Hey all, long time lurker 1st time poster.

As a former Chevy fanboy sick and tired of the General's commitment to building crap, I recently made my first FoMoCo purchase: a 2004 Ford F150 Fx4 Screw. The truck is awesome and it only has 75,000 miles on it and still rides and drives like new. Except when i engage the 4wdHi.

The 4wdHi light comes on but i don't really hear anything engage. However that's not what is worrisome. I have been simply testing it for functionality out in the parking lot at work. After engaging the 4wd, when i apply the throttle, the vehicles doesn't want to move. It feels as though the front end doesn't want to move (kind of likes it's against a curb). It eventually will move with a little bit more throttle but it kind of clunks and the truck shutters and makes turning difficult (perhaps a wheel is locking up?). After about 5 feet of this, i turn the 4wd off and once i drive a foot or two, the problem goes away.

I've read alot of people's 4wd problems but nothing relatable in terms of this issue. Wondering if anyone has encountered this problem before. Winter is coming and I will defintely NEED 4wd.

Thanks for the help!

-br

 

The first step to recovery is to admit you have a problem. Next you need to decide and act upon it. By purchasing your 150 you have completed step one and two.

If you bought this truck from a dealer I would recommend you look over your paperwork to see if there is any mention of a brief three month warranty. Take it in and have it looked at. I also assume you know that running 4x4 on dry pavement (in a parking lot by your example) is bad for your truck. It binds the transmission so stop doing that. I don't think that is your issue but just thought I would throw it out there.

Does your truck still act up in 4 low?

 

I have the exact same problem with my 2004 FX4

 

Tried it again (on wet grass) today in 4Low. As far as i can tell inside the cab, everything seemed to function normally. I also, like I've heard to do, I brought the vehicle to a complete stop, put the trans in neutral, engaged the 4Low.

4Hi also appeared to be working normally as long as my wheels were pointed straight ahead. I think the problem only occurs when i try and complete a turn. Could this be something as simple as a locking differential doing an abrupt unlock? Could something as simple as flushing the front differential and putting in some quality synthetic gear lube + ford limited slip detergent be a viable solution?

Thanks again

-br223

 

This is my exact issue as well....I too have the 2004 FX4 Screw.... any help on this will be appreciated guys. I will tell you that for mine, the clunking occurs when I am turning or when I accelerate to the point of the rear wheels spinning a little.... the same clunking occurs