I have an '02 F150 XLT. It's my first truck and I can't figure out how to engage 4WD. The stick is on the floor and will only move left to right not back and forth? I tried in Neutral and still no luck. What gives?

 

Get under there and locate the linkage. Spray it down with some WD40 and try to move it than.

 

I have the same on the floor shifter and love it, what you should do is if you can try shifting it with the truck off. get used to shifting it and then try it with the truck on. and remember if you are trying 4wd on a dry surface the truck will run weird especially when you turn. dont be afraid to pull the shifter down hard, your not going to break it.

 

I had same issue when I got my truck with a floor shifter similiar.

But lil did I learn until I played with it that I had to push down ( striaght down, about 1/3 inch ) and then push forward. I had kept pushing and pushing and it wasn't going anywhere until I pushed down and then forward and it popped right into gear. Might work.....

 

Got it working!! Just put a little more muscle behind it and it went. I'm going to try the WD40 to see if it loosens up a little more. Thank you all for your help!!