Hey guys,

First of all, the fun story.

Went out to Ocotillo Wells for some desert fun and a little expedition adventure. My normal expedition buddies couldnt go so I brought my new girlfriend...thought I'd try her out and see how she does on a 3 day trip in the desert....

We got out there on a friday evening and hit a few washes and showed her all the fun places I usually go with the dirtbikes and such. Set up camp, made a fire, etc. It got dark early and we were tired so we shut down camp, doused the fire and called it a night. Woke up around 2am for a bathroom break and noticed the billions of stars I cant normally see living in the city so we enjoyed a good 20 minute star gazing sesh in the 20 degree desert night... It was so beautiful.

The next moring we made a quick breakfast and packed up camp for a 40 mile round trip to the the wind caves. Beginning of our trip was great and the desert looked clean and beautiful. We got to the wind caves which are exactly as they sound...caves that were made by the wind...pretty cool. Did our fun sight seeing at the caves and got back in my truck to explore a few different trails. We were going down a wash that was maybe 20 feet wide with cliffs that were maybe 200 feet tall. It was so beautiful and like nothing I'd seen before. My tires were aired down to about 18 PSI which I felt was just fine. We came around a corner in the wash and the sand started to get deeper so I put it in 4x4. Nothing. I had no 4x4 when I needed it most. The day before it worked everytime I needed it, go figure, right? So, since I didnt have 4x4 I decided to up the speed a little to keep momentum which worked fine until I came around a blind corner to find a big boulder I would have to slowly navigate around and was forced to come to a complete stop. Done. Stuck. That was it. I was stuck in deep sand with no 4x4 in a wash with 100 foot cliffs on both sides about 18 miles from any road or campsite.

I tried to keep my cool and not panic...But since this truck is my DD, I freaked. This is where my new gf comes in. She jumped out of the truck and yelled "I'll get the shovel!" After some shoveling and rock placement we weren't getting anywhere and we were only making it worse so we packed our day packs and said goodbye to my truck and started our 18 miles trek to the road to find help.

About 100 yards away from my truck I was thinking what the **** did I get myself into! What and idiot! When suddenly, I hear a very familiar noise... 4 stroke engines!! Dirtbikes!! Help! Yay!!!

So we ended up meeting a group of guys on an annual ride they always go on... After about 15 mins of shoveling and more rock placement and lowering my tires down to 10PSI I easily drove out of the sand with a little bit of muslce from my new friends.

So of course, being the guy I am, I offered all of them a beer. It turned out that one of them lives down the street from me and I played football with his son in high school. A different guy lives down the street from my gf's parents house and has his kids at the HS my gf went to...small world. Exchanged business cards and bought all of them a burger and beer at a local burger and beer joint in San Diego.

Oh...on the drive home I tried the 4x4 at a stop light just to see if it worked...of course it engaged no problem. Of course....


So now the long story is over here is the reason for the thread.

Its intermittent 4x4. Works sometimes and doesnt work other times. I have a few other trips planned and want to get thios fixed!

Fuses are fine.
Vaccum hoses looked fine, need to check them in detail.
Im going to take off the dash to see if its a problem at the switch itself.

After doing some research I came across the IWE theread...but this seems to be a 2004 + problem. Will it affect a 98 does anyone know?

Basics of my truck:
1998 F-150, 4x4, 4.6L, 200,8xx miles.

Any input? Anything specific I should check on my year that could affect it? Any help is appreciated. Thanks guys!


P.S. After digging out my truck, and making every meal for us...I decided the new gf might be a keeper!

 

You definitely don't have IWE's. You have a lock inside the front diff, the halfshafts are always turning.

Do you have ESOF or MSOF?

Did you try coming to a complete stop, putting it in neutral, foot on the brake, and engaging 4 Lo?

 

Ive tried every combination possible. Since this problem started occurring I have tried it stopped, parked, neutral, driving 10mph, etc. I have tried all of those on different days. Sometimes it engages and sometimes it doesn't. I guess my truck is just at that age haha…some good days and some bad days.

And I assume ESOF is Electronic shift on the fly? If so, Yes.

Since it works sometimes and doesn't work other times I assume its not a fuse right? Fuses are either good or bad. I think it may be a the connector on the actual 4x switch?

D

 

Check your GEM module for water damage and corrosion. You may just have to clean the connector.

 

Thanks for the advice. Now, where do I find that?

 

You need a GEM detector.


It's behind the fuse block in the cab. Look for water spots (white circles) by around the connector.

 

If its engaging and slipping out or not engaging it maybe the shift fork in the diff. I had a similar problem.

 

I started attempting to get to the GEM to check it but it seems like a very involved process. I need a whole day or so to do it. Could the GEM Module also be the reason for my passenger light not working? Thread for my light: https://www.f150online.com/forums/19...esnt-work.html

Is there a write up on getting to the GEM? I have a manual to use also

D