2003 F150 4x4 intermittent failure to engage

12GA · #1 02-24-2008, 05:32 PM

I drove out to camp Saturday and for the first time the 4x4 failed to engage. I had driven 2 1/2 hours in 2WD and when I arrived at the offroad portion of my drive to camp I shifted the manual transfer case to 4WD. The dashboard 4x4 indicator light came on, but the front wheels did not engage.

I tried shifting from 2WD to 4WD several times but it was a no go.

So I left the truck parked and hiked into camp. I hiked out this morning and fired the truck up and shifted it into 4x4 and it engaged like it always has.

The truck only has around 85k miles on it. Any thoughts or advice will be greatly appreciated.

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torkum · #2 02-24-2008, 09:32 PM

Could be a GEM hickup

Do a search on the GEM.

12GA · #3 02-26-2008, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by torkum

Could be a GEM hickup

Do a search on the GEM.

I searched and found posts where the GEM was causing all sorts of electrical problems but not like this.

Forecast is for snow today, tonight and tomorrow. I'll prolly get a chance to test the 4WD on the way home from work tonight.

12GA · #4 02-27-2008, 10:07 AM

Well last night I shifted it into 4WD to get out of the parking lot and although I heard a click from within the dashboard it was definitely still in 2WD. Then around 3 or 4 miles down the road the 4WD kicks in.

Same thing this morning. I start her up and put her in 4WD. I hear the click but no 4WD. A mile down the road I hear another click and she's in 4WD.

12GA · #5 03-01-2008, 04:43 PM

Well she shifted right into 4WD today - I have no idea why.

Its time to call the dealership for some service cause I can't take the chance she'll balk at going into 4WD once I'm in camp cause there's no getting out of there in 2WD and its not the kind of place to be left stranded.