HOW TO: Diagnose your 4x4 system. ESOF
01-14-2019, 11:59 AM
#451
Mark
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This is the first time I have ever posted in here and it's not real clear on how to post anything, so please don't kill me.
Looking for any help I can get. I just purchased a 2011 F-150 Platinum that was my father-in-laws. The 4WD was very rarely ever used in this truck. I switched it over to 4WD high the other day and it was shifting really hard. Same thing was happening in 4W low as well. It's cold here in Missouri so I didn't know if something could be frozen or what the deal was, only that it was extremely concerning. Everything runs well in 2WD and like I said, the 4WD option was used maybe a hand full of times when he had it. Any help anyone can provide would greatly be appreciated. Thank you.
Looking for any help I can get. I just purchased a 2011 F-150 Platinum that was my father-in-laws. The 4WD was very rarely ever used in this truck. I switched it over to 4WD high the other day and it was shifting really hard. Same thing was happening in 4W low as well. It's cold here in Missouri so I didn't know if something could be frozen or what the deal was, only that it was extremely concerning. Everything runs well in 2WD and like I said, the 4WD option was used maybe a hand full of times when he had it. Any help anyone can provide would greatly be appreciated. Thank you.
01-14-2019, 12:13 PM
#452
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I just went and drove it around and it didn’t really do what it was doing the other day. But again, that was probably the first time it’s been in 4WD in a couple years, maybe longer. By “shifting really hard,” I mean it would kind of jerk me a little. Not whiplash or anything like that, but it would kind of throw me around a little and felt like the transmission was slipping. Almost like it was trying to find the next gear and couldn’t. But again, just went and drove it and it was like nothing ever happened. Any idea what that could have been? Thank you!
01-14-2019, 12:20 PM
#453
Mark
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I just went and drove it around and it didn’t really do what it was doing the other day. But again, that was probably the first time it’s been in 4WD in a couple years, maybe longer. By “shifting really hard,” I mean it would kind of jerk me a little. Not whiplash or anything like that, but it would kind of throw me around a little and felt like the transmission was slipping. Almost like it was trying to find the next gear and couldn’t. But again, just went and drove it and it was like nothing ever happened. Any idea what that could have been? Thank you!
01-14-2019, 12:31 PM
#454
01-14-2019, 12:39 PM
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01-27-2019, 01:09 PM
#456
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front drive axle and half shafts spinning 2wd 05 expedition
Problem: 05 expedition, front drive axle and half shafts spinning while driving in 2wd. I verified the iwe’s are not engaged by doing two things, first I put the vehicle in drive with parking brake set (in 2wd) and can free turn the front drive axle which does turn the front half shafts with not apparent resistance. Second verification was raising the front and being able to free spin the front wheels with no turning of the half shafts. The system engages properly when in 4wd hi and I get a nice solid clunk and engagement with 4wL.
I did replace lace the front iwe’s a while back and think I may have not greased the needle bearings well enough before reinserting the front half shafts. So I’m not sure if there is friction on the front half shaft axles when the front wheels are being load? Is it possible the transfer case clutch is somehow binding up during acceleration cause if the front drive to engage? I’ve even tried to keep the front driveline from spinning while driving slow by wrapping a strap around it. When I did that the was enough torque to overcome the resistance.
Appreciate any help
I did replace lace the front iwe’s a while back and think I may have not greased the needle bearings well enough before reinserting the front half shafts. So I’m not sure if there is friction on the front half shaft axles when the front wheels are being load? Is it possible the transfer case clutch is somehow binding up during acceleration cause if the front drive to engage? I’ve even tried to keep the front driveline from spinning while driving slow by wrapping a strap around it. When I did that the was enough torque to overcome the resistance.
Appreciate any help
01-27-2019, 02:04 PM
#457
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The first time, was the engine running? You need vacuum to disengage the IWE.
The rest sounds like you're alright. I think windage from other moving parts is enough to turn the halfshafts at times. Being cold, ambient temps, the grease may be coagulating, and providing just enough friction to turn the halfshafts. The strap, like you said, was likely just enough to overcome the windage.
Those are my thoughts, hope it helped.
The rest sounds like you're alright. I think windage from other moving parts is enough to turn the halfshafts at times. Being cold, ambient temps, the grease may be coagulating, and providing just enough friction to turn the halfshafts. The strap, like you said, was likely just enough to overcome the windage.
Those are my thoughts, hope it helped.
01-27-2019, 04:44 PM
#458
Thanks to all sources of good tech advice over the years.
Last summer I got my first full size PU. It is a 2010 F150 4x4 at 205K miles with no history and rough around the edges.
It had shifting issues 2, 4x high and low and the grinding. The last owner was a distance driver on paved roads in southern IL plus that was the area it lived it seems so I expected little 4WD usage and next to no Low range usage.
The LS differential was not releasing and the popping was awful in the rear just in the parking lot. Before I would would make an offer their former Ford tech (Cadillac/Chevy dealership) pulled the back cover of the differential and showed me the oil and no metal in the case. It looked good and he expected it had been replaced since the sealant was not OEM. With new fluid and the bottle of Ford LS additive the releasing pops became less loud and I was told to do a lot of tight figure 8's to get the additive worked into the LS clutches. It took a while but there is no popping and both rear wheels lock well on demand as tested in gravel and on grass covered steep hills.
Since I was in an acre gravel parking lot to do the figure 8's I was using the 4WD Hi and Low just to learn the system. Some of it was operator issues but it was slow to engage too. It started to shift better then we drained and refilled the transfer case with Ford spec TC fluid. The hanging in the between shifts are gone and there is no grinding. I can put it in N and foot on the brake and it shifts to any of the three positions smoothly and timely per the computer display screen. Since it is not a daily driver I hit 4x high and low most every time I drive it
While I have pumped out about 9 quarts of ATF and replaced it I still have not addressed the front differential but all sounds well. The tech said the truck was too tight on the bottom side based on the high mileage so someone had keep it up well it seemed to him. The 5.4L 7K miles later is very quite yet powerful. I got it to pull old tractors to old tractor events since it came set up to bumper tow with the 11.2K max tow package.
This forum is awesome.
Last summer I got my first full size PU. It is a 2010 F150 4x4 at 205K miles with no history and rough around the edges.
It had shifting issues 2, 4x high and low and the grinding. The last owner was a distance driver on paved roads in southern IL plus that was the area it lived it seems so I expected little 4WD usage and next to no Low range usage.
The LS differential was not releasing and the popping was awful in the rear just in the parking lot. Before I would would make an offer their former Ford tech (Cadillac/Chevy dealership) pulled the back cover of the differential and showed me the oil and no metal in the case. It looked good and he expected it had been replaced since the sealant was not OEM. With new fluid and the bottle of Ford LS additive the releasing pops became less loud and I was told to do a lot of tight figure 8's to get the additive worked into the LS clutches. It took a while but there is no popping and both rear wheels lock well on demand as tested in gravel and on grass covered steep hills.
Since I was in an acre gravel parking lot to do the figure 8's I was using the 4WD Hi and Low just to learn the system. Some of it was operator issues but it was slow to engage too. It started to shift better then we drained and refilled the transfer case with Ford spec TC fluid. The hanging in the between shifts are gone and there is no grinding. I can put it in N and foot on the brake and it shifts to any of the three positions smoothly and timely per the computer display screen. Since it is not a daily driver I hit 4x high and low most every time I drive it
While I have pumped out about 9 quarts of ATF and replaced it I still have not addressed the front differential but all sounds well. The tech said the truck was too tight on the bottom side based on the high mileage so someone had keep it up well it seemed to him. The 5.4L 7K miles later is very quite yet powerful. I got it to pull old tractors to old tractor events since it came set up to bumper tow with the 11.2K max tow package.
This forum is awesome.
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johnday in BFE (01-27-2019)
02-08-2019, 02:24 PM
#459
Im having an issue with my 98 f150
2 solenoids on firewall, one for engage and one for disengage, Both are brand new, engage solenoid has 12v to one wire and ground to the other like its supposed to, disengage solenoid has 12v to both wires on the connector...what could cause this issue?????
02-08-2019, 02:37 PM
#460
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Not trying to embarrass you, or sound like a smartazz, but how did you check for voltage? Contact to contact, or contact to ground? I'm not 100% sure on your year, but ground is switched on the newer trucks.