I seem to have an intermittent problem with my 4WD on my 97 Explorer. The 4WD switch has Auto, 4X4High & 4X4Low. When in auto or 4X4High when turning it seems the front end is binding when turning, almost like when your doing a full left or right turn but it does it doing slight turns. After a few turns, the 4X4 lights start flashing every couple mins 6 times. Then the 4WD system doesnt work at all and it's only 2WD. It seems intermittent as I could go a couple days where it'll be tight turning and lights are flashing or I could go a few days and it will have no problems whatsoever. I took it to a shop and they said it could be anything (no codes are showing up), most likely electrical gremlins, but they'd have to start replacing parts guessing that it'll fix the problem.

Now the other day, I put it into 4X4Low drove 10 ft idle speed, stopped and then put it into Neutral, put it into 4X4High and it would not engage, went to Auto and nothing, 4X4Low light was still illuminated. I put it back into 4X4Low, shut the truck off and put it into 4X4High. I fired the truck back up (still in Neutral) At first the 4X4Low light was on, but then quickly switched to 4X4High. Now I'm thinking that the shift motor is buggered up. Either it has 300,000 km on it (stock) or it was done before I bought it (180,000 km).

Any input would be appreciated.