do i need a tranny or hopefully not ? help pleas thank you all for any help ?

ps mine is a xlt

When putting any transfer case into 4 low, Either the 4x4 automatic or manual transmission you must shift it into Nuetral FIRST Your transmission must be in NUETRAL THEN YOU SHIFT transfer case INTO 4 low , then once the transfer case is engaged completely in 4 low Then you may shift tranny into reverse ok now to check your shifting linkage do the following NOTE YOU CAN DO ALL THIS WITH THE CAR OFF Now to go back ON ROAD YOU SHIFT TRANSMISSION INTO NUETRAL then shift the transfer case back into 2 high. Ok now we can check transmission. Now shift tranny to Park START IT UP MOVE TO REVERSE, OK YES PROBLEM RESOLVED, NO GO TO NUETRAL (tranny)AND MAKE SURE THE TRANSFER CASE WENT TO 2 hi it may be in nuetral , check the linkage you may need to go under car and have some one shift the transfer case linkage MAKE SURE THE CAR IS OFF , never never go under a car while checking transmisdion or transfer case with it running! Car. Off then check underneath ! I would suspect the linkage or cable may have become damaged for either the tranny or transfer case at that point find a user manual for the proper linkage setup ! My Dodge Cummins would look like it was nuetral at the column but had was actually in drive! The gear detent in the shifter had worn and had to be replaced so it had to be pushed up at the lever in the cab to make the linkage at the transmission go into drive! I needed the factory service manual and about 20 hours of searching the web when I found an article that pointed to the problem. Check youtube see if others had this problem along with ford forums no check the linkage underneath

Last line should read -- check youtube and Ford Forums about shift linkage / cable issues on automatic with 4x4 for explorer