howdy Ya'll, long time ford owner first time poster. Brief history on my wifes truck, 2005 f150 crew cab 4x4 xlt w/ the 3v motor. she drives 6 miles a day, 5 days a week, It only has 41xxx on the odo. 4x4 used occationally when we're in the snow or cutting firewood. never abused.

There is a horrible grinding noise coming from the front end, its intermittent and most definately coming from the front... Funny thing is, when I hammer the brakes, it stops. When I come to a complete stop, the grinding stops. (or"unlocks") i've taken it to ford a few times, this last time they said they pulled two codes
#c1979 for tsb #06-8-15 IWE sensor
#p1867 for tsb #06-09-08 for the t-case shift motor.

How do TSB's work? Are they covered? I'm out of warranty (obviously)

Where the hell is the IWE sensor? Its only $28.00! The shift motor is $310.00, can i change these parts myself? its x-mas season and I can't afford to spend the $500 to have ford do it.

Please, anyone, help! What are my options?!

Thanks a million!!!

 

the shift motor is on the back of the transfer case. just unplug and take out i think 3 bolts. i dont know where the iwe sensor is.

 

Isnt the IWE sensor for the 4wd? It's located on the firewall on the passenger side. It is connected with a plastic clip, just pull up on it, disconnect the vaccuum lines and replace it. Should take 3 min. to change out....

 

Thanks guys....

I have NO IDEA where the IWE is, but thats what ford said i had to replace, that and the shift motor. I'll grab my haynes manual and see if its in there. Anyone else have problems like this?? The grinding noise is HORRIBLE when it happens.

 

i have an 07 and mine did the same thing. took it to the dealership and they replaced the IWE selinoid and it hasn't happened since (knock on wood). Its been at least 6 months now since they fixed it. I really had to insist on the repair though because they wanted to keep it until it happened in their presence and I told them that it only happened once before about a month prior. I told them what I found out online and they agreed to replace it under warranty. Its not that uncommon I'm sure you'll discover if you google IWE and f150 or something along those lines.

 

forgot to say that you could easily make this repair yourself with the new part which I guess is relatively inexpensive. There are some posts somewhere about it but its basically in the rear of your engine compartment on the passenger side right on top. Apparently the new "improved" part has a cover over it to prevent moisture from getting in the vacuum lines which causes your 4 wheel drive to partially engage for no reason making that noise which sounds like your dragging a steel trash can down the road. This seems to have been the case at least for my 07. Good luck!

 

desmo like the valve train of a DUC motorcycle?

 

desmo- this is a very easy fix. look under the hood on the pass. side on the firewall. you will see a 4 inch high x 2 in. wide solenoid that has a plastic cap on the top and i believe 4 vaccuum lines coming out of it. unplug the vaccuum lines, which are all bound together, unplug the plug on the bottom, pull up on the solenoid to take it off the bracket. replace with the new one by clipping it back on, plug in the wires on the bottom, vaccuum lines, and you're done.

 

If you search in the Other Powertrain section you will find tons of posts on the IWE. It is the Independent Wheel End. It is what ford is using to engage the front hubs. it is part of the outer CV joint. That is now where the front end engages to give you 4x4. With no vacuum present it defaults to the engaged position. When vacuum is applied it pulls the hub back and disengages giving you 4x2. With a vacuum leak or defective IWE or solenoid/sensor the spring that pushes it to the engaged position partially engages it giving you the grinding noise.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

Assuming that the grinding noise is indeed a front hub problem, there is another problem that leads to much the same noise. Check each front hub and see if the vacuum hose is attached. If on has fallen off or failed, that hub will be locked - which will give you the same noise.

As for the ESOF motor, you'll know if that's your problem if you turn the dial to 4high (or low) and don't get any indicator light on your dash. I've had both problems. Check the vacuum lines first, then the solenoid, then finally the ESOF motor. You'll also find that I started with the least expensive fix and worked up.

 

I just brought my truck in to the dealer and they told me that the Vacuum solenoid is faulty and because of that water got sucked into my hub actuators. They said the hubs are covered under warranty but the solenoid was not. Since it was only $150 installed I told them to fix it. Is this the same thing that you are talking about? BTW I have an 05 FX4 SCrew.

 

thats correct. (good read btw!) My wife and I collect and refurbish old pasta rockets

1994 M900 (the original badass)
1999 750SS (scalpel)
2003 S4 (her ride)
2005 S4R (more bhp than my suby outback)

 

So this is what I do when it happens.......
TERRIBLE TRASHCAN DRAGGING GRINDING SOUND...
I pull over...
I stop....
I can hear it "click/clunk" and the noise is gone...
I then pull over to the dirt/shoulder and ROMP on the loud pedal and the rear tires spin w/o issues..
i then place the vehicle in 4x4 high, and again, romp the pedal, verifying mechanical engagement of 4x4 (against just the indicator light). The truck leaps forward w/o any tire spinning.. Once away, i flip it out of 4x4 and continue on till it happens again.

I will purchase the IWE this week and go searching for it under the hood. Wish me luck! Thanks SO MUCH for the help. I was invisioning me taking the wheels off, brakes...ect.. I was about to cry!

Is this something I need to shrink wrap so it never catches moisture again?

 

"pasta rockets" love it