1996 Bronco Stuck in 4LO

[Emerson]

Hello. My 1996 bronco went in some mud and got stuck. I put it in 4LO to try and get out. It turned out I had to get some help from a tractor.

When it got home it sat overnight in 4LO. Now I cant get it out. Its a push-button 4WD with auto-locking hubs. When I put it in neutral and push the button I hear no clicking and the lights dont turn off. When its moving the front drive shaft is turning.

I checked the 12 and 18 fuses and they are fine. I've rocked the truck back and forth, reversed and driven pretty far in both directions and it still will not get out of 4LO or even into 4HI. Just to let you know I havent pressure washed the undercarriage yet. I'm stumped here and I have to fix it soon as it is my DD. Any help would be great.

I would like to know how I can test my 4x4 relay and shifter motor. I'd like to find out if the reason I cant shift out of four wheel drive is due to bad electrical or the shifter motor. Can anyone tell me how I can test both of them. Id rather not spend 100 bucks to buy a motor and see if that actually is the problem. Ive even banged the motor with a mallet. Is there any other way I can test the wires and motor? Maybe with a volt meter? thanks.

Thanks

 

[bidibronco]

I don't know about the electric shift t-case but I know on my manual there is a spot in the back to put it in a gear if needed. (someone slap me if I'm wrong) Check that and see what happens.

 

[Justshootme84]

Emerson, there are a few links to troubleshooting the electric-shift t-case in your Bronco, look in the "How-To & Tech Articles" forum section. JSM84

 

[bluesman17]

My truck got stuck in 4x4 and I had to replace the motor, theres a way you can switch it out of gear manually, but as I dont have my book here youre better off looking at the trouble shooting tips. I hate to say it but from the description it sounds like a new shift motor is in your future.... :blink:

 

[Broncobill78]

yup, oh yeah. Now THAT's why I want to get rid of this damn silly pushbuttons on MY dash. This sort of thing doesn't happen *nearly* so often with a manually shifted case now does it ?

Sorry, not trying to 'jack your thread, just frustrated with my own and ****** off that I have to replace the whole freaking Xfer case to get rid of the damn pushbutton sillyness. SoccerMoms, it's their damn fault we have auto-hubs & pushbottons 4x4 crap.

 

[wileec]

I don't know about the electric shift t-case but I know on my manual there is a spot in the back to put it in a gear if needed. (someone slap me if I'm wrong) Check that and see what happens.

There should be a 3/8 ratchet hole on the back side that you can use to manualy turn the sucker, you will have to scrape a bunch of mud off to see it. My guess would be that it is the dried mud cousing the problem get it cleaned of and see where you are at.

 

[Broncobill78]

There should be a 3/8 ratchet hole on the back side that you can use to manualy turn the sucker, you will have to scrape a bunch of mud off to see it. My guess would be that it is the dried mud cousing the problem get it cleaned of and see where you are at.

Just out of curiousity, when manually shifting the Xfer case is does it by chance also actuate the hubs or will they stay engaged when you shift it back to 2wd, conversely if you manyally shift to 4wd I'd guess it doesn't really do much good because the hubs won't be engaged. Right ?

 

[Roadkill]

The auto-hubs are engaged mechanically. As the axle-shaft turns, it operates a cam and engages the hub. It takes a few feet for the process to complete and to disengage, you have to drive the oposite direction. That also means that if you change from forward to reverse or vise-versa, the hubs must disengage and then re-engage in the other direction. You can see why this is not the best system in the world if you use the truck for "recreational" wheeling and not just as transportation in bad weather/roads.

 

[madmax]

back when my truck still had an electric case It got stuck once, i parked it on a very slight incline so i could coast backwards at a snails pace. While creeping backwards I hit the button and it came right out, no problems since. Also, did you check the fuses and the plug for the case, You might have snagged the wire and ripped it off, which would definatley stop it from responding. try cleaning the contacts too.