2001 Tribute AWD will not lock...
 

Hello everyone,

I have a 2001 Mazdta Tribute LX-V6 that we have had for about 2 years. Just today we took it up into the snow to play and there was enough snow on the unplowed road for us to try the AWD lock that should lock the transmition into 50% front/50% rear power distribution. However the rear tires were not spinning at all in the snow when the front were. I am not sure where to start looking for the problem. My guess is that there is something wrong with the transmition or with the rear axle.

Any ideas what I should be checking.

Thanks.

I have seen this happen and as bizzar as this might sound the problem might be with the speed sensors located on each wheel.

The only speed sensor I was able to find goes in the transmition. What sensor is there at each wheel?
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...ier=467615_0_0_

edit: I think I found what part you were refering to. Could it be the ABS Brake Sensors?
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par.../N-jfn1eZ8koh2

Yes...I had a similar problem with a 2001 Isuzu Trooper{push button 4WDHigh} would not lock in. I was unable to figure out the problem. I had to take the Trooper 150 miles to the nearest Isuzu dealership. They found 2 bad speed sensors{$500.00 each on that truck} replaced them and the 4WD worked fine. If you figure out what the problem is please post back in case other Tribute owners have the same problem...

I took my 2001 tribute to my friends shop and had him look at the thing. He could not find any ABS speed sensors or the ABS controls so apparently it does not have ABS unless they hid the wires and control box very well. His code reader could not get any data from the ABS system either so its probably just not there. Feel kind of dumb for not knowing that. Oh well not the first or last time that will happen.

We also put it up on the rack and checked the AWD and it seems to work so at least there does not seem to be any problems with the rear differential in normal AWD.

He seems to think its either the 4WD control module or the rear differential lock solenoid. I am going to jack up one of the rear tires and try to locate the rear differential lock solenoid tomorrow. I should be able to put some voltage to the solenoid and hear it engage it should then lock the raised tire in place also.

If that works then its probably the 4WD control module and he said that ford has discontinued that and there are no distributors in the U.S. for it. Hope we can figure that out tomorrow.

Hi I was wondering if there is any update to this. I have a similar situation where the lock button works and all tires move on when the car is on a lift but on the ground only the front tires spin.