I have a 2005 F150 Supercab 4X4 with 55,000 miles on it. In the last 2 weeks I have experienced a grinding noise towards the front and then a clunk as if the gears are in alignment again. This has happened as I am slowing to stop in the 15 to 25 mph range. It lasts for about 15 seconds and it is gone. One note is that as the weather here in Illinois has warmed up, that is when the problem has occured. Of course when I take it to the dealer it does not duplicate. Any help on this would be appreciated. Thanks, Jim

 

do you run a different tranny fluid for cold winters? If it was a thinner mix, it could run too thin in warm weather.

 

Does the truck go into 4WD? It may be an issue with your IWE Solenoid, it controls the vacuum which locks your hubs in for the shift on the fly system. If you put the truck in neutral then shift into 4WD, if its the IWE you'll likely have problems with getting the dash lights for the 4WD system to work properly and getting the front hubs to lock into place. If its not the IWE you may also have a vacuum leak.

Its just from your post I don't get the feeling you have a tranny issue.

 

I didn't see the part about the front end, I just assumed you were talking about the tranny. In that case my best guess would be something with the 4X4, and checking the solenoid would be the best place to start.

 

it does sound like the IWE noise... i'm gonna take mine apart soon since the shop i took it to last time did a hack job and a few months later it came back...

 

My dealer and I think it is the 4X4 also. It does go into the 4X4 modes in high and low and the lights do work. Today it did it briefly as I pulled away from a parking spot. Dealer wants me to try to shift to 4X4 when it happens to see if it goes away. Today it lasted for about 3 seconds. Just one of those funky problems. Is there any many damage being done when this happens? I pull a boat and would like to have piece of mind. Thanks, Jim

 

jobo, You CAN do damage to to the splines in the IWE if you let it keep doing it. If the noise does stop when you put it in 4Wd, the its got to be the the IWE solenoid. Reason being, when its in 4wd, there is no vacumn to the IWE's, so they "lock" into 4wd. the solenoid is mounted right behind your battery on the firewall.
Rich

 

This happened to me. I would be driving along and suddenly hear a grinding noise from the front end. If I shifted into 4WD and then back the noise went away. I didn't have any problem with the lights on the dash at first, but later I did.

I took it to the dealer and they replaced the IWE solenoid and the shift motor. Because of where it is situated water gets into the solenoid allowing it to short out. When the new solenoid is fitted I think they use a different bracket. There is a TSB for this - #06-8-15.

Colin

 

I had the exact same thing with my truck. Took it in and they replaced the solenoid and it has been fine since.

 

I have had that happen once, when I was goofing around a bit with my truck, but there's nothing wrong with it. I wasn't thinking, and I shut my engine off while the truck was going 35 MPH and the tranny was in neutral. I soon heard that grinding sound, slammed on the brakes, started the truck, and drove away sheepishly! Without the engine running, there is no vacuum to the IWEs, and they were trying to lock back in.

On another side of the issue, if I had this problem, I would demand that the dealer replace both IWEs under warranty. No telling how much damage was done to them while your truck was grinding away at them.

 

Thanks for all the info. I will be at my dealer early tomorrow am. It is a shame we have to go to these limits to get the problem fixed. All I want is my truck to run and perform as it should. Thanks again and I will keep you updated. Jim