97 Expedition 4x4 problems.....big ones...

[rusty ol ranger]

Ok, yall ready for this....

Last july I took my expedition out to the local ORV park, was out there playing around (nothing to hardcore) and went trough a small water hole, but it was kinda deep (up a lil past my running boards with a 3 inch lift).

I got through it just fine but when i went to switch back to 2wd for drivign up the service road i couldnt get it to switch, finally it switched after i left the switch in the "2wd" postion for like 5 minutes.

For a while after i had NO 4x4 at all, untill one day i was playing around and found out that if i put it in neutral it would switch into "A4WD" (automatic 4x4) But not into 4x4 hi or 4x4 low, if i moved the switch to 4 hi or low, it would click up in the dash but nothing would happen. I would put it in drive and have A4WD that worked properly.

So yesterday i took it out where i was cutting wood to drag a tree up out of the creek, not a big tree, but decent sized, i woulda taken the 76 but it was cold and the expy has a way better heater....

Anyways, i pop it in A4WD and it goes in just fine, i do my business and switch it back to 2wd. I do not notice untill i go to drive back upto the house that its in low range....WTF?

But, it is in 2wd low, the front end must unlock, because it will only spin the back tires, but now my 4hi is lighting up on the dash, as will my A4wd with switch selction, but alll it does is lock and unlock the front end (i assume, cause its not driving all 4 wheels unless it is in a 4wd postion on the switch, but it is definatly in low range. )

Also, the only way i can get it out of 4x4, back into 2wd low, is to shut the engine off and turn just the key on???

Also, my trasfer case makes this loud ass racket since all this started back in july, but i figured it was just a stretched chain.....

any advice or help please????

EDIT_________________________
And the noise started before the water hole.....so i do\nt think its water intrusion...

later,
Dustin