Help me please!

I have a 2007 Sport Trac Limited 4.6l 4x4. Yesterday while driving to work, the ABS light began flashing, then the trac control began flashing. I placed my foot over the break pedal, and it was very hard, like the ABS was working. Then, the wrench showed on the LED display, and the ABS and Trac lights became steady on. The break pedal lightened up, and I continued driving without trouble. Then, as I go to leave, when starting up the ABS light is still on steady, but the trac and wrench are gone. However, as soon as I start to move more than the idle speed crawl, the trac goes crazy, the ABS fights back and wont let me move in forward or reverse. If I hold down the trac button on the center stack for 5 seconds, the trac light flashes and then comes on steady and I can move again, but the wrench comes back in just a few feet of movement. The ABS light has never turned off again.

Here is the really weird part, the vehicle feels like it is dragging, like the 4x4 is engaged or something else. No different noises, just like the engine is fighting against something. If driving down a straight road and I push the 4x4 high button, the wrench goes away instantly and the 4x4 indicator on the dash lights. If I then press the button for 4x4 auto, the 4x4 indicator turns off and the wrench comes back at the same time. With the 4x4 turned to auto and the wrench light on, I can make sharp turns all day with no tire complaints, so I am pretty sure the 4x4 is not stuck on.

No wrecks, no recent work other than some tire leak issues, and no obvious parts leaking or hanging down. OBDII pulled no codes - the CEL is not on, but the wrench that the owner's guide describes as drivetrain or 4x4 related.

I don't know where to start. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

Since the wrench light was on, there should be stored powertrain codes. If you have a means of accessing the diagnostic codes, pull them. If not, find someone with a professional scan tool and have all the systems read for diagnostic codes (powertrain, ABS, transmission, etc.). The typical consumer grade scan tools and those typically used by the chain auto parts stores will only access powertrain codes which may not offer you much when it comes to diagnosing this issue, but would be worth a try.

-Rod