I just bought a 1998 F150 4.6 long box, and she is a great truck, I bought it from a dealer I trusted, over the years, I asked my salesperson and manager the condition and they told me honestly, then I had a problem come up and the very next day they let go my sales manager and later the salesman. Now I have been dealing with upper management and they are not nice...
Well when I bought the truck it was promised to me the 4x4 was good, of course like a dummy I never even turned it on. But now that it snowed I tried it, with my older turns you put it in 4H and you can tell, this one is weird though, it will spin the wheels with no grab on the front, but going down the highway I can feel it kick in or I think I can when I lick into 4H, now when I put it in 4L from a standstill I can here the clunking and it seems to be ok.
How come 4H does not seem to be on when you put it in and try to make the tires spin, is it because it just grabs when it gets going or what??

 

Which 4x4 system do you have? Rotary dial switch or lever?

 

I have the Rotary Dial

 

OMG, do you have spell check?

 

Does the 4x4 indicator light prove out when you start the truck. Does it illuminate when you switch to 4Hi? 4Lo?

 

Yes it comes on and off when starting, and then turns on just fine when you use 4H or 4L, seems ok that way..

 

Sometimes it just doesn't go the way we planned. I'm looking at trashing the vacuum stuff and putting in transfer shift levers like the 99 has.

 

Does is ever spin the rear wheels only when in 4Lo?

 

Yes it only spins rear wheels

 

I am confused by your answer. Only possible correct answers are yes or no.

 

Yes only the rear wheels

 

It sometimes takes a second for 4wd Hi to engage.

Does it ever engage in 4wd Hi?

 

OK,

Jack the front wheels off the ground and support the truck. Shift into 4x4 and try to turn the front driveshaft. The one coming out of the transfer case. if it turns there is a problem with the transfercase. If it doesn't turn there is a problem locking the front axle.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

No it does not..

 

Most likely culprit. Check the vacuum operated front axle disconnect.
Sounds to me like it is either binding up on mud or rust, has a worn fork inside the front diff, or isn't getting a consistent vacuum signal to the actuator itself. There are two vacuum solenoids that operate the actuator, under the hood on the firewall near the battery.

Another possibility is the transfer case shifting cam is stripped. the shift motor will turn the shaft, but the T-case won't switch ranges. Use JMC's front driveshaft troubleshoot suggestion above to test if the T-case is engaging.