Auto 4wd problem

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May 9, 2013 | 02:10 PM

degoti

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Auto 4wd problem

Did anybody knows or have this problem. My 2005 ford explorer auto 4wd engage with no reason and makes a humming sound and looses power

May 10, 2013 | 10:05 PM

One79one71

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makes no sense...' engage with no reason' im not sure if thats english but noone can help you if you do not explain what the car is or isn't doing.

May 10, 2013 | 11:53 PM

degoti

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First, you don't have to mention the "English", for your smart information here is the meaning of engage from a dictionary ” To interlock or cause to interlock; mesh: engage the automobile's clutch."....what u was trying to say is that is running in 2wd and the 4wd turns on with no reason like in the highway without been slippery or snowing.

May 11, 2013 | 08:31 AM

shorod

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From: Cedar Rapids, IA

Have you been able to confirm that the 4WD is actually engaging or could it be that the indicators on in the instrument cluster are lighting for 4WD? Does it only do this at higher speeds or also around town? Is there anything that seems consistent about when it engages such as hot weather, humid mornings, etc.? Is the humming sound like an electrical humming noise that is constant in frequency and volume or does the humming sound more mechanical and change with vehicle speed?

-Rod

May 11, 2013 | 04:43 PM

degoti

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It is engaging, in any speeds, and is in Puerto Rico, tropical humid hot weather. Feels ewakky heavy when engages and after this started happening he spending more gas.

May 11, 2013 | 05:08 PM

GITanker

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Quote:

Originally Posted by degoti

Did anybody knows or have this problem. My 2005 ford explorer auto 4wd engage with no reason and makes a humming sound and looses power

I have an 1997 Mountaineer with full time 4wd ( which means it will lock into 4wd when it notices the wheels slipping). Mine had about 210,000 miles when I noticed a loud humming coming from the transfer case. My gas mileage went down. What I also noticed was at a stop if I turn my wheels sharply either left or right and moved forward a little, it felt like the 4wd was locked in. I took it in to my mechanic and he found out that if the transfer case oil has not been changed in a while ( what a while is, he did not know ) that the oil will brake down and cause the transfer case to lock into 4wd. So he changed the oil and that fixed the problem. My mileage went back up and no more humming sound.

Just my 2 cents worth.

May 12, 2013 | 10:19 AM

shorod

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From: Cedar Rapids, IA

Changing the fluid as mentioned by GITanker is a good first step. While under there waiting for the fluid to drain, you might inspect the shift motor on the transfer case to see if it appears damaged in any way. Also check the wiring.

It sounds like the transfer case shift motor is engaging the 4WD which could be due to a wiring issue, but could also be due to an issue with the optical encoder. I don't recall if the encoder is in an area that has fluid, but maybe changing the fluid will help that out as well. I also haven't checked the 2005 service manual yet to see if the 2005 used an optical encoder....

-Rod