Stuck in 4x4 High and 4x4 Low

On starting my 2002 XLT recently, both the 4x4 High and 4x4 Low
indicator lights stayed on solid. When I started to slowly drive away,
it was obviously in 4x4 Low mode and the drivetrain was making loud
clunks even when going in a straight line. I stopped and did
everything I could think of to get it out of this mode - pushing the
4x4 High/Low/Auto buttons with the transmission in different gears,
brake on/off, shutting off the engine and restarting, etc. without
success. Finally after about 5 minutes, it magically cleared itself,
the indicator lights both went off, and it drove fine.

I drove it daily for 2 weeks without having the problem again until two
days ago - and now it has occurred 3 out of the last 5 times I've
started the car. Each time it clears itself after about 3-5 minutes,
but I don't have much confidence that it won't become a solid failure
sometime when I'm far from home!

I guess my next stop is the dealer, but does anyone have any ideas of
what might cause this?

Thanks!

sounds like the 4x4 mod. or the 4x4 actuator motor located on the transfer
case

wrote:
>On starting my 2002 XLT recently, both the 4x4 High and 4x4 Low
>indicator lights stayed on solid. When I started to slowly drive away,
>it was obviously in 4x4 Low mode and the drivetrain was making loud
>clunks even when going in a straight line. I stopped and did
>everything I could think of to get it out of this mode - pushing the
>4x4 High/Low/Auto buttons with the transmission in different gears,
>brake on/off, shutting off the engine and restarting, etc. without
>success. Finally after about 5 minutes, it magically cleared itself,
>the indicator lights both went off, and it drove fine.
>
>I drove it daily for 2 weeks without having the problem again until two
>days ago - and now it has occurred 3 out of the last 5 times I've
>started the car. Each time it clears itself after about 3-5 minutes,
>but I don't have much confidence that it won't become a solid failure
>sometime when I'm far from home!
>
>I guess my next stop is the dealer, but does anyone have any ideas of
>what might cause this?
>
>Thanks!

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