Q: Front differential

asked by on March 24, 2016

How do I know if my front differential is out?

The front differential has a purpose to propel the front wheels, in turn giving your Mercury its 4 wheel drive capability. If you are experiencing abnormal rotational sounds or a clunking or banging during acceleration or deceleration while the 4 wheel drive is engaged, you may indeed have differential problems. Since you suspect your front differential is out, I would recommend enlisting the assistance of a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, to come by and test drive your Mountaineer. They will have the experience and trained ear to quickly determine if you are having front differential problems.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How does call waiting work with the HandsFreeLink system?
Call waiting is pretty standard on cell phones today, and the HandsFreeLink® (HFL) system is designed to work with it. When you receive a notification that there’s another incoming call, you just need to do the following: Press the Talk...
Wheel bearing loud
Hello. I take it that you are experiencing a noise while driving. Often time tire noise is mistaken for wheel bearings. If the noise is present while driving and seem to become slightly louder on slowing down it could be...
Float valve stuck
Hello. If the engine is running rich or flooding from too much fuel then the flaot may be stuck open. If it is not closing then it will barely run, if at all. It this started right after this carburetor...
Starter not kicking in
Hi there. When a starter does not engage there can be a few different issues. Firstly, your starter may not be receiving a signal to engage when your key is turned forward due to a faulty ignition switch. Secondly your...
Cat monitor will not run, even though i've done the 55 mph for 5 minutes or more numerous times....
There are two O2 sensors. One before and one after the catalyst. The one before is used for fuel control for fuel injections and the one placed after the catalyst is used to measure catalyst efficiency. A scanner will be...
Broken hub bearing
You are absolutely correct. If the vehicle even gets raised up off of the ground the front wheels should be shaken down to see if any play exists. This is especially true if the tires were being replaced. There is...
engine will crank up but won't turn over
Hello and thanks for your question. With a vehicle that has only 7, 131 miles it should be working just fine. The engine will get hot after operating in driving conditions, especially if the engine was to be accelerated hard....
I just bought a 1991 Toyota MR2, the previous owner just replace the ignition coil and the tach and speedometer does not work.
The speedometer and tachometer being inoperative can be due to a number of reasons. If the remaining gauges are working, it's possible that the instrument cluster itself is bad. Looking at each individually, one of the speedometer cables may be...
2013 Town and Country intermittently won't start
Hi there: There could be multiple reasons why your Town & Country is hard to start, ranging from ignition relay issues to a problem to the crankshaft position sensor or other electrical components. One of our mobile mechanics can come...

Related articles

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Differential Output Seal
Common signs include whining sounds and oil leaks coming from the differential.
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Pinion Seal
Common signs include a leaking pinion seal, low fluid in the differential, and a whining noise while the vehicle is in motion.
Mercury Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Car Program
Drivers Drivers who are shopping around for a used Mercury vehicle may want to check out cars under their certified pre-owned program. Many manufacturers have a certified pre-owned (CPO) program, and each one is set up differently. Read on to...