My wife has 2008 Explorer Eddie Bauer 6 cyl. Had a flat and temporarily replaced it with used same size P238/65/R18 tire due to spending $500+ on cracked plastic radiator...anywho...starting getting noises in front end like running over a grate between 30-40 MPH. So far I had moved used tire...bought 2 new tires as original flat could not be repaired...still having issues...replaced transmission fluid/filter and put in Motorcraft additive since I was told might be tranny problem...still problems. After several garages & speaking to many people locally 2 have said it is traction control issues as it is very sensitive to tire variations even if the tires are the same size.
Tomorrow going to get 2 more new tires so that all 4 will identical...only a week between other 2 new ones.
I am on vacation in Florida & need to go home and not wanting to be stuck on the road.
The mechanic I deal with at home also suggested tire differences...he suggested having them remove front drive shaft to make it 2 wheel drive until I get home but no one down here wants to do that.
BTW...no codes...tranny guy put code reader on it & drove it & no codes came up.
Has anyone had these problems or have any suggestions??? Please advise.
Thank you.
Eddie Wetmore
ssetw03@yahoo.com

 

Is your Explorer AWD or 4WD? If AWD, removing the front drive shaft would be a BAD idea. If 4WD you could get away with it, but I'm not convinced that would fix the issue. Is there a chance that in the process of getting the flat or changing the tire the wheel speed sensor connector was damaged?

-Rod

 

Rod,
Not sure about the sensor. Today I am going to get the other 2 new tires & hope that solves all of my problems...expensive solution since the other tires only have 40K miles on them. To the best of my knowledge the car is 4WD...it has 4x4 auto switch or 4x4 high/low switch on dash. I don't know if AWD has that.
I will get back to you after this morning.
Thanks for the reply.
Eddie

 

You're correct, the AWD has no selector switch.

-Rod

 

Thanks Rod....will check back later....appt for 11AM

 

If you have the Auto 4x4 and the 4x4 Hi/Low, you have an all wheel drive Explorer. The "auto" is all time 4x4, but only when needed. So if you're not in 4wheel drive(Hi or Low) and your wheels start to spin dure to wet roads or icy roads, the sensors pick up that your wheels are spinning and if kicks in. That is what the Ford dealers are telling me, that the sensors are picking up the tire circumference difference. Seems to me Ford should replace these sensors under warrenty or recall. There should be a plug connector under your vehicle, under the passenger side that you can disconnect and it will "Disable" the all wheel drive feature. Of course it will disable the traction control, too. I spoke to one dealer and they told me that they were test driving a customers Explorer and were making a left turn back into the shop and the sensors kicked in and about locked the front wheels up. I really think Ford needs to do something about these sensors. All it is doing is putting more wear and tear on the transfer case and will wear it out faster. In my opinion.

 

Rule of thumb - if there's a selector switch, it's not AWD. The system described above is a 4WD system. There is a difference. The transfer case with the 4WD system does not have a viscous coupling unit like the AWD system and therefore should not be engaged on dry pavement. The AWD system is fine on dry pavement.

-Rod

 

OK guys...thanks for all the replies..a few things..took pics of dash & the orig sticker from window...tried to upload them here but can't remember how to do that...Anywho..sticker says I have "Control Trac 4x4 System" and 4x4 Independent Suspension...dash push buttons show ...4x4 Auto..4x4 High..4x4 Low...Wikpedia says Control Trac is this..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ControlTracToo much to enter here...check out the link above...
Had 2 new tires installed yesterday..all 4 are BF Goodrich Long Trail T/A..P238/65/r/18
Driving home car rode good but don't know if I was riding gun shy or feeling road but a few times I thought I felt it but not strong & for the most part 95 % of ride was great...
spoke to tranny guy on phone & he said should be OK & when I get home to NJ to have transfer fluid changed as there is a clutch in there & needs to have clean fluid.
At this point I am hoping to gear up for next week to travel home & hope for the best.
Thanks
Eddie

 

Here is another link that I found...
All Wheel Drive Explained | awd cars, 4x4 vehicles, 4wd trucks, 4motion, quattro, xDrive, SH-AWD, Haldex, Torsen, wiki - How it works