have been all over the vacuum lines, wiring, solenoids, and everything seems to work correctly. I was told that the motor that shifts the transfer case very seldom goes bad. When i have the engine off and try to engage i can here it clicking underneath so i figured it was trying to engage. I'm to the point that if i can convert it to a shifter to engage I will. has anyone done this and how much trouble is it. tired of chasing ghost and not getting any results. It will not lock in to High 4 or Low 4.

 

I think the tranny bypasses 4 th gear. I think it goes 3 to 5. Tranny is not my thing tho.
You would need to talk to someone like Mark Kovalsky.

 

????????????????

 

Mark Kovalsky is the guru when it comes to these types of questions, he's a member here.

Mine engages but doesn't keep clicking. They do break I'm sure. Maybe remove the little motor and then watch is engage to make sure its working... best i got.

 

Gonna try that this weekend. just getting frustrating. went to back onto a concrete slab and the rear tire hit the edge and spun so tried to lock in and did nothing. ended up getting a running start to get the wheel over the edge.

 

On my 01 I had this problem and it ended up being the computer that controlled it but mine did not click.

 

Ok here is my 2 cents.

Stock Ford hubs? I had no 4wd on our first snowfall. I could hear the shift motor doing it's thing. Couldn't turn drive shaft when the dash switch was in the 4x4 position. Locked the hubs and axles would not turn so all was good there.

I replaced the stock auto/lock hubs a few years ago. I narrowed the problem down to a hub issue. I still have my old hubs so I removed the right side and replaced with the stock hub. Still no 4wd. I replaced the left side and boom 4wd. I got to thinking that both sides did not come apart the same.

I compared the hubs and sure enough one came out in one piece and the other came out in two.



Notice one snap ring came out of it's groove. When I had the hub locked I could not turn the axle by hand. When trying to drive I had no 4wd. I pulled the left side hub back off and sure enough there was the snap ring. I put snap ring back on and installed and it is still good.

The stock hub has a snap ring on the back as well. This might be the issue, who knows. Worth looking at I guess.

 

I'm on mobile right now so I don't know what year your truck is but as far as I have seen on FTE there are provisions in the floors for a manual transfer case shifter.

Another option is the shiftster. I am not sure on the quality and sure don't like the idea of climbing under the truck to engage the transfer case. So I would keep this as a last resort.

http://www.theshiftster.com/

 

The manual transfer case, which uses a stick, is actually a different model than the one using the electric shift solenoid. So, unless you want to change transfer cases, I dontt hink so.

 

not into climbing under the truck when i want to engage so the shifster is out. and not wanting to change cases so will try the hubs first and go from there. mine have the writing wore off so i can't tell is they are locked manually or not. i just looked at a picture of the hubs to see what direction to turn them to turn them on auto to keep from tearing something up. Is there a way to add a switch to go directly to the motor on the trans case that will bypass the birds nest of a harness?

 

No you cannot add a switch, way more complicated than that

Josh

 

Figures. nothing is easy.

 

It isn't too hard to source a manual t-case and linkages and ditch the electronics.

I have converted a couple Explorers and a Ranger.

Josh

 

kinda watching on ebay but most trans cases there are electronic. just keep my eyes open and see what comes across. some of the E trans weren't bad priced.

 

X2^^^^^^^^^



That's also a lot work to change to manual shift

If it were mine I would just troubleshoot it

Someone needs to look at there hubs and see what way is manual lock
Is it clockwise or counterclock?????????

Make sure on hub position Make sure it is in LOCK position and then start troubleshoot from there
Must first rule the hub in or out