Four wheel drive not working?

Tiny
STARR1863
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1987 FORD BRONCO
Transmission problem
1987 Ford Bronco 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic

I parked my 87 Bronco II Eddie Bauer Edition and it was running fine, now there is literally no-go I can't get it to engage in any of the drive ranges or in reverse nor will the transfer case engage. It was fine when parked now nothing except it will start and run fine, and I am flat out stumped-can anyone give me an answer on this please?
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:11 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,752 POSTS
Are you saying the trans won't engage? Is it full of fluid? If it is and you have no gears, either the front pump has gone bad or the torque converter.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:11 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ERNESTO51
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1987 FORD BRONCO
Transmission problem
1987 Ford Bronco V8 Four Wheel Drive Automatic

hi! I have a 87 bronco with 5.0 v8 and a 1356 automatic transmision the 4x4 is electronic it is not working, I press the 4x4 boton or the low range and it is doing anything. Where do I start cheking?
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:11 PM (Merged)
Tiny
POLISHMAFIABOSS
  • MEMBER
  • 27 POSTS
If you have a push-button 4x4 selector switch, get someone to help. With the engine off, but in the "running" position, have someone push the switch to engage the 4x4 while lying under and putting your hand on the motor on the transfer case that engages the 4x4. If you do not feel any movement of hear any noises, check the switch in the dash 1st. (Junk yards are a good place to get cheap replacement switches, if they have them.) If you feel movement or hear noises, then it's something internal in the transfer case. I had the same problem and the motor on the transfer case for shifting in and out of 4x4 went bad.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:11 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PGARNER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1987 FORD BRONCO
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 78,000 MILES
I just bought a 1987 Bronco, and I am pretty sure that the 4 wheel drive is not engaging. It has the automatic hubs and it is the push button 4 wheel drive system. When I push the 4x4 button nothing happens. The light next to the button does not turn on and neither does the indicator light in the dash. The same with the low range button. I am guessing that it is possibly a fuse out. Any suggestions on how to get the 4x4 to engage.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:11 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,752 POSTS
Actually, if you are not getting it in 4 lo, the actuator on the transfer case sounds like it is the problem. WHat you need to do is check to see if it is getting power to the actuator when the 4wd buttons are pushed. If it is, remove the actuator and have it checked.

LEt me know what you find.

Joe
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:11 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SHEE290
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  • 5 POSTS
  • FORD BRONCO
I have a 1994 Bronco. The problem I have is the 4wd will not work. I have confirmed that the motor is shifting on the tranfer case, the front drive shaft turns while in drive. The auto hubs engage with th axles when I turn them manually. Both axles turn when I turn them manually. The problem I believe is in the front diff. It doesn't seem like the drive shaft wants to turn the axles. Any suggestions would be great. It is a Dana 44 front axle. What is the easiest way to get the diff off without taking the whole front end apart.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,754 POSTS
Isn't there transfer case on that vehicle that drives the front axle? I kind of think I would look at the transfer case first before I suspect the differential.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SHEE290
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I mentioned that in my question. The tranfer case is working properly. It engages into 4wd and the front drive shaft spins but it does not turn the front axles. Thanks
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,754 POSTS
IF the drive shaft functions from the transfer case to the pumpkin and it is rotating with a positive strong power and thus not just turning but slipping a bit, then there are only two culprits. Of course, you said the front axles are not turning so you will have to tear apart the pumpkin.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SHEE290
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  • 5 POSTS
I tore the pumpkin apart, and found nothing wrong. Everything inside is working the way it should and there is nothing broke. When I turned the yoke by hand the ring and pinion gears where both turning, thus making the axles turn as if they where there. I then put the axle shafts back in and turned them the same direction and the yoke was turning. So I am out of ideas as to why it will not turn the axles.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,754 POSTS
Wow, you are a dedicated individual. I am going only by what you tell me but if the axles do not turn and you have gone through the diff. The only item left is the transfer case.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SHEE290
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  • 5 POSTS
Dedicated? Not really. It is very cold in my garage. It is snowing here in Michigan right now. I need to get it fixed, my driveway is uphill. I enjoy working on vehicles but not in the cold.

I see where you are coming from by saying it could be the transfer case, but my problem with that is, I can turn the drive shaft by hand when it is not engaged in 4wd. But when I engage it into 4wd I can no longer turn the drive shaft by hand. It "seems" to be engaged with the tranfer case. That is what is baffling me with what could be wrong.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,754 POSTS
We haven't been given diagrams yet of the vehicle parts, etc. But there is a transfer motor in the differential case that does go out. I know not being able to turn it by hand seems to point to something else but there really isn't much else but the transer case. You can take off and crack it open. They are repairable.
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SHEE290
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Well I guess that is my next step. :( Like you said whatelse is there? ? That will be next weekends project. Thanks for the help. I will keep you posted as to what I find.

Thanks
Bill
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Saturday, September 26th, 2020 AT 12:12 PM (Merged)

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