4WD issues back..... again...

[Muddy Bean]

I disk liked the traction control in 4A too so I just disabled it via the button. It drives great now in 4A. I am in the general vicinity of Andy right now in Warren, IN and we got nailed with a decent amount of snow. I had to drive about an hour and a half last night and it was blizzard conditions the whole way with literally zero visibility. Roads were completely covered with no pavement visible and the EL handled it without any drama. I kept it around 55 mph in 4A with my brand new KO2’s it’s actually a little boring. If I want any fun, I have to switch to 2wd. It’s cold so the snow is grippy right now.



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[ExpeditionAndy]

I disk liked the traction control in 4A too so I just disabled it via the button. It drives great now in 4A. I am in the general vicinity of Andy right now in Warren, IN and we got nailed with a decent amount of snow. I had to drive about an hour and a half last night and it was blizzard conditions the whole way with literally zero visibility. Roads were completely covered with no pavement visible and the EL handled it without any drama. I kept it around 55 mph in 4A with my brand new KO2’s it’s actually a little boring. If I want any fun, I have to switch to 2wd. It’s cold so the snow is grippy right now.


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We got about 4" here last night. I had to pick up my daughter after work yesterday about 6:30. The roads were snow covered and icy underneath the snow and the plows hadn't been out yet. I just popped it in to 4A on the way over and no problems. On the way back I put it in 4H just to test it out. Really no difference until I cut the wheels hard to back into the driveway and then I felt the wheels binding so I put it back in 4A and finished backing into the drive way. Top speed on winding roads was about 28 MPH where I normally go 40 MPH.

Spend most of the day cooking dinner for Christmas.

 

[Muddy Bean]

Andy I’ve found that my experience echos yours for the most part. 4wd can actually kick out my rear end or make things squirrelly on slick roads because of the binding diffs so I like 4A better for this reason. It’s more stable to drive at speed for whatever reason. 4wd is great for a stuck slow speed extricating situation.

Sheesh, I was clearly at the wrong house for Christmas...if there’s any leftovers I’m coming over!


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[Expedition007]

Why do you think you have a transfer case or shift motor problem at all? I wouldn’t have bothered checking any fuses after knowing that it was OBVIOUSLY SHIFTING when you were able to reach low range. I would suspect that one or both of the front wheels is not engaging. I’d be looking at vacuum problems... which a scanner will not find!

 

[Expedition007]

i would really like to know what you find out. Not sure if I have the same thing going on or not, but I made a trip from Nashville to Traverse City last night and ran into some snow south of Indianapolis where I figured it was time to try out 4x4 auto for the first time. (I just bought the truck down in Texas, so who knows how much 4x4 has ever been used. I knew it was engaging when I bought it). I clicked the switch, a message about a shift in progress appears... then all kinds of ratcheting sounds started coming from what sounded like the front left wheel. I quickly turned it back to 4x2. I figured, great! I continued in 2 wheel drive until I got off the freeway for dinner and played with shifting and doing figure 8s in a parking lot. At first I kept getting that ratcheting noise, but after 20 or so shifts in and out of 4x4 it’s now engaging fully every time. I’m suspecting the front left hub was not doing its thing. Did it work before because it was in the 70s? Yesterday it was at 5 when it didn’t want to it’s thing on the freeway, and just below 0 when I was experimenting in the parking lot. Could there be moisture in these hubs going from realitively warmer temps into this subzero BS? While I miss being around the family in northern Michigan, it just reminds me why we moved!

I like my dependable WJ Grand Cherokees much better as a 4x4... no unlocking hubs and no electronics! I’d even prefer the manual locking hubs on our Grand Wagoneers!

 

[JExpedition07]

Why do you think you have a transfer case or shift motor problem at all? I wouldn’t have bothered checking any fuses after knowing that it was OBVIOUSLY SHIFTING when you were able to reach low range. I would suspect that one or both of the front wheels is not engaging. I’d be looking at vacuum problems... which a scanner will not find!

It’s been at the dealer two days now and the vacuum hubs engage perfectly fine, they can’t get the T-case to send power forward. Another day and I’m just going to tell them to put in a new Transfer Case.

 

[B-McD]

JExpedition07 - Good luck with your repair. Expensive repair but cheaper than a new truck!!

Expedition007 - That ratcheting sound may be the traction control system at work. In 4A in the snow mine makes all sorts of noise when I try to drive with some gusto. Hate the overprotective nature of the TC system. Like Muddy above, I hit the TC button and it gets along much better in the snow.

 

[JExpedition07]

Looking like a PCM replacement.

 

[gixer2000]

Looking like a PCM replacement.

Yikes! That sounds expensive

 

[theoldwizard1]

It's brand new. I have been buying my Ford parts from them because they discount them better than anybody else that I have found.

Tasca Ford on eBay usually has very good prices. If you are not sure if the part will fit, send them you VIN and they will check it out.