Hi! Just purchased a used 4-door Explorer that seems to be in very nice condition and runs very well. Had it for about a month. Lately have noticed that the dashboard "4WD Low" and/or "4WD High" lights come on for a few seconds, then go off, then come on again, then go off... they don't come on both together but come on individually - sometimes they alternate, sometimes not. The vehicle basically, as I understand it, operates in 4WD "on demand" mode all of the time, but can be manually changed to 4WD High mode for highway driving on complete ice or mushy snow, or 4WD Low mode for pulling out of ditches and ruts. As far as I can tell, all the 4WD modes seem to work fine, but the light does come on occasionally, just as if I had manually changed the 4WD mode myself (but I haven't). Before I take it in to the dealer, does anyone know about a problem like this either with the light, the transmission, or an electrical fault? Thanks in advance to any or all who can shed light on this problem.

 

I had a problem with the 4WD light flashing. This has happened to me several times over the 5 years I have had my 1998 Explorer. When this light started flashing it would not stop and I could not get the vehicle to shift into 4WD High. I took it to the dealer for that and what turns out to be the BLEND DOOR problem (great post on this site on how to fix). During the process it was clear that the dealer had disconnected my battery while they were checking things out. They told me $1000+ for the blend door and I forget what the cost was to fix the four wheel drive. They said 4WD was related to sensors if i remember correctly. As I drove away to think about it, i noticed my radio clock was wrong from the battery disconnected but more importantly the 4WD light was not flashing anymore. Since then, the light has flashed maybe once every 1.5 years. When it happens, i disconnect the battery and reconnect it and it seems to clear this error and i shift into 4WD high.

 

I bought my 97 with that problem. Last person even put in a brand new shift motor and they still had flashing. It even grumbled on low speed turns. Found the transfer case almost empty, about a pint of nasty fluid and hould be 1 3/4 quarts. Just mention this because many rear seals start leaking at this age and everyone ignores the fluid in the transfer case. Low fluid causes clutch to stick. Anyway, I had to disconnect the battery for some other work that same day and the light hasn't been back in two years. That flashing light saved me $400 off the price!

 

I've got a 98 Explorer Eddie Bauer with the same problem, but its blinking is a pattern of 3 flashes, stops, then 3 flashes, stops, etc. There doesn't seem to be any problem or change in the transmission or the way it handles. This seems like a fault code but I've also been having problems with my heat distribution and I've been dealing with the blender door discussion. Is there an answer, or will I have to take it to the dealer? I hope not. Thanks for any help.