99 Ford Explorer seems to slip in bad weather

- J
- jbug
  
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posted
16 years ago

Wed, Jan 23, 2008 11:51 PM

I am driving a 99 Ford Explorer with about 140K miles and I have noticed on a couple of occasions the the front wheels seem to slip. The first time it happened it was really snowy and icy but I didn't put it together with the idea that it might be my 4WD. Then nothing happen for a couple of weeks but the roads were dry. Now the roads are bad again. If I drive about 50mph I don't notice much of a problem but if I get going 50mph or over it seems like the 4WD engages and then disengages, especially on icy spots and it makes a loud noise kind of like a clunking (the rpm does not go up or down during the slip). If the roads are clear there is no problem. Any ideas? Obviously I have no idea what is going on....is there front speed sensor too? What should I do next?

- J
- John B.
  
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posted
16 years ago

Thu, Jan 24, 2008 3:57 PM

I have something similar occurring with my '98, but it's at very slow speeds. Usually like when I'm pulling out of a parking spot and need to turn the wheel all the way. Its like the front end starts to grab, as if it were in four-wheel drive. Very odd feeling. I'm actually glad that it doesn't happen when I'm driving over 50! Not sure what it could be. Guess I'm not as worried about it as you are, for the obvious reason.

John B.

- A
- Al Williams
  
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posted
16 years ago

Fri, Jan 25, 2008 4:17 PM

The control trac (auto-mode) is supposed to react to wheel slip and engage

4WD, perhaps that is what you are feeling. If you switch it to 4WD full-time does the "slippage" go away? (don't run it this way on dry pavement though) It may be normal but if it seems to happen at strange times you could have a sensor issue.

Or could it be the antilock brakes (are you braking?).

- U
- Ulysses
  
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posted
16 years ago

Wed, Jan 30, 2008 5:15 PM

I'm having a similar problem on my (daughter's) '97 with Control Trac. She was trying to drive up a steep, slippery, muddy hill and the front left (driver's side) and rear right wheels were spinning and the other two were not moving. It behaved the same way in Auto, 4WD, and 4 Low. She also said there is a "clunk" sometimes while turning on dry pavement in Auto. I have cleaned both transfer case sensors and made sure the case was full of fluid. There is a slight leak at the rear seal but I don't see how that can be causing problem as long as the fluid is full. To me the strangest part is that this Explorer has limited slip on the rear so it does not make sense to me that one of the wheels would be spinning unless the limited slip is not working. I'm not sure how the front is supposed to work but on my '91 it did that when the auto hubs were bad. I also don't understand how one of the front wheels could be spinning and the other not if there are no locking hubs. It seems to me it should not happen. I tried reading the '97 Ford manual but it's rather vague on how the Control Trac system is supposed to work.

Right now my plan is to replace the rear transfer case seal and change the fluid and change the rear differential oil and add the friction modifier and see if that helps. Anyone have any other suggestions? My rear wheels always lock up nicely on my '91 and '92. I think it's the same rear differential but a slightly different transfer case on the '97.