I have a 03 EB 5.4L and the 4x4 hi range seems to work sometimes but not others. And its hard to get out of 4x4 once in 4hi. Is the electric shift motor to blame? And the 4hi light dont turn on when in 4hi. But 4lo light comes on when in 4lo. Sorry if confusing.

 

Both the sluggish shift and the failure of the 4hi light to come on point to a shift motor issue. There are contacts in the shift motor assembly that signal the dash lights to change.

 

How much would one cost?

 

So have the same issue. The light will come on in 4low but not 4high.

 

You don't know how to look up parts online?

 

I do i was just curious.

 

This is true, but does not guarantee the problem is with the motor. Mine does the same: If I turn the switch to 4H, you can hear the relays click in the panel behind the drivers B-pillar, but the tcase motor does not shift and no light on the dash. Switch to 4L and the tcase motor will shift and the light comes on in the dash. I assumed there were some bad contacts in the motor so I replaced it, but the problem persists.

 

The shift motor is only for going between 4hi and 4low. Going from A4WD (or 2H) to 4hi does not engage the shift motor. Shifting A4wd to 4hi is all done electrically, by locking the front clutch which works on the same principle as the A/C compressor clutch.

 

So what tells the dash light to come in 4h than. On mine the front hubs will engage but no light

 

Ill just let the dealer mess with it lol

 

It depends on what vehicle you're talking about, you didn't tell us. If you have anything OTHER than the specific vehicle that this thread is already about, you'd do best to start your own thread in the appropriate section with your specifics.

 

03 expedition

 

The contacts down in the shift motor. Of course you could also have a break in the wire for the 4H signal, but that's where diagnostics come into play.

 

How do i go about seeing if the hubs engage? This is my first 4x4 with non locking hubs. Im used to old school 4x4.

 

I think when there's no vacuum, i.e. engine off or solenoid not energized, then the hubs are engaged. When you select A4WD or 2H, then the solenoid is energized and pulls a vacuum on the hubs, which disengages them from the drive axle. I haven't dived into the 4x4 yet as I havent had any issues with mine apart from one broken vacuum line at one point.

And please tell me if I'm wrong here, because my hubs are engaged when engine is off and no vacuum is applied, so if that's not right I might have to look into mine... hehe..