2011 Expedition EL 4X4. It's my wife's car and it doesn't get put into 4WD very often, probably not often enough. Not long ago we were driving it on the beach and I put it into 4A and eventually into 4Low. The first time I tried to put into 4L, it did not go and I got the "Check 4X4" light on the dash. I cycled it back and forth several times and it eventually went into 4low. I drove it again the other day and it still had the problem not wanting to go into 4L. It goes into the 4H position OK, but it is not going into the 4L consistently.

Has anyone else run into this problem? I'm guessing that the actuator is sticking, but haven't been under it yet. Where we live we don't need 4WD but we're going into the snow over Christmas and I'll want it to be more reliable.

 

When you are going into 4L are you in neutral?

 

As noted are you in neutral and moving at less then 3 mph with your foot on the brake. That's the only way it will shift.

These ford 1/2 ton cases don't seem to have the shift motor failures like GMs do.

 

Yes, I did have it in neutral and moving very slowly. I thought that if you weren't doing it properly that a message would pop up on the info screen?

 

I'd have to look and see what mine says. I think it may just do nothing. I will check in the morning when I head into the office.

You may try cycling the system a few times and then disconnect the battery overnight and see if it shows up again. Which beach were you on? We were on McFaddin not long ago and I got a hot brakes warning on mine in 2wd as the traction control was working overtime.

 

We were on Crystal Beach, coming back from AL and going through Galveston. I've tried it numerous times since then, and no joy going into 4Low. It goes into 4Auto and 4Lock successfully, but still no 4Low.

 

It sounds like a trip to your dealership is in order, mrjones111. What's the current mileage on your Expedition? I'll research options.

Crystal

 

I'm curious as to why you're using 4L on a beach at all. 4L is typically for when you have traction and need extra torque, like trying to get a trailer unstuck. At most, on a beach, you should only need 4H.

As for why it wouldn't go...I've never been able to get an electronic transfer case on ANY vehicle to switch to 4L unless I was in neutral and completely stopped. Even my SuperDuty won't go unless I'm completely stopped. They say under 3mph...but they should probably just publish it as completely stopped and foot on the brake.

 

4LO on the beach is good for controlling speed and keeping trans temps down as underfoot conditions increase rolling resistance. It's hard to see on the expedition but easy on a newer F-150 or GM product to see the increased trans temp while churning along the beach. I can see a 20-30 degree increase in trans temps when driving down McFaddin beach for example which has deep wet nasty sand.

I can get my expedition to shift into 4lo while moving (in neutral) without issue. I am guessing that his shift motor has gone weak on him. I've heard of people saying that happens but never seen it first hand. He can swap it out on his own pretty quick.