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4x4 problems

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Old Jul 26, 2020 | 06:15 PM
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Default 4x4 problems

hello dere!

I've been having an issue that started a few days after I installed new coil packs in my truck. I have a mostly stock 07 xlt supercab, 4wd, 4.7L.

1)At speeds upwards of 65-70 with the accelerator in the sweet spot between acceleration and compression, the 4-low would start to flash, quickly and without rhythm. I would experience a slight and momentary power loss, and the speedometer needle(but not the tach) would gyrate wildly from 15mph-just below current speed. If I dropped below 65mph the problem would mostly abate.
2)With the trans engaged in reverse, upon applying a small bit of gas pedal, 4-low light flashes quickly without rhythm, also experiencing some power loss that abates with gas pedal pushed considerably. (I regularly have to back up my gravel driveway, and can't idle backwards and up like I used to. There are now burnout spots I'll have to get the grader out to fix because of this. Will wait till the problem is solved before I bother fixing the driveway.)

Problem 1 has steadily gotten worse, and has started to happen at any speed, unexpectedly, and can last for a 1/4 mile or so before abating. Also, have noticed, with window down, a quick metal on metal sound that occaisionally, not always, accompanies the issue. The problem has also now started to happen while under acceleration and compression, not just when coasting.

A couple suggestions were suggested by various people who have some mechanical aptitude.
-my mechanic says there are no vacuum issues, and that he doesn't know what's wrong, and to take it to a 4x4 specialist
-another guy said to replace the sensor on the trans or the transfer case. i have tried both.

Not sure which way to move now. I need to be able to use my truck, but can't afford 8 hours of fiddling at $120/hour at a 4x4 shop right now. My mechanic will tell me when he can't fix something and not charge me, whereas I don't know the 4wd shop guys and expect a full ticket from their work.

I had an 01 with a 5.4L before this that was damn near bulletproof, got better gas mileage, and would pull anything I hitched to it. This new thing is a gutless gas hog so far. Been kicking myself ever since trading my old truck for it. It is a damn good lookin truck, though.

So, anyone got a clue on this? Sure would appreciate some direction.

Tried posting tgis before but it was ignored. Apologies for the double post.
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Old Jul 27, 2020 | 05:50 AM
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Sounds like a bad cluster to me...
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Old Jul 27, 2020 | 10:15 AM
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Originally Posted by techrep
Sounds like a bad cluster to me...
Sorry. What's a cluster? Is there a way to test it?
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Old Jul 27, 2020 | 01:05 PM
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Originally Posted by techrep
Sounds like a bad cluster to me...
So i looked up 'cluster' on the googles. The only cluster i came up with was 'instrument cluster'. I thought you might be speaaaking about some other component. My experience is that the instrument cluster only reads engine and trouble conditions, but doesnt contain control components. How would the instrument cluster be directing the front hubs and causing engine performance loss?

If im going to start the troubleshooting by replacing $250 parts that may or may not be the defining issue, I might as well take the truck to the dealership shop where they can really empty my pockets.

I hope you can elucidate on this. Does the instrument cluster actually contain the 4wd control components?
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Old Jul 28, 2020 | 05:51 AM
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you didn't actually say the truck was going into 4wd did you ? just the light on the cluster was lighting up.. your transfer case can not go directly into 4 lo either ... need to go through 4 hi first. with the speedo needle acting crazy and the cluster lights coming on for no reason, it leads me to believe you have a short in the cluster which does control quite a bit believe it or not. Check for a short to ground in your wiring first.
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Old Jul 28, 2020 | 10:55 AM
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[QUOTE=pucketprutectah;6658968] Also, have noticed, with window down, a quick metal on metal sound that occaisionally, not always, accompanies the issue. [/QUOTE]

Originally Posted by techrep
you didn't actually say the truck was going into 4wd did you ?
Well, i can't really tell if it's going into 4wd or not, except that the weird metal sound indicates the hubs are trying to engage and the accompanying torque drain supports that. I don't know anything about working on 4wd systems so I'm trying to give information without guessing.
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