Just spent 45 minutes this AM trying to get unstuck from my storage garage parking lot!! Was snowing pretty hard this AM and thought it wise to get my snowmobiles out of storage garage to bring home. Our forecast is for a Blizzard starting mid-day through tomorrow evening. Anyway, I pulled the trailer out and proceeded to get stuck!! No hung up - just rear wheels down on ice. I had it in 4 high before I got over to the garage. Tried 4 low when I was stuck but no good! I have a shift lever - not push-button 4WD. It seems to engage and lights go on but it evidently is not working. Only way I got out was by putting some scrap cardboard behind and in front of rear wheels!! Any ideas on what may be the cause?? Co-worker, whose a Ford man for years, says it's possibly something to do with moisture and motor that engages 4WD??? This is the first Ford 4x4 I've ever owned so don't know anything about them. I'm guessing I'm going to need it if the forecast holds true - 12" of snow and 40 - 50 MPH winds!! Finally winter here in SD!
Thanks for any help!

 

I have a 97 F-150 4x4 single cab, when I first bought it like 8 months ago, my lever was frozen, the guy I bought it from ended up fixing it, it said there was a vacum leak in the lines, and that 4x4 hadn't really been used, if ever, so everything just froze. I would say probably a vacum line issue. But I am new to the F-150 scene, so maybe somebody else can tell you exactly what to look for

 

Please search (or just scroll down the forum a page or two). This is a common problem with the center axle disconnect and/or the vacuum system that actuates it. The problem comes up at least twice a week this time of year.

 

i have a manual 4x4 shift and when i put it in 4lo the light never comes on (accept for once)but 4lo is working. but then when i put it back in 2 my 4x4hi light stays on but im actually in 2hi. the light finally goes off the next morning wen i start it back up. does anybody have an idea of whats going on?

 

I have an 03, what you have to do is stop the truck completely and put it in nutral . if you don't the selector will move but it won't actualy disengage...

 

It is working now! I took it to our local repair shop on my lunch that day. Mechanic drove it and shifted in and out a few times and it started working?? I've pulled a vehicle out of our alley stuck later that day and also went down a pretty treacherous stretch of road today - 4WD worked great! We ended up with around 24" of snow since last Sunday w/ heavy drifting from the winds. It will be short lived as temps are supposed to warm into the 40's by late next week. Must take advantage of the snowmobiling while I can!!

Thanks for the input!