93 Explorer 4x4 Troubleshooting

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jan 15, 2006 | 07:41 PM

ajr2000

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 10

Likes: 0

93 Explorer 4x4 Troubleshooting

I have a 93 Explorer XLT and the 4wd is not working. When I push the 4 wheel high or low buttons, nothing happens. The lights do not light up when pushed. I'm told that the passenger side hub needs to be replaced. I want to make sure this is it before I take everything apart.

I've heard that replacing the hub is easy, what exactly do you need to do? I see Ford sells a locking hub repair kit, is this what I need, or do I need to buy an entire hub?

Thanks for all your help.

Jan 15, 2006 | 10:46 PM

Jharger

Posting Guru

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 1,574

Likes: 1

From: Phoenix

Not sure who told you this but I bet they don't know a lot about early Explorers...if they think fixing a hub has any thing at all to do with an electronic shift system.

probably need to rebuild the shift motor assembly. Everyone eventually needs to do this. Did it on mine about a iyear ago at 170K miles.

Find out here on this web site. http://draco.acs.uci.edu/explorer/

Jan 16, 2006 | 08:32 AM

ajr2000

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 10

Likes: 0

So if I have just a bad hub, 4x4 will still work, but I would have 3 wheel drive?

My mechanic and the original owner of the car says the hub needs to be replaced, but the shift motor may need to be fixed too.

Jan 16, 2006 | 10:33 AM

Jharger

Posting Guru

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 1,574

Likes: 1

From: Phoenix

Pretty much that's what would happen. The shifting of the transfer case is electrically controlled. The turning of the axels is mechanical. the hub is the last link of the mechanical system. If it goes into 4WD, then the axels get driven and if a hub is bad it might do nothing or make a lot of noise - depending on what's wrong with it.

Jan 16, 2006 | 12:29 PM

ajr2000

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 10

Likes: 0

Thanks for the info. I now feel more motivated to fix this after driving today.

Jan 16, 2006 | 08:58 PM

puppypower

Senior User

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 214

Likes: 0

From: Nottingham, MD

Hey Jarger, I was wondering if you got around to replacing your ball joints yet. I wanted to know how long it took you and how difficult it was for you to do. I did mine in my driveway with hand tools and a cordless 1/2" impact. It took me about 12 hours to do each side. But that was with cleaning all the rust up as I went along and also did brake lines to the calipers, rotors, calipers, pads, and front shaft u-joints. Oh yeah, bleeding the brake system also. All and all it took me the entire weekend to do the job. I was just curious. Chris

Jan 17, 2006 | 12:22 AM

Jharger

Posting Guru

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 1,574

Likes: 1

From: Phoenix

My U-joints

Hey Chris. No I didn't get to it yet. I just got the tranny back in last weekend. It blew on me 2 days after x-mas so I had a new priority - walk or fix the truck. Then this weekend my brother and family were in town for his wife and my wife to run the PF Changs marathon in Phoenix. And now my mother is here, leaving on Sat, so this next weekend is shot. Since I also need to pull my front diff and reseal the case, I'm into it for at least 2 full days. I've got all the parts and brake pads sitting on the bench...just need the time. I don't think I'll have any rust problems and I wasn't planning on changing U-joints since I've got less than 2,000 miles on the front running gear and any time I do engage it's low speed crawling or hill climbs.