i have a 1997 f150 4.6L triton with 4WD on the floor. Latly the light on the dash hasnt wanted to turn on. Most of the time when the light works i hear a click and 4WD works awsome and the light lights up. But for some reason if the light dosent come on it seems the 4WD likes to slip? Now i dont know if it just me but for some reason the 4X4 works alot better when the light comes on for 4X4. Dont know if im crazy or not. Thanks!

 

Well the first thing I would suspect is that the 4x4 isn't engaging fully. That might be the culprit. Does it do it in 4H and 4L both?

 

Yes it does it in 4L too

 

its probably the fuse
there is a 30 amp fuse that controls it
it also controls the wipers dome light and door dinger
it could have come loose so if the 4x4 light doesnt come on check and see if one of the above is working
if not than your fuse probably isnt getting good contact

 

are you trying to shift while you are moving? idk if 97's had shift on the fly but i know for low you have to have it in nuetraland it cant be in motion, if you know that already im not trying to insult you but i just dont know. anyway you mite want to shift out and back in again if the light doesnt come on.

 

It says in my manual that i can shift into 4WD up to 25 MPH and shift out of it at any speed (down to 2H). However i must shift the truck into N and the 4x4 shifter into N and wait for the ok light to come on be for shifting into 4L. I hope this helps you help me out lol And i dont think its the fuse's because its been working great now! Which is werid but it has been! I just hope it dosent start to act up. Talk about knocking on wood.

 

check for a vacuum leak at the front diff, it is vacuum actuated, it could be leaking or a bad hose