97 Expy weird 4x4 problem

[Firekatt]

Hi everyone. I have a 97 expy, 5.4L. My issue is that I got it stuck in snow last night. I was turning my switch to select 4h and 4L to try and get it out...and spinning the tires. It was acting like it didn't want to shift between 4x4 modes so I stopped and pulled the battery cable. We got it unstuck this morning by pulling it out with another truck. Now, however, it's acting like the transmission "thinks" it's in 4L no matter what the switch says. I can select 2H, the front end disengages like it should but the transmission seems to "think" it's still in 4L by not allowing any speed and shifting very hard at high RPM's.

Any advice on where to start with this?

Thank in advance!!

 

[Firekatt]

Actually, after thinking about this some more, is it possible that my transfer case is stuck in 4L in spite of what my dash lights are telling me?

 

[1955moose]

Transfer case seems to be the go to item on early Expeditions. You might want to troubleshoot the TC, and replace/repair if necessary.

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[Firekatt]

Yeah, I'm thinking more and more the TC now. I can hear the clicks in the dash from the relays like it's trying to shift but not doing it. Was a bit strange as it showed me in 4x4 then it would click and flash between A4WD and 4x4 every couple of seconds. When I lightly tapped on the shift motor, it stopped doing anything. I'm leaning towards that motor being stuck in the 4L position and will suck it up, lay down in the snow and pull it off to see for sure in a bit.

 

[Yupster Dog]

I just posted in another thread check the transfer case motor not because there is a problem with them. But because they are 1 of the first things to go on that system. Sometimes they still work but are going bad and can not fully engage/disengage.

 

[1955moose]

Can't our friend manually crank it into 4 low or 4high? It might just be the transfer control module, although usually you get no dash lights, but troubleshoot it before replacing. One of our members might be able to post troubleshooting procedure.

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[Firekatt]

I just came in from working under it. The TC was in 4L. I was able to manually shift it back into 2H. The problem now is that while the shift motor is turning while it's not attached to the TC, it's not turning to where 2H should be. Are these motors known/able to jump positions if they got bound up somehow? From turning the selector knob to 2H, I can see the motor turn, but it seems to be stopping in a position that's between 4H and 4L

Also, is it possible that I may have turned the selector input shaft too far and went past actual 2H?

 

[1955moose]

Sounds like it.

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[1999]

I had the exact same problem 6 month ago. Couldn't figure it out myself to save my life. I like doing my own work. Looked at the transfer case endlessly. Finally gave up, took it to a trusted garage, one day later they replace the speed controller or sensor and it was fixed. Cheap fix for what I thought was going to be a new transfer case.