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Chiefchazfaz's avatar
Chiefchazfaz
Explorer
Jun 23, 2016

Ford Explorer transmission problems

The last few times after towing my Explorer it has been stuck in 4 wheel low. It remains in that position for about 5 minutes and then switches to normal drive. This is a recent problem, I have always followed the appropriate steps to place the tranny and transfer case in neutral. Has anyone had this problem. I hope I don't need a transmission rebuild.
  • Thanks for the advice I will try unplugging Replugging as you suggested.
    As to the post from Newlee I follow the steps exactly as stated in the driers manual.
    1 depress brake turn ignition to on (not start) or move shift out of neutral
    2 neutral tow light will turn off
    3 start engine shift to drive
    As I noted in my last post this afternoon it worked properly, so I tend to agree with braindead0 that it is electrical.

    Thank you all for your input!
  • What are the steps you are using to take it out of neutral?
  • Chiefchazfaz wrote:
    Yes that's correct it is in neutral when I tow and when I go through the steps to take it out of neutral it goes into 4 wheel low. But this afternoon it when I got back from our outing it worked just fine. So maybe it is a loose wire somewhere or some other electrical issue.
    If you can easily access the rear of the panel, I would suggest un-plugging and re-plugging the connection. Generally for electric connections I use dielectric grease however as this is inside the cab probably not all that critical.

    Good luck!
  • Yes that's correct it is in neutral when I tow and when I go through the steps to take it out of neutral it goes into 4 wheel low. But this afternoon it when I got back from our outing it worked just fine. So maybe it is a loose wire somewhere or some other electrical issue.
  • Chiefchazfaz wrote:
    It gets into low as I attempt to take it out of neutral. When I get ready to tow I follow the steps to get the neutral tow light to engage. After towing I follow the steps to take it out of neutral that is when it goes into 4 wheel low.
    So you are putting the transfer case in neutral in order to tow the Explorer correct?

    If that's the case I would suspect loose/bad wiring in buttons used to control transfer case.
  • That is not a transmission problem. may be a transfer case problem.
    I have a 2007 all I do when unhooking is put transmission in park then unhook.
    Then all is good to go. Transfer case has never gone into 4low.
  • It gets into low as I attempt to take it out of neutral. When I get ready to tow I follow the steps to get the neutral tow light to engage. After towing I follow the steps to take it out of neutral that is when it goes into 4 wheel low.
  • Which year Explorer ? The old and new are COMPLETELY different and really unrelated to each other
  • How does it get into low? Are you using 4L and then it takes 5 minutes to disengage when you try to shift back to high?