Hi, I also just purchased a New 2000 F-150 SC 4x4, with the 5.4 and 4 sp auto.

I have only had the truck not even 2 weeks and when I select 4H I get a grinding (bearing) noise from the front end. followed by a clunk this has happened 2 times. As soon as I select 2H it stops and if I then again select 4 H all is well. I took it to the dealer 2 days ago and after them test driving it they also got it too do it once. They talked to the Ford Hotline and ford said it was "sort of" normal. It apparently is coming from the transfer case. Somthing about not being at the same speed as the front axle ?
Has anyone else ran into this?
PS sorry for the long winded post

 

Tell them you "sort of" want it fixed. It isn't normal.

 

The noise is probably the result of the hubs not yet locked in. Ford changed to the woosy system of heat activated hub locks, so they take some time to actually lock causing the grinding/clunking noise. If you are going to be driving in the real cold and might need your 4X4 better count on the hubs taking up to 1 minute to lock (in -25F to -40F Temps).

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2000 F150 S/C 4x4, 5.4l, 4spd auto, XLT Loaded! Nerf Bars, 17" wheels, Decked out for construction

 

Mine doesn't do that. It engages very quickly. The coldest I've tried it is around 10 deg F. There is no noise at all except for a click-click-clunk. Once it's engaged, it's totally silent.

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2000 F150 XLT 4x4 Short Bed. Amazon Green, 5.4L, SuperCab, ORP, Tow Package, Sliding Rear Window, Electronic Shift, Keyless Entry, LT265-70-17 Tires, Clarion Pro Audio, Herculiner Bedliner, Air Silencer Removed.

1994 SVT Mustang Cobra. #1032 of 6009. Black coupe with black leather int., 3.73 rear, Bassani Exhaust, Aluminum D/S, Bridgestone RE-71 255-45-ZR17

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Dusty has his FORD confused with his GM. GM used that setup for years, Ford uses a vaccuum shift collar in the front end and an electric motor to shift the transfer case. No heat necessary. Some noise is normal due to the differences in driveshaft speed if your rear wheels are slipping, as the collars have to align in both the transfer case and front end.

 

Your right about that Nomopar4me, what I had meant to say was that the Ford system acts the same as the GM electric hubs. It takes awhile for the hubs to be locked. The noise is not minor sounding. In mine it is like a thump clunk on each side as if both the wheels were going to fall off. Put it this way, take a baseball bat and smack the front bumper three times, hard. That is what the noise sounds like in my truck. First time it happened I stopped and crawled underneath to see if anything fell off!

 

Mine makes a little click as I move the lever then thats it. I might get a slight chunk up front but nothing that ever worried me.

Are you doing this while moving or from a stop? I always stop, put tranny in Neutral and push the clutch in then pull lever back and take off.

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Y2K F150 4x4 XL Med Torredor Red
4.2 5 speed,AIRAID, SuperCHIP,
3.55 LS, Leer camper shell, bedrug,
Ranchhand Rover Brushguard with 6 LIGHTS and
Wireless remote switch Tint/alarm/ aftermarket keyless entry/locks
2m/10m/11m/12m radios, Scanner
LT285/75/16 BFG All Terrains
regulator@f150driver.com

 

Thanks for all the reponses! To answer the last reponse, mine is a auto and also electric Shift. When I selected 4Hi I was stopped and did here the click from the Solinoid ( I am guessing that is what it is) coming from the Dashboard) then after driving say less than a mile I could here the howling noise from the front end. Well I see what happen's and if it keeps doing this I take it back to get fixed.

Thanks