Just picked up an old war horse ('02 F150 4X4 5.4L) with 225K on the clock. Automatic w/ shift-on-fly floor shift.

I can shift from neutral to 4L and back up to neutral. I can move the shifter sideways into what I believe is the 4H position. When I try to move the shift up to where I think 2H should be it seems like I'm hitting a wall.

The 4X4 light does not come on in 4L or in any other position (assuming I am indeed stuck in 4H).

I am a novice when it come to understanding this transfer case / differential. I'm guessing I have a problem with linkage and at worst, I have a transfer case problem.

I should add the 4X4 was rarely, if ever, used on the truck and the truck may have been sitting all winter (we're in Detroit).

Is it possible the shift fork can't move in that direction? Is there a small motor under there that may be jammed or clogged with debris?

Does anyone have a pic of this area so I can orient myself?

Could any of you gentlemen point me in the right direction on where to start the diagnosis/ cure?

Thanks!!!

 

Feel free to chime in.

 

Start with a visual inspection of the transfer case. Take pics if you can, the more you can show and tell the better the answer you will get.

 

uuuhm... try putting it in reverse and attempt to get out of 4wd??? idk man thats a tricky problem you got there.

 

could it be the actuator is stuck? Its on the front of the transfer case under a plastic shield. Its vacuum operated. I just lubed mine and freed it up and its been workin fine. Hope this helps

 

I pulled the shifter boot from the cabin (had to have a helper lift carpet to get at two of the six screws), placed a light along the linkage so I could see it from the bottom of the truck and blasted the linkage with WD-40. Rocked it back and forth to free it up a bit and then back in the cabin and rocked the shifter. After 20 minutes of WD-40 and rocking, I got it freed up. Good to go!