Hello, I have a 2003 F150 Heritage I just purchased. I have a problem with the 4 wheel drive. When I engage it from inside the truck, a light shows that the 4X4 is engaged. Problem is that it's not always really engaged.I sometimes need to try several times before it engages. Also sometimes while it's in 4X4 it will kick out back into 2 wheel drive. I try to engage at about 40MPH. At least that is what I was told by the dealer that ripped me, I mean sold me the truck. I was also told that in order to engage low 4X4 in need to be stopped and out of gear. That doesn't work at all. When I try the tranny gears down to low but it's still in 2 wheel drive. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thannk you.

 

IF you just purchased it, bring it back to the dealer and tell them to fix it.

 

Geeze you know I thought of that but I bought it in September used and this issue isn't covered under the Lemon Law.

 

you must be stopped for 4low..or just barely rolling... i would post this in the 97-03 section for a better response... i dont know enought about these to help you out... be sure when you move the shifter into 4wd or 4low... after you engauge it i always goose my truck alittle then pull the shifter again to make sure it is in good(thast on a 93f250)

 

I'll move this but I had the identical problem with my truck. The problem was a split vacuum line from the solenoid to the actuator?. I dont remember the cost behind it, but I know it was not an expensive fix.

 

crawl under neath it and check the vacumme lines going to the front diff...

 

I'll check that, thank you.

 

Did you check to make sure it was working before you bought it?? I, personally, am wary of purchasing used vehicles. I feel that many vehicles are traded in because that there is a problem with the vehicle that the owner does not or will not deal with because of the age of the vbehicle. I can't tell you how many used vehicles I have looked at that something on it was not operating. Everything from wipers to inoperable power seats.

 

my 03 supercrew does that and the told me its the shift fork actuator in the front diff parts $160 local dealer ship whats $1900 to do it have to drop front diff out of the truck

 

Really, that seems outrageously high .

For one, I'm not sure you have to drop the diff to replace the actuator. Even if you did, that's 19 hours of labor at $100/hr (a very high labor rate around here) and no way that's a 19 hour job. It should be closer to 8 hours.

Search the how-to section on here or f150.net for more info. I thinks its a pretty easy install. I'll see if I can find it in a bit.

Edit: Here are instructions for replacing the vacuum actuator with a Posi-lok cable system. http://www.4x4posi-lok.com/PDFs/inst_750.pdf Not exactly instructions on how to replace the vacuum motor, but you can get the idea of what's involved. What isn't involved is dropping the front axle.