bourgeois1269

I've seen it many of times on here so please excuse me but it's driving me crazy. When starting the engine both lights light up and then when switching to high it'll just blink and stay off but low will remain on. I do have the new solenoid with the rain shield. It does engage but the 4 high light won't stay lit. I was thinking maybe the cluster

BadFish523

When mine did this it was the solenoid on the firewall. Any chance you got a bad solenoid? How old is it? Mine was the updated version but was still bad. Exact same problem. 4wd engaged but the light would not stay on. Maybe see if the local auto parts store will take a return if it doesn't fix the problem and get a new one to try?

nddragon01

I just replaced an "updated" solenoid that was purchase over the Ford parts counter that was bad, so the updated ones from Ford direct do go bad as well. Splash guard helps, but it's not water- or weatherproof.

The symptoms are definitely that of a bad solenoid. Do the "spinning wheel" test and check if your truck is in fact engaging 4HI.

- Jack up one front wheel of truck.

- With truck off, wheel should not spin (actuator engaged, no vacuum from truck).

- With truck on and in 2HI, wheel should spin freely (vacuum disengaging actuator from hub).

- With truck on and in 4HI, wheel should not spin (actuator engaged from vacuum shut-off by solenoid).

- Switch to 2HI, check wheel spinning free, and shut truck off, wheel should not spin.

- Repeat on opposite front wheel and perform same checks.


Do that test, in that order, report back your results.


EDIT: I'd recommend buying a lifetime warranty one from Dorman. Cheaper up front and free down the road. Easy enough to fix if it goes bad again.

nddragon01

Also, using the 4HI dash light as a way to tell what the problem is doesn't work. I've had the light stay on, not come on at all, and flash once (on/off) when switching to 4HI while I had a bad solenoid. Same problem caused all three different light issues.

BadFish523

My understanding is most commonly if you have ANY issue with the dash light but it is still engaging it is usually the solenoid. I think the dash light get signal from the solenoid? That seems to be what every thread on here points to.

Ford123

I just had this problem with my 05, light would come on for a split second when engaging and then would go out and 4wd was definitely engaged just no light. I had the updated solenoid, replaced it with a new one and it worked perfect light and everything.

bourgeois1269

Thanks for all the replies and helpfulness, I'll try the test in the morning and report back

bourgeois1269

I can hear it engaging

nddragon01

I'm not sure what you're "hearing" going to 4HI from 2HI. I hear nothing on that switch and I know mine is engaging.

When switching to 4LO I hear the loud thunk. If you're hearing something going back and forth between 2HI and 4HI I think you might have other issues as well (though I may be wrong?)

If it's the thunk to/from 4LO that you're hearing, 4LO has nothing to do with the solenoid (again, as far as I know). When my solenoid was broken I used 4LO to get around in the snow until I got around to replacing it.

bourgeois1269

It's not loud at all but I hear it switching to 4hi. I know because when on pavement I can feel it when making a sharp turn. More like a clicking noise coming from the dash area