I'm looking at a 98 F150 4.6L 4x4 this weekend and the owner said it has a problem where the 4x4 doesn't work. I've never had a 4 wheel drive vehicle so I've done some reading and am trying to understand how the 4x4 is supposed to work.

Is the 4x4 on these trucks part time or full time? I think it's part time, but I've read some conflicting info on that. Part time means bad to use on pavement, as the front/back wheels are fighting each other to turn at the same speed, right?

Do these trucks have manual locking hubs? I'm still understanding the whole hub/locking differential concept, but I understand that the hubs have to be locked when 4x4 is in use, and it is bad to leave them locked when not using it?

Sorry if these questions have been answered before. I tried the search function but couldn't find what I was looking for.

Thanks.

 

It's part time under your description.
No locking hubs of any kind.
The axle locking is done on the left front axle housing.
A motor on the transfer case does the shifting and sets up the front drive.
A module under the dash conducts the system actuation when a dash switch is turned on 4H.
4L extends the transfer case gearing to a higher 'ratio' for both front and rear drive..
The case motor also signals the computer to change transmission shift points for 4L operation .
None of this is like the old days.
Totally different.
Good luck.