I just got my 97 expedition and one of the issues im having is it feels like its stuck in awd. I cant get it to click into 2wd. It is very very sluggish from a stop just like its still in 4wd. Any advice on how to bypass or unstick it??
stuck in awd
- Thread starter reaper416
- Start date
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stamp11127
Full Access Members
Check the fuse(s) that control the circuits with a meter or test light. If they pass then check for power at the shift motor. If there isn't power at the shift motor, trace the circuitry back towards the battery. Eventually you'll find where it is dropping out.
I had 4WD issues similar to what I think you have. In the end the transfer case shift motor needed to be replaced, but before I figured that out, I kinda had it figured out how to get it out of "4WD" at least to a point where it would drive (need to get to work). The rear diff would still be locked, but from what I could tell the front wheels were not powered, at least until it would randomly slide back into 4WD.
Anyways, technique for temporary non-4WD:
required tools: wrench, legs, 15minutes of spare time
-Park Expy on a hill facing down hill. (not too steep, but enough to get it rolling)
-trans in neutral
-set parking brake so car doesn't roll down hill
-turn off car, pop hood, get friend to sit in driver seat in case it rolls (optional)
-disconnect battery, go sit in car and watch netflix for 10-15 minutes
-reconnect battery.
-double check 4WD selector in 2-Hi
-turn key to on, but do not crank/start motor (all the accessories, hvac, etc should come on, but the brakes and steering will remain unboosted)
-release parking brake
-car will roll down the hill, let it go for a little ways (<5mph seemed to work) only need to go ~15-30ft in my experience.
-stop car (depending on momentum, you might need help from the p-brake since the regular brakes are unboosted)
-trans in P
-turn key all the way so the engine starts.
like 70% of the time if i went through all the steps this would pop it out of what the car believed to be 4WD-lo/4WD. Sometimes it wouldn't. This is the result of googling and reading forums and trial and error. Judging from other's posts on various forums, it will also work if your tcase motor is fine, but the tcase is just a bit stuck from lack of use or whathaveyou. I have no idea why this worked, and it might be a bad idea, so please attempt at your own risk. Really though all of my issues cleared up once I replaced the tcase motor. The above was only a short term bandaid, obviously not a real long term solution.
Anyways, technique for temporary non-4WD:
required tools: wrench, legs, 15minutes of spare time
-Park Expy on a hill facing down hill. (not too steep, but enough to get it rolling)
-trans in neutral
-set parking brake so car doesn't roll down hill
-turn off car, pop hood, get friend to sit in driver seat in case it rolls (optional)
-disconnect battery, go sit in car and watch netflix for 10-15 minutes
-reconnect battery.
-double check 4WD selector in 2-Hi
-turn key to on, but do not crank/start motor (all the accessories, hvac, etc should come on, but the brakes and steering will remain unboosted)
-release parking brake
-car will roll down the hill, let it go for a little ways (<5mph seemed to work) only need to go ~15-30ft in my experience.
-stop car (depending on momentum, you might need help from the p-brake since the regular brakes are unboosted)
-trans in P
-turn key all the way so the engine starts.
like 70% of the time if i went through all the steps this would pop it out of what the car believed to be 4WD-lo/4WD. Sometimes it wouldn't. This is the result of googling and reading forums and trial and error. Judging from other's posts on various forums, it will also work if your tcase motor is fine, but the tcase is just a bit stuck from lack of use or whathaveyou. I have no idea why this worked, and it might be a bad idea, so please attempt at your own risk. Really though all of my issues cleared up once I replaced the tcase motor. The above was only a short term bandaid, obviously not a real long term solution.
Last edited:
stamp11127
Full Access Members
This is from the service manual for your year:
Electric Shift Motor
The electric shift motor, mounted externally at the rear of the transfer case, drives a rotary cam which moves the mode fork and range fork within the transfer case to select between the 2H/A4WD, 4WD HIGH, and LOW RANGE positions.
4x4/4x2 Vacuum Solenoids
These two solenoids are attached to the upper RH side of the engine compartment dash panel, they alternately route vacuum to the vacuum motor which engages/disengages the center axle disconnect collar in the front axle assembly.
4x4 Shift Motor Relay
The 4x4 shift motor relay is a module containing two relays which, under the control of the GEM, shift the transfer case shift motor between the 2WD and the three, 4WD modes.
How are you at busting your knuckles ie: turning wrenches?
How are you at electrical diagnosis?
May take some digging to find out what has quit.
Electric Shift Motor
The electric shift motor, mounted externally at the rear of the transfer case, drives a rotary cam which moves the mode fork and range fork within the transfer case to select between the 2H/A4WD, 4WD HIGH, and LOW RANGE positions.
4x4/4x2 Vacuum Solenoids
These two solenoids are attached to the upper RH side of the engine compartment dash panel, they alternately route vacuum to the vacuum motor which engages/disengages the center axle disconnect collar in the front axle assembly.
4x4 Shift Motor Relay
The 4x4 shift motor relay is a module containing two relays which, under the control of the GEM, shift the transfer case shift motor between the 2WD and the three, 4WD modes.
How are you at busting your knuckles ie: turning wrenches?
How are you at electrical diagnosis?
May take some digging to find out what has quit.
I had a similar issue and found the vacuum pressure that puts it back into 2wd from 4AWD (and not 4hi and 4lo which requires physical movement in the transfer case motor) was insufficient.
Either the vacuum operated shift fork was stuck and engine vacuum couldn't over come it's resistance to go back to 2wd Or insufficient vacuum flow coming from the vacuum solenoid.
That would explain why shutting the engine off for a while. Engine didn't produce vacuum when off.
Sent from my Prism II using Tapatalk 2
Either the vacuum operated shift fork was stuck and engine vacuum couldn't over come it's resistance to go back to 2wd Or insufficient vacuum flow coming from the vacuum solenoid.
That would explain why shutting the engine off for a while. Engine didn't produce vacuum when off.
Sent from my Prism II using Tapatalk 2
