I just got a 98 f150 4x4 and the 4x4 is not working all the time. i has shifter on the floor its a 4.6 reg cab auto. when i first get in the truck and take off it will not shift into 4hi i can hear something click in the dash area and hear little bit of grinding like trying to slip a car into gear with out the clutch but its not really load or like its coming apart or anything like that but after i drive it for about 15-30 mins with some highway speeds once i get down to around 25-35 mph it shifts in and out of 4x4 with out a problem. The prior owner said he never really used the 4x4 at all maybe once a year if that could this be part of the proble that it never got used. and any ideas where to start to look? thanks for any help and this has been a kick a$$ site so far.

 

anyone??

 

when you shift into 4HI can you feel it engage? their is a linkage on the driver side of your transmition if you have never lubed that it could b sticky, thier is also a sensor on the back of your T-case that tells the comp you have engaged 4HI and it changes the Shift Rpm, if you notice that it sometimes stays in gear pull that sensor out and check to see the little ball inside moves freely!!! the worst thing it could b is a worn out shifter fork in the t-case.... hope this helps you out

 

thanks for replying gives me a good starting place. would the shifter fork be worn out even if the 4x4 was next to never used?