I have the 5 speed, with the 4x4 shifter on the floor...when I "pop" it into 4x4 at a stop, OR a slow rate of speed in neutral, then slip it in gear and gas it, the front end "pops" about three times, then all is good. During the popping, it doesn't feel like the 4x4 is working yet. My 99' didn't do this. I had a 98" Ranger "Shift On the Fly" that would pop once when the vapor locking hubs would kick in, but I'm not sure what this is...almost sounds the same, but you can feel it and it's louder. Now, if I put it in 4x4 and wait about 5 secs., it doesn't make a sound and I can feel nothing. What gives? The first time it happened, I was getting on the highway, and didn't notice it was slick yet, so I floored it, and the tires spun...so I quickly popped into 4x4, and gassed it to avoid getting run over...could this have done some damage? TIA!!!

-AR

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2001 F-150 XLT 4X4 Off-Road, S/C, FS, Black[*] 4.6L Triton V8 HPI[*] 5 Speed / 3:55 Reg. Axle[*] Keyless[*] Premium Audio CD

Mods:[*] K&N Cold Airbox / Throttle Body Mod.[*] Flowmaster 40 (3" x 20" "Turn-Down") [*] Cranked Torsion Bars[*] APC XENON PLASMA Super Whites[*] Bugshield[*] Bedliner[*] Ventshades[*] Taillight Covers (Slotted)[*] "Light Argent" 4X4 Off-Road Decals[*] K&N & Flowmaster Stickers (Under the Hood)

Audio:[*] Rockford Fosgate G360A2 Punch Amp[*] JL 12W3-D2 (JL ProWedge Box)

Build Date: 8/23/00 (Kansas City Plant)

arobbins@mail.liberty.k12.mo.us

 

Are you putting it into 4 hi or 4 low?If its 4 hi you don't need to stop or put into neutral, but I can't see why that would make it pop. 4 low on the other hand will make the popping noise if you attempt the shift while moving.

 

4 HI...you ARE required to slip it into neutral for any 4x2 to 4x4 change, but I did that. I'm just guessing I gassed it too soon???

-AR

 

Maybe the 5-speeds are different, but even with the floor shifter, it's shift on the fly according to the owners manual.

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2000 F150 XLT 4X4 Off Road 5.4L Reg. Cab 3.55

Performance Enhancemets:
K&N
WMS Velocity Tube
Gibson Sweptside

Audio Enhancements:
All of the above, plus
Sony C7000X HU
Cerwin-Vega SS2502 components(Front)
Blaupunkt PCxp573s(Rear)

Radio-delay mod

(For now)

 

Huh...maybe it is...who knows. Guess I'll have to look into that.

-AR

 

Ok, I have a 5spd w/4x4 on the floor.I am now reading the owners manual. It says "Shifting from 2H to 4H:Move the transfer case lever to 4H(4WD high) at a stop or any forward speed up to 88km/h(55 mph)
do not shift into 4H with the rear tires spinning"
So what I get out of this is you can be at a stop or moving, as long as the back tires aren't spinning.It makes no mention of wether it has to be in gear or out of gear. I have never taken mine out of gear(or depressed clutch) to shift it into 4 H.No problems at all. My suggestion just try shifting into 4H with it in gear(clutch not depressed) while moving-unless your owners manual states differently and ford did change something between 2000 and 2001.If it still makes the noise take it in-something is wrong.

 

Thanks man, I think I know where I got my info. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I had a 98' Ranger 4x4 5 speed with shift on the fly near the HVAC controls...I believe I read in the manual that I was supposed to take it out of gear. That, or my dad told me to do so. In that case, I learned to drive 4x4 in his 92 Ranger 4x4 auto which I KNOW I was told to take it out of gear, so all else failing, I learned to do it this way. Thanks for letting me know about the change...I have read these books so many times, but never caught that.

-AR

 

BTW, it hasn't happened since that first time, so I dunno if I should worry about it or not. Would it be something I could check into or would it be internal damage? If internal, I guess I'm screwed as the dealer won't / won't be albe to recreate the same problem.

-AR

 

Just shift into 4H the way the owners manual says and everything *should* be ok.