NHTSA Complaint #734284 — 1997 FORD EXPLORER

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL THE VEH. STARED TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. I HAD TO GET UP OUT OF THE HOLE TO PULL OFF AND I NOTED THAT WHEN I STEPED BACK ON THE GAS IT STOPED. IT ONLY DOES THIS WHEN COASTING OR BRAKING. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FAILURE IN THE TRANSFER CASE. I STARTED LOOKING FOR A NEW ONE ON THE NET AND FOUND ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE DESCRIBING THE SAME PROBLEM TO A T. ONE GUY STATED THAT HIS MECHANIC SAID THAT THE GEM CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED OR PARTIALLY FAILED AND COMMANDED THE TRANFER CASE TO DISENGAGE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CASE. IT APPEARED TO BE A FORD ELECTRONIC DEFECT NOT HAVING A FAIL SAFE MODE BUT INSTEAD ORDERING THE TRANFER CASE TO SELF DESTRUCT. THE OXYGEN SENORS I REPLACE THEM AND THEY GO RIGHT BACK OUT.