Got an error when selecting slippery mode via the mode selection ****. Message said powertrain issue and of course Fordpass is hounding me to take the truck in for service. I can select 4L and 2H via the buttons but the **** doesn’t work. The mode selector **** worked the next day just cycling through the modes until I selected slippery mode again and it did the same thing over again.

I checked for codes and there are none.

Any ideas?

 

Most scanners only read OBD2 codes, not manufacturer specific system codes.

Are you really trying to use 4L not 4high? 4wd high is the default mode in slippery. But 4L apparently can be selected.

fwiw, Any time I shift into or out of 4wd it's done when stopped. That way there is little or no risk of problems.

 

Can you select 4Hi via the buttons? That might help narrow it down a bit.

 

No, I can’t select 4H via the buttons. Surely someone has had this issue

 

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Wet/Snow mode only calls in the ABS control to [modulate] for more rear traction >function< (not lock up), by sensing wheel slip side to side, and cools Throttle response to a degree where lower engine Torque is desirable for those driving conditions.
This function should work independent of 4wd either high or low because its not a direct part of 4wd.
4high brings in the front electric lock-up and activates the front drive shaft in the transfer case. I has nothing to do with the rear functions that are available separately.
4 low does the same thing but shifts transfer case to a lower gear range as 4 high does (locks the front Hubs) but also changes Throttle response in PCM to match the lower gearing.
4 low requires the truck be stopped and foot on Brake to access it. This is so it cannot be selected on the fly and the effects of a sudden low gearing reduction would have.
If you have 4 wheel Auto shifting as well, the system is a different design and operation.
Just general info you need to be a where of.
Good luck.

 

Without scanning all the systems for codes we're just guessing, it could be an abs or a TC issue... Now that we're guessing I would think that if 2H and 4L are working normally the that narrows down the guessing to the switch itself, the encoder motor on the TC or wiring for those. If it was a front diff actuator (if applicable) and/or the wheel actuators(if applicable) then 4L wouldn't work either. I haven't ran into this issue on a newer f150 yet but have seen my fair share of early and mid 2000s GM's with push button 4x4 problems and they're usually the encoder motors followed by wiring and then switches. A few times I've seen the TC itself as being bad, sticky shifting and fully burnt up because of the case rub through.

If you have warranty then let them deal with it, the wait times can be annoying but it's how the system works. If you don't have warranty I'd pick up an obdlink cable and download forscan to scan codes to steer you in the right direction.

 

What was the outcome?

my truck is doing exact same thing. 2021, bought used. Prior owner must have spilled something because first time I went to use 4H, button stuck in, caused an error. Cleaned with rubbing alcohol, seemed to work fine. Then yesterday, went to use 4x4, buttons sticking again. Cleaned, but 4H doesn’t engage, but 4L does. Gonna swap the switch either way, just wondering what you found.

 

Right front integrated wheel end (IWE) replacement fixed the issue.

BTW, my 2021 is still under the 5yr 60k powertrain warranty (for a couple more weeks) so the repair was done at no cost.

 

Mine is sticking as well in my f350!

 

That's very helpful information.