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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/03 ford expedition 4x4 lights flashing

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Expert: - 4/29/2008


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

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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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

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 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" 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 cold air high flow 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 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. 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
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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