Conversion from Manual 4x4 to ESOF
Senior Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 368
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From: Ypsi, MI USA
Been a long time and not to resurect an old thread but this isn't totally true. I have a "manual" lever in my 99. I'm fighting it yet again this year where it doesn't pull the lever over to lock in the front. I've replaced the motor (that's what it's called if I remember right) once back in probably 03/04. It was a bear, especially trying to keep the motor and the fork lever mated together. There was nothing in the service manual on this part either. I had 4wd last winter but not this one. I'm still working on it but the truck does not get much use so I'll have to crawl back under there in the semi near future.
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Dec 1997
Posts: 9,417
Likes: 11
From: Windsor,Ontario,Canada
All of the 1997-2009 F-150s use Electronic Shift On the Fly (ESOF) 4x4 system.
Some use a manual shift and some use an electric shift transfer case but they all use an ESOF 4x4 system.
OK, back to the question. For the change you will need all the parts that Joe said plus the wiring and an electric shift transfer case. The manual shift t-case shifts through the linkage in the front of the t-case and the electric shift has the motor on the rear half and shifts the linkage through the rear. The manual shift is by far the most reliable of the two. You pull the lever and it is going to shift.
JMC
Some use a manual shift and some use an electric shift transfer case but they all use an ESOF 4x4 system.
OK, back to the question. For the change you will need all the parts that Joe said plus the wiring and an electric shift transfer case. The manual shift t-case shifts through the linkage in the front of the t-case and the electric shift has the motor on the rear half and shifts the linkage through the rear. The manual shift is by far the most reliable of the two. You pull the lever and it is going to shift.
JMC
Regardless you are experiencing a common problem with both systems. The front axle doesn't engage properly. The most common problems with the front axle engagement is caused by a vacuum leak, faulty solenoids, faulty motor, or faulty shift fork.
Regards
Jean Marc Chartier
Senior Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
From: Ypsi, MI USA
JMC, didn't mean to mis-quote you. I read it, just didn't put everything together. I'm down to either motor or fork. The motor moves but just not far enough. Don't know if it's either the motor or the fork....