O.k. Here's the deal.... I've been towing my jet skis quite a bit since I bought this truck. Let's just say I've had it for a month and already put 3000 miles on it . Here recently the auto four wheel drive has been trying to activate itself when I accelerate to shift down. It's really bugging me and making me start to worry that something bad is getting ready to happen. I know some guys over at my local ford dealership and are cutting me a deal on a diagnostic. Has anyone had this problem or know what I'm talking about? I figured this would be the best place to go for Q & A. Thanks in advance!

Chris

 

If you have the Auto Trac transfer case, the 4WD will automatically activate if the front wheel sensors indicate any slippage. I assume this is what you are feeling or hearing, but mine only does it on dry pavement if I jump hard on the gas. It will then activate momentarily until the front wheel slippage is gone then deactivate. If yours is doing this under part throttle conditions on dry pavement, you may have a problem with the system. Hope this information helps.

 

I have a 98 Explorer with the SOHC and mine has been doing this for about 20k miles. The dealer has replaced the transfer case, the front and rear sensors on the transfer case, the transfer case fluid after about 10k on the rebuild and the rear axle lube. Nothing has helped. Mine starts to roar, groan under load and it feels like the hubs are locking in. Strange thing is that I can stop for gas, get back in and it is gone and runs like a new car. Downshifts fine, etc. The dealer is stumped and an independent tranny shop showed no codes. I am thinking it is something electrical. Please keep me posted on what you find.
Thanks,
Rob Rike
98 Explorer XLT

 

Well I haven't had time to take it in yet, but I've been trying different things. Once I feel it start to jerk like all four wheels are trying to engage, I give it more gas so it will downshift one more gear. Then it pulls me right up the hill/incline and stops trying engage. I'm going to wait and see if it gets worse and if so then I'll take it in. We're taking the boat to the lake this weekend so that will be a good test for it.

 

I have had and am continuing to have a similar problem. I have an 02 Exploder and one day the wife and I noticed the front seemed to be engaged for no reason. It was really noticable while backing to the right. We took it to Ford and basically got the blow-off (we don't know, can't recreate problem, etc). They changed what I believe was the dash switch (yeah, I know). Now a few months later I took the truck for something and noticed it again really bad. I think they pulled codes for something switch related last time. It's hard because I don't drive it much (wifey's car). Now I intend to get more involved. Any info will help greatly. If I come up with anything I will post here as well.

 

Sounds like a plan. I thought it was something to do with the switch too so I took it to a field and engaged it in 4 low and drove it like that for about 10-15 minutes putting it through some good testing thinking that maybe it would loosen it up a little and fix itself, but it didn't work. I plan on putting a better set of tires on it soon (BFG All Terrain's) so I hope it won't make it worse.

 

I have just spent the last month in and out of a third party shop with the same problem. It started with my 4x4 high light flashing randomly. It then shifted into high automatically and wouldn't allow me to shift gears until I put it into neutral, set it to low, and then back to auto. Finally, it would shift into gear while I was trying to turn into a parking spot and would make a horrible noise as it hopped into the parking spot. I finally took it in and they had to replace the 4x4 motor and the dash switch. The next day, I tried to put it into gear again--nothing. And this time, I couldn't reset the darn thing. We had it towed to the shop and after 2 days of diagnostics, they narrowed it down to two computers that control the 4x4. After replacing both of those, I can shift into 4x4 high and low, but my 4x4 light still blinks every 2 minutes 10 seconds. The shop thinks it's a pinched wire and wants to run more diagnostics, but my husband disagrees. He thinks it has to be some sort of sensor--but we have no idea what sensor. So, we are at a loss as to what to do next. I hope none of you end up with the same $1500 worth of repairs that I've had so far.

Any suggestions as to what the continued blinking light means would be appreciated. I still am not sure that the 4x4 auto is working, however, 'cause I peel out constantly--and I never used to before this problem started. Oh, and we took this into Ford 2 months ago when this problem was just beginning, and they told us nothing was wrong and sent us home....

 

Guess i should have searched the forum.. I just posted a simillar
problem with my 02 explorer I sure hope this doesnt cost me $1500,
cause thats about $1499 more than i have