My dad's early 90-ish explorer is the same way. (You have to back up to unlock the hubs.) My '99 F-150 seems to work fine... I switch to 4H at up to 55mph and back with no problems. (The manual says not to do it higher than 55mph, although I did accidentally do it at 70mph once. I was reaching for the AC Fan Speed dial, and turned the wrong one! )


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keith@myf150.com
http://www.myf150.com
Rocky Mount, NC

1999 F-150 XLT Styleside, Black On Black, SuperCab, Short Bed, 4x4, ORP, 4.6L Auto, 3.55LS

Mods: DrawTite Class III Hitch, Smittybilt Outland Grill Guard/Brush Guards, KC Daylighters, Custom Dual Exhaust-Straight Out The Back, Airaid FIPK, SuperChips Chip, Bug Deflector, Pace-Edwards Roll-Top Bed Cover

 

Triton: found the other post in "interesting ratteling sound". Is'nt it agavating when you can't find something you know is right there!!

I looked in the owner's guide for what it had to say: Two things that I thought were note worthy; 1.NOTE: 4WD operation isn't recommended on dry pavement. Doing so could result in difficult disengagement of the transfer case, increased tire wear, & decreased fuel economy. 2.NOTE: Pausing in the N (neutral) position can result in gear clash & difficult shifting. If the transfer case lever gets stuck in the N position, let the vehicle roll slightly and/or turn the ignition key to OFF.
I have a manual transmission with the manual 4x4 shift on the floor. I dont know if I have to put it in reverse but I always do anyways. And I only back up a couple of feet.

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97F150 XLT SC 4x4 Flairside 4.6 V8 5sp Dk Toreador Red, 3.55LS
ARE tonneau cover, p255/70rx16 tires (came w/235), Superchip
Pioneer CD w/4 Polk Speakers & Clarion APA5240amp, skid plates
bed liner, side window deflectors, reese hitch, K&N air filter
40s-2chamber Flowmaster, Bosch +4 spark plugs, rustproofing
Better Built Stainless nerf bars

 

Hey Thanks! conqsoft Tina

Yes it is annoying

That answers my question and saves me some grief. Anyone know what changes Ford made to the system to allow for this operation?

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The Truck: 1997 Black F-150 Flareside. Regular Cab ORP and Towing Package
The Mods: K&N Filter, Eurolid Hard Tonneau and Ford Bug Deflector.
The Site:
Triton's 4.6 Liter Web Page
www.mindspring.com/~acbradley/index.html

 

On the 97 & 98 F-150's with the electronic shift-on-the-fly T-case, to get out of 4x4L, you need to back up about 10 to 15 feet after swithching into 4x4H. On the 99's, there is a different set up which allows shifting into 4x4H from 4x4L by simply coming to a complete stop, putting the automatic transmission into neutral, and changing the selector from 4x4L to 4x4H. This system has been in the Explorer and Ranger for a few years, and has had few problems. Personally, I like not having to back up to get out of 4x4L.

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MarkS
1999 F-150 XLT, 4x4, ORP, SC, SB, 5.4 Liter, 3.73ls, Husky Truck Box, Westin Chrome Nerf Bars, TOFF Spray-in Bedliner, FORD Blue-Oval Hitch Cover, & Superchip.

 

I posted this question somewhere but cant find it, so I dont know what the answer to it was...

My question was posed to Tina on some other subject, anyway my 91 Explorer had automatic 4X4. To disengage it you had to push the button then backup 10 ft. I proved this one night at a Taco Bell by accident. The wheels would stay locked and actually slide if you didnt back up.

My mom has a 93 Explorer which I took to Louisville, KY. I did not have to back up to disengage 4X4 nor do I have to with my F-150. I do sometimes because I havent found anything in the manual which states otherwise. So, to backup or not to backup...that is the question. Can anyone shed some light on changes to the 4X4 system since 91, how it works today, and whether or not you need to back up?

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The Truck: 1997 Black F-150 Flareside. Regular Cab ORP and Towing Package
The Mods: K&N Filter, Eurolid Hard Tonneau and Ford Bug Deflector.
The Site:
Triton's 4.6 Liter Web Page
www.mindspring.com/~acbradley/index.html

 

Hey conqsoft, I did the same thing a couple months ago, I was reaching for the a/c and turned the 4x4 **** instead, kinda scary when your rockin down the highway, but luckly I recovered in time, only did it for a second. Ford should have placed it somewhere else, or made it look different. Now I know why I wanted manual 4wd instead.

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Stone Cold, Black 98 Styleside S/C F150 4x4 0RP 5.4 3.55ls, Magnum bug shield,Grizzly
roll bar,2 Baja lights, 4 165 watt KC lights (I can turn night into day), Manik grille guard,Westin step bars,Sonic aluminum treadplate 36" tool box, Flowmaster dual exhaust, K/N air filter, 265/75/16 BFG AT/s, American Racing Baja wheels and a F150 Online sticker. More to come for the Attention Getter: Ramsey winch will be on it real soon (hopefully), 2 more KC lights, Rancho shocks. If you would like to see pics, email me at mudder46@hotmail.com or go to http://www.mindspring.com/~acbradley/index2a.html




[This message has been edited by mudder (edited 08-09-1999).]

 

...Curious about the function of the 4X4 with the manual shift, Automatic main trans. When NOT in 4WD, assuming that the "auto" hubs have unlocked themselves properly, do the two short front wheel drive shafts still turn, or upon disengagement of the hubs are they supposed to stop turning (I assumed they would NOT turn if the hubs were disengaged)? I've checked the main shaft into the 4X4 transfer case - it turns freely, so I know (assume - uh oh!) from the case "back" the 4WD is disengaged, but the two shafts from the 4WD case don't turn freely - and, in fact, after marking both with chalk and backing up about 15 feet I saw that they were definitely turning since both marks moved about 180 degrees - doesn't make sense to me since the 4WD tranny theoretically (I think) isn't turning at all when the truck isn't in 4WD. (wasn't sure if the shafts were turning because of the transfer case or if it was because the hubs weren't disengaging correctly). I don't notice any noise or gear whine typical when hubs are still engaged (had a 4WD Toyota that would always make some gear noise when the manual hubs were engaged while driving in 2WD), but then again, if they've always been engaged, I don't have anything to compare in terms of noise from the Ford...

BTW - Out of habit, I always back up 10-15 feet after disengaging the 4WD although I'm not sure this is necessary with the Ford Auto hubs - just a carry over from the Toy manual that recommend this...

Ford F150 vs. Toyota PU - Oh! What a difference!!! The Ford is a "real" PU!

Thanks,
David A.
1998 F150 4.6L Automatic w OD, Manual 4X4, Off-Road Pkg...

 

MarkS

So, with the manual shift you have to back up and with the automatic **** you dont?

I think you lost me, my question was that with my Explorer (push button) I had to back up, with my 97 F-150 (Automatic twist ****) I dont, when coming out of 4HI. Whats the difference in these systems?

As for switching from 4LO to 4Hi the book doesnt say anything about backing up. In fact with my 91, I never had to backup coming out of 4LO to 4HI, just 4HI to 2WD.

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The Truck: 1997 Black F-150 Flareside. Regular Cab ORP and Towing Package
The Mods: K&N Filter, Eurolid Hard Tonneau and Ford Bug Deflector.
The Site:
Triton's 4.6 Liter Web Page
www.mindspring.com/~acbradley/index.html



[This message has been edited by Triton46 (edited 08-09-1999).]

 

I had a 97 lariat 4X4 and I never had to backup to get out of 4X4. Always worked fine, I had the automatic on the fly.

Another thing, if you have the auto, and put the 4x4 on after 60 or so, it won't engage..I read somewhere that it will wait until your speed drops.

If you do this again, accidently of course, look at your instrument cluster, the 4X4 light won't come on..even if the switch is set to 4hi.

Same circuitry prevents you from going into 4Lo accidently while moving. At least, this is what I remember reading..could be wrong, don't try this at home!

 

If I'm not mistaken, we don't have any automatic hubs on our trucks. The shafts to the front wheels are always turning. When you disengage 4x4, in essence all that's happening is one shaft is disengaged from the front differential so the wheels can rotate independent of each other. The CV joints still turn since there aren't any locking hubs.

I think the front drive shaft between the transfer case and the front differential turns so long as the wheel turns.

Backing up doesn't do anything in the '97 and newer trucks. I don't recall reading anything about backing up in the '97 or '99 manuals to release the hubs since we don't have automatic hubs to begin with.

[This message has been edited by Dennis (edited 08-10-1999).]

 

I've owned a '95 F-150 4x4 and a '97 F-150 4x4 and here is what I've learned:

97 and newer F-150's do not have hubs. The front wheels are disengaged in the differential with a vacuum motor, so backing up is not required. '96 and back with automatic hubs (they stick out through the wheels and say "automatic" on them) must be backed up to disengage them. They also will not engage for the first time until the truck comes to a complete stop. After they've engaged, you can shift into and out of 4X4 and they will stay engaged until you stop and back up in 2 wheel drive.

 

dbarbee: Very well explained


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'97 F150 Lariat, Flareside, SC, ORP, 5.4, Mods: 305/70/16 GY ATS, AR Baja wheels, dual exhaust, Smittybilt nerf bars, Edelbrock IAS Shocks and fog light mod.

 

You do not have to backup to disengage 4x4 mode on any F150 from 97 and beyond. The 4x4 system has not changed from 97 to 99 either. All 97 and beyond F150s have a center disconnect front axle, no locking hubs. There is a vacuum motor that controls the front axle when you shift in and out of 4 HI or 4LO. It doesn't matter if you have Electronic or Manual shift on the fly.