Re: 99 Ford Explorer seems to slip in bad weather

"jbug" <juliacrawford@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:520ed3b2-0bc3-4924-b7ea-1c2936bfa9ef@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> I am driving a 99 Ford Explorer with about 140K miles and I have
> noticed on a couple of occasions the the front wheels seem to slip.
> The first time it happened it was really snowy and icy but I didn't
> put it together with the idea that it might be my 4WD. Then nothing
> happen for a couple of weeks but the roads were dry. Now the roads are
> bad again. If I drive about 50mph I don't notice much of a problem but
> if I get going 50mph or over it seems like the 4WD engages and then
> disengages, especially on icy spots and it makes a loud noise kind of
> like a clunking  (the rpm does not go up or down during the slip). If
> the roads are clear there is no problem. Any ideas? Obviously I have
> no idea what is going on....is there front speed sensor too?  What
> should I do next?

I have something similar occurring with my '98, but it's at very slow
speeds.  Usually like when I'm pulling out of a parking spot and need to
turn the wheel all the way.  Its like the front end starts to grab, as if
it
were in four-wheel drive.  Very odd feeling.  I'm actually glad that it
doesn't happen when I'm driving over 50!  Not sure what it could be. 
Guess
I'm not as worried about it as you are, for the obvious reason.

John B.