Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives 1992 Ford Explorer push button 4wd not engaging

I use this vehicle strictly for a hunting and fishing buggy and usually just have to minor maintenance on it, but when I went to put it into 4wd the other day nothing happened. I am sad to say not very proficient with how the new push button style 4wd drive works, but I have looked into it a bit and before I spend $40 hr. on a mechanic I wanna see if anyone has had experience with this problem. When I do push the button I do here a faint click then about 15 seconds later I hear another click which seems to be coming from the rear hatch area. Around where the jack and rear wiper fluid is at.

Probably the contacts on the actuator assembly on the transfer case itself. The motors rarely go bad, but the contacts get a bit of crud on them and don't allow the motor to shift. With a few hand tools it is an easy fix.
Try this link:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1102904

Thank You kecatt !!!!!!!!! This was exactly what I was lookin for. Now that I can see the setup I can get under there and know what I am lookin at. Hoping it is just the contacts since this vehicle is usually covered in mud and such, probably corroded some stuff. I will post what the problem was when I get it fixed in case anyone else needs the information.

"and before I spend $40 hr. on a mechanic"

Damn,

They still have 'em up there for $40/hr?

badger

Yeah $40 hr. is the goin rate here. If that seems low to you badger I would hate to see what your area's goin rate is. I thought what I was payin was pure robbery!!!!

My 1991 Ranger acted up and all I did was open up the can and clean the contacts. Good as new. Good luck.

Local Ford dealer here charges $85 an hour which is why I try to do as much work on my truck as possible. If they were only charging $40 I would be smiling from ear to ear.

Guess where I am not going to live when I retire in a couple of years? Damn state of Communist Kalifornia.

My 91 Ranger push button was never dependable and stranded me a few times where 4x4 would have gotten me home easily. If I recall correctly, mine was a problem with the switch itself. My dad's 94 Bronco had a similar push button set up and never gave us any problems and it saw a lot of 4x4 duty.

Dealers are $100.00 to $125.00/hour. I'm at $90.00.........

badger

"Push button 4 wheel drive"...That feature doesnt remotely even belong on a real truck. Push button 4x4 sounds like something a soccer mom would want in a minivan.

Sadly, electronics and computers on todays vehicles have rendered them undependable IMO.

My truck has 2 sticks on the floor. One for the transmision, one for the transfer case. They've never failed me yet.

I completely agree. Swapping the elec shift for stick isn't hard, except the hardcore offroaders are snapping up the sticks and brackets for their private stock..... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I've often wished I were in charge at GM/Ford/Chrystler...I'd have todays engineers doing work of the 60's/70's era... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Having own a Peterbilt, I'm spoiled the right way to build a truck though <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The 4spd and the NP 205 T-case on my chev is bulletproof.My dads 2000 chev with the auto-trac push button has been really good also.Mind ya I'm getting tired of spinning hubs.My next chev will be push button.