IWE Problems
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5
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IWE Problems
Lately I have been having the standard issues with my truck's 4x4. It's a 2010 stx with 94,000 miles.
Under constant acceleration/use of the gas pedal the front wheels make a moderate-loud grinding noise depending on how long I keep the throttle down for.
I started with replacing the IWE solenoid, no luck. Today I replaced the vacuum lines to the front 4x4 actuators, again with no successful results.
Driving around trying to get some more symptoms from the truck, I noticed that putting it in 4x4 while moving the truck makes a loud popping noise from the front end. It continues to do this until switched out of 4x4.
Engaging 4x4 while not moving, or moving very slowly makes no noise. The vacuum pressure from the lines and solenoid seem to be strong, so that seems like it only leaves the 4x4 actuators as the cause.
I wanted to get another opinion before I ordered the parts as I'm on a tight budget and trying to do the work myself. Thanks.
Under constant acceleration/use of the gas pedal the front wheels make a moderate-loud grinding noise depending on how long I keep the throttle down for.
I started with replacing the IWE solenoid, no luck. Today I replaced the vacuum lines to the front 4x4 actuators, again with no successful results.
Driving around trying to get some more symptoms from the truck, I noticed that putting it in 4x4 while moving the truck makes a loud popping noise from the front end. It continues to do this until switched out of 4x4.
Engaging 4x4 while not moving, or moving very slowly makes no noise. The vacuum pressure from the lines and solenoid seem to be strong, so that seems like it only leaves the 4x4 actuators as the cause.
I wanted to get another opinion before I ordered the parts as I'm on a tight budget and trying to do the work myself. Thanks.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
From: TENNESSEE
Based off what I've heard and seen you probably have busted an actuator. Luckily they aren't to hard to change and you can get a pair online for under $150 or at Napa for about $100 a piece. Did you notice any water/moisture in your vacuum lines or did the solenoid seem to have any ingress?
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 1,171
Sounds like you may have 2 issues.
When you switch to 4H while moving, do you let up on the gas? If not, that maybe why they don't fully engage properly. If so, 1 or both IWEs maybe bad.
Have you done a visual inspection on all the lines? Found any cracks, holes, loose connections? If you do, you may have dirt and/or water in the lines and the IWEs, which would explain why they may not engage properly when moving.
Do you have the ability to do a vacuum check? I'd do that if you can.
Also, the check valve is known to fail and work intermittently. This may be the cause of why you hear grinding when in 2WD assuming you didn't find a crack or hole in the line somewhere.
When you switch to 4H while moving, do you let up on the gas? If not, that maybe why they don't fully engage properly. If so, 1 or both IWEs maybe bad.
Have you done a visual inspection on all the lines? Found any cracks, holes, loose connections? If you do, you may have dirt and/or water in the lines and the IWEs, which would explain why they may not engage properly when moving.
Do you have the ability to do a vacuum check? I'd do that if you can.
Also, the check valve is known to fail and work intermittently. This may be the cause of why you hear grinding when in 2WD assuming you didn't find a crack or hole in the line somewhere.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Sounds like you may have 2 issues.
When you switch to 4H while moving, do you let up on the gas? If not, that maybe why they don't fully engage properly. If so, 1 or both IWEs maybe bad.
Have you done a visual inspection on all the lines? Found any cracks, holes, loose connections? If you do, you may have dirt and/or water in the lines and the IWEs, which would explain why they may not engage properly when moving.
Do you have the ability to do a vacuum check? I'd do that if you can.
Also, the check valve is known to fail and work intermittently. This may be the cause of why you hear grinding when in 2WD assuming you didn't find a crack or hole in the line somewhere.
When you switch to 4H while moving, do you let up on the gas? If not, that maybe why they don't fully engage properly. If so, 1 or both IWEs maybe bad.
Have you done a visual inspection on all the lines? Found any cracks, holes, loose connections? If you do, you may have dirt and/or water in the lines and the IWEs, which would explain why they may not engage properly when moving.
Do you have the ability to do a vacuum check? I'd do that if you can.
Also, the check valve is known to fail and work intermittently. This may be the cause of why you hear grinding when in 2WD assuming you didn't find a crack or hole in the line somewhere.
Based off what I've heard and seen you probably have busted an actuator. Luckily they aren't to hard to change and you can get a pair online for under $150 or at Napa for about $100 a piece. Did you notice any water/moisture in your vacuum lines or did the solenoid seem to have any ingress?
When I pulled the old vacuum line off, rust or dirt came out of the driver's side line. I'm guessing the actuator itself might be corroded on the inside.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 1,171
This tells me that your IWEs are probably bad or at the very least needs to be cleaned out. Probably not worth the effort. Just replace them. Make sure that the new lines have not been contaminated when you replace the IWEs.
Lucky Number 7
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 835
Likes: 40
From: South Texas
Busted iwe actuator. I had the same issue. Mine was in 2 pieces. I jacked up the front end and had truck running in 2wd then manually spun each tire to find which wheel was spinning the cv axle. Wheel should turn without the cv axel spinning in 2wd. $60 amazon part and about 30min fix...