In our only snow fall before the holidays i noticed the Auto 4WD
wasn't engaging. Tried hitting 4WD High and it did nothing
Checked all the fuses, all were ok. Restarted the car and as if by
magic the 4WD was working again. Stopped working a few days later and
i isolated the "problem" to the two fuses in the engine bay fuse box,
if removed, replaced the system would start working again. It's been
ok for the last 4 weeks but with todays snow it died again. I checked
it was working before driving off and it was. But 1/2 a mile down the
road, in Auto 4WD the back end stepped out so i figured i'd move to
4WD HIgh, and once again nothing.I pulled over removed the fuses
replaced and the system appeared to be working again, i engaged 4WD
High the light came on but it was quickly apparent it was running in
2WD. Got home and couldn't get into the garage due to the slope.
Removed the fuses again and replaced and the system seems to be fine
again. I can only assume i'm resetting the system when i remove the
fuses, if so does in point to bad control module?
marlow - 19 Jan 2008 18:13 GMT
i have a 94.the same problem the fuses are ok there is a connection in
your transfer case that you can take out and clean, that corrects the
problem. i have'nt had the chance to do that yet. mine started going out
in a big storm last year. i would hit the 4x4 button a few times then it
would come on. i used the 4x4 this summer 3 different times in the
mountains 4 wheeling, no problems. then it snowed and got real cold, now
it does'nt work at all. a guy i work with had the same problem on a 93
ranger, he pulled out the module and cleaned it, worked ever since, years
ago. there is also a reset on my 94 in the rear driver side where your
jack is where the wiper fluid container is. let me know what you find
out.thanks
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Jim Warman - 22 Jan 2008 05:18 GMT
My best suggestion is to have the 4WD module polled for trouble codes...
Your shop will need a scanner capable of communicating with proprietary
modules....
Since "rebooting" the 4WD module seems to allow the system to work for a
short time, your concern would be with something that the module can't "self
test" until the car is moving.... I might suggest removing and inspecting
the two transfer case speed sensors for any ferrous deposits on the
sensors.... But this is just a shot in the dark....
Also be aware that there are differences between Job ! and Job 2 Explorers
for that MY...
spencer_tye@lycos.co.uk - 26 Jan 2008 04:59 GMT
> My best suggestion is to have the 4WD module polled for trouble codes...
> Your shop will need a scanner capable of communicating with proprietary
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Also be aware that there are differences between Job ! and Job 2 Explorers
> for that MY...
Thanks. Not done too much more with this as yet. But...
pulling the battery -ve lead resets things exactly the same way as
removing /reinserting the fuses.
The problem seems related to temperature/use. So if i switch from 4H
to 4L (or visa versa) before starting a journey with the car cold i
can hear the transfer case motor run but the dashboard lights never
confirms the shift, and the buttons then become inactive. When i reset
the system it then confirms the switch has occurred. After my run to
or from work the system works without a problem. Unsure if this is due
to the control module being cold, or perhaps the transfer case motor
just has an easier task one that warms up a little. Plan to let the
cabin warm up for 20mins or so tomorrow without driving anywhere as i
figure this might point the finger at the module or the transfer case,
spencer_tye@lycos.co.uk - 30 Jan 2008 00:10 GMT
Thought i had this sorted the problem shifting from 4H to 4L was
definitely dependent on cabin temperature. Running the car for 10mins
to let the cabin warm allowed the shift to work every time before
driving anywhere, similarly driving somewhere with the heat off meant
the fault would still occur even after a 20mile run. Had planned to
replace the control module. BUT tonight with a wet road i found that
even with the cabin warm braking that activated the ABS would
typically stop the 4WD from working, the buttons would become
unresponsive and the auto4WD was running in 2WD only. This failure
makes sense with the problem reoccurring with snow, since that works
the ABS too. Tempted to change the control module anyway as something
clearly isn't right there, but now doubting whether it'll get to the
root of the problem