4 wheel drive always engages flawlessly when driving but seems to have issues and noises when engaging 4 hi from a stop. I know that the manual says to engage it while moving forward but that might not always be possible. It makes a lot of clunking noises then finally engages when I hit the gas after more clunking noises and then its fine. Im in Colorado and have been needing 4wd a lot the last 2 weeks including another 8 inches of snow today.

Im just wondering if this is normal - this is my first Ford and my Toyota never made a peep or had any hesitation going into 4 wheel.

 

the clunking is normal, it says that in the manual somehwere. I have never engaged mine while driving, i always engaged from a stop in nuetral and never had a problem. I think the manual give instructions for engaging 4wd low and 4wd high.

 

The manual says that neutral is only needed for 4 low but it sounds like its a good idea even in shifting to 4 high from a stop?

 

i do mine moving or stationary- doesn't matter- the more you use it, the less you will get the clunk- mine hardly ever clunks any more. if i know the 1/2 mile long driveway is going to be slick on the way down i'll throw it in 4h before i go into drive- or if im half way down and decide i need it i'll flip it over on the roll.
it can engage up to 50 mph i believe.
4L def needs to be in neutral- i will get a little bump when it locks in though...

 

Ever tried engaging it in reverse?

My problem is that it is in 2 wheel in the garage and then I back out through a foot of snow through the driveway and as I start to go foward on the street is when it gets stuck and thats when I have to engage from a stop.

 

actually, yep today when i was at the post office in town was in 2wd reverse, wasn't getting anywhere fast so i flipped it to 4h- give it a couple seconds to engage and im rolling again-

if you are actively slipping/spinning, ie the front or back don't have traction, 4wd will not engage- but if there is friction-ie forward/backwards movement, or just sitting it should lock in withing a few seconds of flipping the switch

 

I do believe the shop manual says.. the computer won't ingage 4h unless you are doing 15mph or less and 4l if your doing 5mph or less

 

then what the manual says and what the truck will do anyways are different- as i've engaged 4H at 45mph, and have never been able to engage 4L without being in "N"

 

Then I do believe the shop manual is wrong. It says in the trucks manual max 55 mph for 4hi. I have done it at 110 km/h (70 mph?) with no probs. For 4lo you have to be STOPPED with your foot on the break and truck in neutral or nothing happens.

 

My manual says 55 mph and lower at 32 degrees and colder.

This is incorrect unless you do not have the puch button 4wd maybe? 4 low, I have to be stopped.