AllExperts > Experts 
Search      

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

Volunteer
Answers to thousands of questions
 Home · More Questions · Answer Library  · Encyclopedia ·
More 4 Wheel Drive/SUVs Answers
Question Library

Ask a question about 4 Wheel Drive/SUVs
Volunteer
Experts of the Month
Expert Login

Awards

About Us
Tell friends
Link to Us
Disclaimer

 
 
 
 
About Carl Brandt
Expertise
Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience
Experience in the area
40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 3 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 9" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a K&N air filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 95:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 95 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 35" MT's, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, and a stock 2000 Grand Cherokee. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations I belong to
President of Lost Coast 4x4's (8 years) http://lostcoast4x4.org
Blue Ribbon Association
United Four Wheel Drive
Corva
Cal 4 Wheel

 
   

You are here:  Experts > Autos > 4-Wheel Drive/SUVs > 4 Wheel Drive/SUVs > 03 ford expedition 4x4 lights flashing

Topic: 4 Wheel Drive/SUVs



Expert: Carl Brandt
Date: 4/29/2008
Subject: 03 ford expedition 4x4 lights flashing

Question
I just removed my 22inch rims and put the factory rims and tires back on Saturday.  My truck is in the 2H position.  Today, while driving, the 2 4x4 (high and low)light indicators came on and flashed in intervals of maybe 1-2mins.  i pulled into a parking lot, turned the car off and manually turned the switch to 4h thinking the indicator lights would stop.  when i drove for about 20 secs.  the car started to feel as if it was hesitating or stuggling to move forward when i pulled into the parking lot at work. I parked turned it off and switched it back to 2H.  I was told that it is something wrong with my 4 wheel drive system and that if it was my trans or anything engine related, my check engine light would come on but it is not on.  What do you see being the problem.  I last used the 4x4 when we had major inches of snow here in chicago during the winter.

Answer
Inez,

The flashing could have been a bad or dirty connection at the transfer case, possibly from moisture due to the snow run.

You should never switch into the 4 wheel drive position when on a hard surface such as asphalt.  The hesitation you are feeling is the front end trying to pull and putting the transfer case in a bind.  One way to get it out of this is to put it back into the 2 wheel drive position and drive it in reverse for 10 feet or so and see if it will unlock the 4 wheel drive.

If you have a loose gravel driveway, or some soft ground such as a field close by you can drive on it while shifting it in and out of 4 wheel drive and see if it will free up.

If not, have it towed to a reputable transmission shop (preferably one that works on 4x4's) and have them check the transfer case out.  It's a good chance that it a bad switch or relay.

Carl

Add to this Answer    Ask a Question



  Rate this Answer
   Was this answer helpful?
Not at allDefinitely              
   12345  

     
About Us | Advertise on This Site | User Agreement | Privacy Policy | Help
Copyright  © 2008 About, Inc. About and About.com are registered trademarks of About, Inc. The About logo is a trademark of About, Inc. All rights reserved.