4x4 solenoid problem
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
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4x4 solenoid problem
My 06 Super crew 6-1/2' bed f150 is great, but I keep having a problem with the solenoid that holds the 4x4 off, so it can be driven in 2 wheel drive. I had it replaced once before, and it was good for a while. It did it again, and I took it back, but it never did it while the dealer had it, and it didn't do it again for me until now, and that was back in Feb. Does anyone know anything about this. It makes a terrible grinding noise when it is happening.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,248
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From: Rochester, NY, USA
It's probably not the solenoid that's bad now. If you use the "search" function, you'll find a ton of posts on the things that the solenoid controls - the Individual Wheel Ends - or IWEs. They're the things that actually lock your wheels to the axle shafts. (Sort of like automatic locking hubs.) When the solenoid goes bad, it can try to partially engage the hubs. When that happens, in very short order it wipes out an IWE - or two.
Fear not though, TNF150 put up a really good post on trouble shooting and replacing the IWEs. If you're the slightest bit handy, you can replace them yourself and save a ton of money. The parts are about $80 each and when I installed mine, I think it took us less than an hour to do both - and the dealer wanted something like $800 for the job. So, start searching and you'll find that post and know exactly what do do to fix the noise - and the lack of 4 wheel drive.
Fear not though, TNF150 put up a really good post on trouble shooting and replacing the IWEs. If you're the slightest bit handy, you can replace them yourself and save a ton of money. The parts are about $80 each and when I installed mine, I think it took us less than an hour to do both - and the dealer wanted something like $800 for the job. So, start searching and you'll find that post and know exactly what do do to fix the noise - and the lack of 4 wheel drive.
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Western PA
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
Dumb question #1 for today for me.
Did they check the vacuum lines at the same time ?
Could be the vac lines were reused, and when they pulled it off the IWE solenoid, they damaged them ?? Could be the vacuum lines are the cause, and temperature swings make the crack worse ( that could be a total rubbish comment, just thinking out loud at the moment ).
Just a total swag, but considering the number of IWE solenoids you have had, the problem should not be there ( also assuming they installed the updated IWE solenoid that is in the TSB, not another old one ).
Take a read of the thread that xjcamaro89 posted.
Did they check the vacuum lines at the same time ?
Could be the vac lines were reused, and when they pulled it off the IWE solenoid, they damaged them ?? Could be the vacuum lines are the cause, and temperature swings make the crack worse ( that could be a total rubbish comment, just thinking out loud at the moment ).
Just a total swag, but considering the number of IWE solenoids you have had, the problem should not be there ( also assuming they installed the updated IWE solenoid that is in the TSB, not another old one ).
Take a read of the thread that xjcamaro89 posted.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 749
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From: NW Louisiana
I would agree, read the thread posted above. I had this problem and went in to the dealer with new IWE solenoid in hand. They checked everything and found the issue not in the solenoid but in the wheel ends. Fortunately my extended warranty paid for everything, including the change out of the solenoid that I had done even though the tech said the problem wasn't there. Since it was one of the old style, I had it changed anyway.