I have a 2006 f150 4x4 and never use the 4wd at all. Every once in a while I will put it in 4wd for 10 seconds just to make sure it still works. Yesterday, I'm driving in 2wd and I make a left turn and hear a loud grinding noise, seems to be more on left side. I thought it may have been the brake sticking or something and after 3 seconds it went away. It has done this 4 or 5 times today. It only lasts for 3 or 4 seconds but sounds nasty. There is a loud clunk when the noise stops. So I read on here it may be a 4wd switch. I took the truck out and put it in 4wd low and started up a small hill. I then put the truck in reverse to back down the hill and now it will not come out of 4wd low. Any ideas? Sorry about the long post. Any help is much appreciated. God knows I do not want to go to the stealership. 50K miles and no warranty

 

from what I have read here it sounds like the 4x4 solenoid. Would this still make the nasty grinding sound like metal on metal when I'm in 2wd? Thanks

 

go outside with a hammer


hit the small shift motor that is located on the backside of your transfer-case


then start her up and try to shift back into 4x2...make sure you are in park and the switch is in 4x4lo before you start the motor...and have your foot on the brake




the grinding you are hearing is your IWE. they aren't getting enough vacuum for some reason...so they are trying to "fail" in the engaged position.

 

Okay. I got it back into 2wd. I didn't have to hit it or anything just ran the switch through 4wl and 4wh a couple of times. Should i replace the actuators? And when you say they are trying to "fail" in the engaged position do you mean in 2wd? The grinding happened in 2wd. I read that when I hear the grinding I should switch it over to 4wheel high to prevent damage from being done. What do you think? thanks for the info.

 

okay, so you werent stuck in 4x4lo...you just switched it improperly

to go into 4x4 LO:to go Out of 4x4 LO:


the IWE "fails" in the engaged position. So, when it doesn't have vacuum applied to it, the IWE tries to engage...this also happens when the motor is off

so you have 1 of 3 possible things going on.

1. Your vacuum solenoid on the firewall is malfunctioning
2. The vacuum lines to your IWE are cracked/broken/missing/disconnected...some sort of failure
3. Your IWE itself is bad or dirty and needs replacement




take both of your front wheels off. you will see 2 small vacuum lines connected to each IWE. 1 runs back to the Vacuum solenoid, and 1 goes to nowhere (this is the vent)

follow both of the vacuum lines and verify their integrity


the cheapest, and easiest fix is the Vacuum Solenoid. There is a newer version out that has a water shield...under $20 I believe at the Dealership. Swap that out and you have a pretty good chance the problem will be fixed





either way, I highly suggest you minimize driving the truck. Continuous driving can and will damage your IWE. Hopefully they aren't damaged yet

 

So is there a vaccum solenoid and an IWE solenoid or are they the same thing? thanks

 

does your truck go into 4x4 lo with out being in neutral? mine wont go into 4lo in park only neutral.

 

ya know, I've never actually tried it in Park.


I posted that up based on all of my prior Fords...now you got me wondering





and yes, IWE solenoid and vacuum solenoid are the same thing