even though the tc is in 4L and i locked the hub and still the wheel spins freely and i can see the whole cv axle spinning all the way inside the front dif. Did I blow the front dif gears or is this normal? Thx again to everyone.
 






You don't have a CV axle- it has u joints (Dana 35)

Is your front diff locked? If not it is normal.
 






This test will help you to figure out what is going on as long as you don't have an axle disconnect type front axle (which I don't think was an option in this year range).

Put the tranfer case back in to 4X4 mode. Put the transmission in gear if it is a stick or in park if automatic. Leave one of the front wheels on the ground, put one wheel in the air both hubs locked. Attempt to turn the wheel in the air and look at the driveshaft and both front axle shafts and see the following.

If you can spin the wheel you have a problem, look down this list to help locate the problem.

Make sure the axle connected to the wheel you are spinning is turning. If it isn't then you have a problem with the locking hub on that axle or maybe a broken stub axle. on that side

If the axle on the wheel you are turning rotates with the wheel and the front driveshaft turns when you spin the wheel in the air (assuming you don't have a tight limited slip or locker) there is something not right in the transfer case.

If the driveshaft doesn't spin, but the axle on the other side spins then there is a problem with the locking hub or axle on the other side.

If neither the other axle spins or the driveshaft spins then the problem is with the axle on the side you are spinning broken or otherwise not engauging the differntial or internal issues with the differential.
 






Hello to everyone. To everyone who posted in the topic thank you. As of today i rebuilt the shift motor and everything is working as it should. Thx again.
 






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