While driving my wife heard a large bang and the car went into Low 4WD. She did not turn the controller to L4WD. She didn't know what happened and drove the car home for about 4 miles at 30 MPH. Once she got home, I noticed the L4WD was on, but the switch was in AWD position. We got the car out of low 4 wheel drive by putting the car in nuteral and turning the switch to low 4WD and then back to AWD. I've switched it through the 3 drives and it seems to be working properly now. Any advice?
2007-07-11 01:56:05 · 7 answers · asked by paddyB 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Ford
I work for a Ford dealer in the midwest, every SUV and pickup we sell is 4X4, in 16 years of nothing but working on Ford I have never seen this happen. What most likely happened is your wife accidentally turned the switch to the low position, since the system will not attempt to shift until it sees the brake pedal applied, the vehicle in neutral and speed less then 5 MPH it didn't attempt to shift. Some where along the trip she accidentally hit these parameters and the system shifted into 4 low. If she is like a lot of our customers who don't completely understand the operation of the 4X4 system she panicked and turned the switch back into 2WD position, then for the reasons stated above the 4X4 system wouldn't shift back out of 4 low. You got in it, know how it works and wallah, it works fine. I have seen this scenario happen countless times.
2007-07-11 03:54:13 · answer #1 · answered by bikertrash 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I had this happen on my 1999 Ford F-150 and it was a problem with a switch (I use 4 wheel drive a lot because of winter and dirt roads after rainstorms) and the switch lock had just warn out.
Now, I would have the truck checked out just in case it damaged something in the transfer case or transmission.
2007-07-11 11:00:19 · answer #2 · answered by Zach 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not all that uncommon, a windshield leak on the left side of the vehicle will cause the GEM (generic electronic module) that controls the 4X4 operation (along with many other body functions) and the fuse box that it is piggy backed on to become water contaminated. Another possibility is a faulty 4X4 control switch, but I haven't seen one in my experience.
2007-07-11 22:43:51 · answer #3 · answered by Bruce G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd have it checked by the Ford dealer as Bikertrash is correct... usually these won't go into 4WD low without all the sensors reading like he said.... we either have customers do this by accident or you may have a module starting to go bad and commanded it when it wasn't supposed to...
I'd get it inspected to be safe.
2007-07-11 22:28:42 · answer #4 · answered by gearbox 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could also have a small windshield leak that is letting water into the GEM module and causing a short.
2007-07-11 22:20:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is pretty common.
Have the switch serviced.
That is why I refuse to buy electronic shifting 4X4.
If it doesn't have the shifter on the floor - get away.
Just more things to go bad, and they alsways go bad when you need them
2007-07-11 09:13:12 · answer #6 · answered by cgriffin1972 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is a Ford.
2007-07-11 09:09:29 · answer #7 · answered by david d 5 · 0⤊ 5⤋