1995 explorer Sport Trac problem

[curtmiles]

its a 2 door manual explorer with the 4.0
its an electric switch for the 4wd and the switch reads 2wd, 4 auto, and 4 low

the Tcase locks into 4low, and the lights comes on for 4Hi but the front axle is not engaging, any common problems i should know about or any ideas?

 

[feellnfroggy]

Your switch should read 4auto 4hi and 4lo, also its not a Sport Trac if its two door. Its just an explorer sport. On to the issue, how do you know the front axle isnt engaging? There are only a few places the fwd engagement can fail. The transfer case, the shift motor, the 4x4 module, and the switch. Theres writeup on each of them, trouble shooting and reapid in the tech library, I cant remember all right offhand. Welcome to TRS

 

[khardrunner14]

I think what he meant is control trac, not sport trac.

Anyway, the I've just spent time with my 96 sport with the control trac. I have the same symptoms and the best answer we can come up with is the xsfer case itself. The control trac has a clutch in it to allow you to drive on dry pavement at high speeds while in 4hi. This clutch frequently goes bad and renders the 4x4 useless. Everything will engage normally, but the 4x4 won't work, especially under any load. Bigger problem is, there are no replacement parts.

Best option is to pick up a 1354 xsfer case and ALL linkage at a junkyard (I hear they can be had for around $100). Replace the control trac with the manual shifting xsfer case. You might need the front driveshaft as well. Not a terrible swap from what I hear and you will get very reliable 4x4.

That's what I've learned so far.

 

[curtmiles]

yea i accidently wrote sport trac, ment to write explorer sport with control trac, i know the front axl wasnt engaging because we locked it in 4wd while i was stuck in the sand and nothing happend, my buddy watched underneith and said the front shaft was spinning but the wheels wouldnt react, and i was plenty stuck, lol
since then a friend of mine as locked the front axl in and it still wont go into 4 wheel, the xsfercase goes into 4lo still and it does go into lo range but the front axl just wont work
and i found that thing about the manual transfercase on another post and plan on giving it a whirl, i havent heard anything promising about the control trac to make it worth fixing, thanx for the advise guys, i'll be sure to let you kno how it works out

 

[RangerSVT]

A more direct swap is a 1354E with front dshaft...this way you retain your factory switch and you don't have to cut your carpet
SVT

 

[curtmiles]

I like the manual shift's better anyways, and i was wondering with the central axl disconnect, will that need to be replaced or can i just lock the diff and leave it that way, just locked all the time?

 

[RangerSVT]

you can lock it and leave it, the only hurt it will do is your mpg's...by maybe a mile or two. Just make sure you don't run 4WD on road, unless in snow...
SVT

 

[curtmiles]

thats what i thought, but never hurts to double check right, thanx!

 

[khardrunner14]

Can't you use the electronic switch to lock the front axel just like before, but only shift the xsfer case when you actually need it?

 

[Jspafford]

There is no axle lock.. the front end is always locked, the only disconnect is in the t-case. The switch will most likely not work with an electric shift because there is a different controller for the control trac than there is for just an auto shift case.

Lastly, your MPG won't change as your axle has always been locked. If anything your MPG may go up a hair (1/2mpg at most) because of not spinning the clutches in the control trac case.

 

[khardrunner14]

How do you engage and disengage the tcase with the front axel then if you cannot do it electrically? Isn't it vacuum controlled?

 

[Jspafford]

How do you engage and disengage the tcase with the front axel then if you cannot do it electrically? Isn't it vacuum controlled?

You will have to get a manual shift case and just use the lever.

No, that system was a live axle setup.

 

[AllanD]

yea i accidently wrote sport trac, ment to write explorer sport with control trac, i know the front axl wasnt engaging because we locked it in 4wd while i was stuck in the sand and nothing happend, my buddy watched underneith and said the front shaft was spinning but the wheels wouldnt react, and i was plenty stuck, lol
since then a friend of mine as locked the front axl in and it still wont go into 4 wheel, the xsfercase goes into 4lo still and it does go into lo range but the front axl just wont work
and i found that thing about the manual transfercase on another post and plan on giving it a whirl, i havent heard anything promising about the control trac to make it worth fixing, thanx for the advise guys, i'll be sure to let you kno how it works out

Yes, you can definatly buy a 13-54 manual T-case at a junkyard for $100

IF you are talking about a U-pull-it junkyard
AND
IF you are willing to pull it yourself
AND
IF someone else didn't already find it and pull it

You will have to get a manual shift case and just use the lever.

No, that system was a live axle setup.

Actually many of the early SLA explorers have a Center axle disconnect, which you must find some way of engaging.

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[RangerSVT]

You can wire in a relay to the 4x4 light in the dash to the CAD...
SVT