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push button 4x4 not working

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Old Mar 25, 2008 | 12:26 PM
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push button 4x4 not working

new to me 92 explorer not good with electrical problems so could use some help on where to start and if its a common problem thanks
 
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Old Mar 25, 2008 | 10:45 PM
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Explain what you are doing and what the results are, crystal ***** do not work on this forum.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 09:08 AM
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I just wanted to know if it is a common problem with older explorers for the push button type 4x4 not to work properly I have always had regular hubs [3old broncos and to old pickups]. no light or anything comes on when you press the 4x4 button high or low range.I dont want to bang my head against the wall all weekend I hope thats a better description of my problem. I am new to this computer thing. thanks in advance.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 10:43 AM
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Yes it is a common problem. From your limited description, I'm a little uncertain if the problem is at the transfer case or the hubs. The shift motor on the transfer case frequently has trouble shifting. There are instructions on the net for how to remove the shift motor and open it up to clean and "rebuild" it. The auto hubs frequently don't engage. Both issues have been discussed frequently here and across the internet.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 01:51 PM
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thanks for responding. I am going to check the shift motor 1st, I had somebody press the button while I was looking it didnt do anything or make any noises like it was trying to engage.Somebody on a previous thread said there was a reset on the module. But Im not sure where that is. It seems to me it could be a reset becouse nothing happens when the button is pressed.This is pretty fun reading and talking about trucks. I am also working on a 68 4x4 quadcab
thanks
 
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 03:22 PM
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I had lots of problems with the front hubs when I had a '92, plus a bad shift motor at about 200,000 miles. The front hubs have some fragile parts that don't seem to like extreme cold, but once I got a decent mechanic to rebuild them right, I was good for about a decade of driving.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 04:17 PM
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Yep... very common problem. I don't know about diagnosing the hubs because I swapped mine out for a set of Warns as soon as I bought it.

One thing that sometimes "fixes" it if the motor is sticking (temporarily, enough to get you out of a jam sometimes) is to crawl under there and whack the shift motor with a hammer or something. Obviously not enough to break something, but that sometimes helps if the motors sticking and you need to get home.

I've found that I've had MUCH better success with the 4x4 button this winter since all last spring/summer/fall I made a consious effort to engage the 4x4 every couple weeks.

Some good info here...

http://www.explorerforum.com/Singlet...ges/tcase.html

Good luck.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 06:09 PM
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Originally Posted by vintage vagabond
thanks for responding. I am going to check the shift motor 1st, I had somebody press the button while I was looking it didnt do anything or make any noises like it was trying to engage.thanks
Keep in mind, the shift motor only activates 4H to 4L, 2H to 4H activates the electromagnetic clutch in the T/C.

Check for 12VDC on the single brown wire the enters the T/C when the switch is in the 4H position.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 08:33 PM
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Originally Posted by aquanaut20
Keep in mind, the shift motor only activates 4H to 4L, 2H to 4H activates the electromagnetic clutch in the T/C.

Check for 12VDC on the single brown wire the enters the T/C when the switch is in the 4H position.
Are you sure about this? My 1994 shop manual says the following:

"The electric shift motor, mounted externally at the rear of the transfer case, drives a rotary helical cam which moves the 2W-4W shift fork and 4H-4L reduction shift fork to the selected vehicle drive position. An integral position sensor provides information to the electronic module on current motor position"

And regarding the magnetic clutch...

"... The clutch is used to spin up the front drive system from zero to vehicle speed in milliseconds. This spin-up allows the shift between 2-high and 4-high to be made at any vehicle speed...."

So I think the motor still comes into play for all shifts (at least on the gen 1's) and the electromagnetic clutch helps with the shift on the fly part of it..
 
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 10:38 PM
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What aquanaut said applies to the 2nd gen Explorers with the control trac t-case. On our 1st gen Explorers, the shift motor is responsible for each shift on the t-case.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2008 | 11:25 PM
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Originally Posted by mrshorty
What aquanaut said applies to the 2nd gen Explorers with the control trac t-case. On our 1st gen Explorers, the shift motor is responsible for each shift on the t-case.
Not correct, we have a 92 (first Gen)which works the way I explained, the 97 (second Gen) has the addition of hale sensors to activate the shift to 4H in control track mode.
 
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 01:57 AM
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funny, I hear so many complaints about the push button 4X4 set-up on suvs and trucks, but my '96 F150 I just sold, it had push button 4X4, and the truck has 165,000 miles on it, I put 9K on it, and I never had a single problem with the 4X4.
 
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 06:40 AM
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Originally Posted by aquanaut20
Not correct, we have a 92 (first Gen)which works the way I explained, the 97 (second Gen) has the addition of hale sensors to activate the shift to 4H in control track mode.
How do you explain these pages from my '94 shop manual? These pages clearly state that the motor moves BOTH the 2W-4W shift fork and the 4H-4L reduction shift fork.



 
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 08:16 AM
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thanks so much guys this is awesome keep it coming. now I know why my kids are on the computer so much.Ihope I have this great of a response on my other thread '' to blast or not to blast'' in the paint and body section.I am going to check right now
 
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Old Mar 27, 2008 | 11:13 AM
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Originally Posted by vintage vagabond
thanks so much guys this is awesome keep it coming. now I know why my kids are on the computer so much.Ihope I have this great of a response on my other thread '' to blast or not to blast'' in the paint and body section.I am going to check right now
You're very welcome. By the way, if you narrow the problem down any, or need to see any of the pages from the shop manual let me know I can snap a pic and email or post them for you. Good luck.
 
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