4x4 Trucks - Before it Snows
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 2
From: Rochester, NY, USA
4x4 Trucks - Before it Snows
I know it’s hard to believe, but winter is only a few months away. That said, it’s time for all of you (us) with 4x4 trucks to check the operation of our 4 wheel drive systems before we actually need them. As most of you know, the system used in the F-150 has its issues, but if maintained properly, it works quite well. Might as well find out now if yours needs work before you need it though.
So what should you check? If you have the Electronic Shift on the Fly (ESOF) system, you need to turn the **** to 4Hi and see if it actually engages the transfer case and both hubs. You should get a light on the dash indicating the transfer case shift has occurred, but the hubs (IWEs) locking up might take some detective work – or a gravel parking lot. If you don’t get the light on the dash, the number one most common cause is the ESOF motor on the back of the TC going bad. If you’re lucky, a few love taps with a hammer might wake it back up. If you’re unlucky, you might have to replace it – which isn’t a hard job anyway.
If your IWEs didn’t lock up, you want to search for TN-F150’s great posts on the wonderful world of IWEs. The number one cause for one of these bad boys going bad and / or you not getting 4 wheel drive to engage is the vacuum solenoid up on the passenger side firewall. It’s a relatively inexpensive part and an easy fix – if that’s what went bad.
The other thing that can go bad is an IWE itself. If you hear a singing / screeching noise when you try to engage the system, you may have already lost an IWE. Fortunately for us, TNF150 has posted up very complete trouble shooting and repair instructions. What your dealer will probably charge you $800 to repair can be done in your driveway for less than half of that.
Hope that helps!
So what should you check? If you have the Electronic Shift on the Fly (ESOF) system, you need to turn the **** to 4Hi and see if it actually engages the transfer case and both hubs. You should get a light on the dash indicating the transfer case shift has occurred, but the hubs (IWEs) locking up might take some detective work – or a gravel parking lot. If you don’t get the light on the dash, the number one most common cause is the ESOF motor on the back of the TC going bad. If you’re lucky, a few love taps with a hammer might wake it back up. If you’re unlucky, you might have to replace it – which isn’t a hard job anyway.
If your IWEs didn’t lock up, you want to search for TN-F150’s great posts on the wonderful world of IWEs. The number one cause for one of these bad boys going bad and / or you not getting 4 wheel drive to engage is the vacuum solenoid up on the passenger side firewall. It’s a relatively inexpensive part and an easy fix – if that’s what went bad.
The other thing that can go bad is an IWE itself. If you hear a singing / screeching noise when you try to engage the system, you may have already lost an IWE. Fortunately for us, TNF150 has posted up very complete trouble shooting and repair instructions. What your dealer will probably charge you $800 to repair can be done in your driveway for less than half of that.
Hope that helps!
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 653
Likes: 1
Make sure you includes some "after" testing 4WD photos - that truck is waaay too clean!
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Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 5
From: Rhode Island
Yikes 38K with no 6.2?.............I am glad that this Feb I will be starting my last year of payments.....
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 335
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsville, MD
Yeah I've only had it for 5 months. I just ordered a screw with a 6.2 last week. Sticker was 46,xxx. Sounds crazy but there is people over on the raptor forumz that prefer the 5.4. No replacement for displacement in my opinion.
