'99 Expedition XLT - Stuck in 4wd?
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'99 Expedition XLT - Stuck in 4wd?
Hello,
So here is what happened...
My Expedition went in to automatic 4wd mode (still irks me that it doesn't have a 2wd setting). since then, it seems to be "stuck" in whatever 4x4 position i set it in (it shifts fine between 4hi and 4L)
when turning it feels like the parking break is engaged, and starts to chirp tires and hop a little.
needless to say, it is parked in my drive way.
I have tried driving forward and backwards to try and get it "unstuck" i have also tried letting it "roll" down a hill, forwards and backwards to see if that helps.
I have tried resetting every computer and electronic component i can think of.
I have a couple of questions...
the first, obviously. does anyone have any idea what the hell is wrong with it?
the second, if i were to just go and replace my front "automatic" locking hubs with manual locking hubs, would that a, solve the problem, and b, cause any long term damage?
oh, i should say that this truck does have 142k on it. and aside from it's current situation, runs like a champ.
any help would be great. even if it seems like it is something i should have already tried.
So here is what happened...
My Expedition went in to automatic 4wd mode (still irks me that it doesn't have a 2wd setting). since then, it seems to be "stuck" in whatever 4x4 position i set it in (it shifts fine between 4hi and 4L)
when turning it feels like the parking break is engaged, and starts to chirp tires and hop a little.
needless to say, it is parked in my drive way.
I have tried driving forward and backwards to try and get it "unstuck" i have also tried letting it "roll" down a hill, forwards and backwards to see if that helps.
I have tried resetting every computer and electronic component i can think of.
I have a couple of questions...
the first, obviously. does anyone have any idea what the hell is wrong with it?
the second, if i were to just go and replace my front "automatic" locking hubs with manual locking hubs, would that a, solve the problem, and b, cause any long term damage?
oh, i should say that this truck does have 142k on it. and aside from it's current situation, runs like a champ.
any help would be great. even if it seems like it is something i should have already tried.
Fleet Owner
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That's incorrect, the motor has sensors on it so that it knows when to stop moving. If a sensor is malfunctioning the motor won't move all the way. It could also be weak and doesn't have enough omph to pull it out of 4WD. Sometimes you can loosen the 3 mounting bolts a bit and try shifting. If it is just jambed doing this can sometimes free it up.
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Thanks, I will give that a try a little later today.
Anything in particular I should watch for when loosening/removing that motor?
Aside from the obvious things like make sure i disconnect the battery, etc.
Anything in particular I should watch for when loosening/removing that motor?
Aside from the obvious things like make sure i disconnect the battery, etc.
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I rechecked all the fuses. The only one that didn't seem to have power at all was the in the interior box, position 20. labeled "audio, four wheel air suspension Module, GEM module". It does not seem to have power at all. I don't have air suspension, all my audio works. everything the gem module controls is working (aside from the 4wd)
i haven't pulled the shift motor out yet. but if i am under the truck when it is being told to shift all 3 positions, i can feel it move and stop. i am skeptical that is the problem at the moment.
with the truck in neutral and just rolling, i feel it "bind". I am not sure if i mentioned that earlier
i haven't pulled the shift motor out yet. but if i am under the truck when it is being told to shift all 3 positions, i can feel it move and stop. i am skeptical that is the problem at the moment.
with the truck in neutral and just rolling, i feel it "bind". I am not sure if i mentioned that earlier
Posting Guru
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From: Location, Location.
At the risk of going to the offensively dumb, sometimes it's the dumbest thing - you ARE putting it in neutral, at a stop, engine running, with the brake pedal pressed, when trying to shift out of 4wd, yes?
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Yes, I have tried that.
With this system it is actually only *required* to go in and out of 4L though.
I have tried it several times in the hope that it would work "this time"
Thanks for the suggestion though. No suggestion is to simple or stupid in my opinion. It's always the little **** that I seem to miss
Edit:
Something in the back of my head is telling me that there is something wrong with the hubs. I just don't know of a way to test it.
With this system it is actually only *required* to go in and out of 4L though.
I have tried it several times in the hope that it would work "this time"
Thanks for the suggestion though. No suggestion is to simple or stupid in my opinion. It's always the little **** that I seem to miss
Edit:
Something in the back of my head is telling me that there is something wrong with the hubs. I just don't know of a way to test it.
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Erie, Pa
I will fill you in on what happend with mine. I experienced the same thing as you. I checked it all out. I finally pulled my transfer case out and split the case. What i found is there was a wave washer that allowes the AWD to engage and disengage with out a sudden thump. It functions almost as a spring. This wash had snapped allowing the coupler that engages the AWD to slide foward effectively locking the transfer case in 4WD. The part was less than $10, but I had about 8 hours into pulling the transfer case, pulling the case apart, and reinstalling the case.
I hope that your problem is easier.
Steve S.
To many to list.
I hope that your problem is easier.
Steve S.
To many to list.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 294
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Did you ever get this figured out? My wife's 99' did the same thing coming down a mountain through the snow. I put her in 4WD HI and drove about 20 miles. When the snow disappeared I put her back in AWD. The 4WD HI light went out but she still felt "funny". About 5 miles later I made a hard left and felt the rear wheels catch and drag a little. I tried cycling the switch in and out, backing up, and turning in a tight circle. Nothing worked. Finally, I backed up while turning hard and in popped out of 4WD HI.
Is anyone else having this problem? It isn't the first time. Thanks.
Is anyone else having this problem? It isn't the first time. Thanks.
Fleet Owner
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This is a sign that your tires (front to rear) have a significantly different diameter. Either the four tires are not a matching set, or you have not been diligent in rotating them every six months.
Fleet Owner
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The larger the diameter of a tire the more distance traveled per revolution of it. If the front and rear axles are not turning the same amount then the drivetrain starts to bind up. In slippery conditions this condition is not so noticeable because one of the tires will slip to compensate. However, when driving on dry pavement it is more difficult for a tire to slip so the drivetrain binds up. When it's bound up like that the shift motor is not strong enough to disengage the 4WD. By driving in reverse you're reversing the binding effect and the shift motor can then release the 4WD.
Fleet Owner
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