So i just got back from doing some good old fashioned mudding in my 05 fx4 and while i was out there i realized that my 4wheel drive wasn't engaging. I was pretty deep in some standing water/mud and i decided it was only going to get deeper and so i put it in 4high and tried to back out. I eventually ended with it in 4low and had to rock it a good bit to get out of the swamp (water up to the step bar). When I got out i noticed the front tires weren't throwing any mud. and there was on odd clank sound coming from the front axle. Anyone experienced this before? Thanks.

 

Since it sounds like the transfer case was engaging, there is a good chance that it's the solenoid that controls the IWE's. It probably isn't closing fully to allow the IWE's to engage.

If you don't already know, that solenoid lives on the firewall just behind the battery. It has been updated with a hood/shield to protect it from water falling on it and messing it up.

Just to test, see if the IWE on each side engages with the engine off by trying to turn the half shafts by hand. They shouldn't turn, which would point to the control solenoid. If they do, the IWE(s) itself is probably messed up, but that has rarely been reported.

There may be water in the vacuum lines that needs to be removed if it is the control solenoid screwed up by water.

If you search +iwe +solenoid, you should find quite a few similar posts.

 

I just had this problem with my '06.
Truck was making an intermittent 'raspy hissing' sound, but 4WD would engage. Took it to the dealed and they found it was the IWE solenoid and they replaced it under warranty. There is a TSB for it.
When I picked up the truck i wanted to make sure the 4WD would still work, so I tried it and it wouldn't engage in 4HI, but 4LO engaged. Took it back to the dealer and they found it was the transfer case shift motor. Again, there is another TSB and they repaired it.
TSB for the IWE solenoid is 06-8-15
TSB for the transfer case shift motor is 06-9-8
Both of these TSB's apply to the '05, hope this helps.

 

thanks for the help...this is me being dumb but what is TSB? Thanks again for your help. I just hit 30k so it's still under warranty. I'm gonna take it to the dealer and see what they have to say.

 

A TSB is a Technical Service Bulletin.

I had this problem out of warrenty. It was the IWE solenoid. The part its self was about $40. I asked them to replace it. They told me it'd be $100........ Ok, just give me the part.
IT took literaly 10 seconds to change. And no problems sence then.

 

re It has been updated with a hood/shield to protect it from water falling on it and messing it up....can anyone get this update if under warranty?

 

My bet would be only if it has failed.

 

yeah i checked my half shafts last night and they are locked in good. The raspy sound still bothers me but i bought a chiltons manual, it should be here in a couple days. Then i'm gonna drain those vacuum lines and if that doesn't do the trick then i'll swap the solenoid. Start small and cheap and then move up the ladder right? I did see the cover that it has on there to protect it from rain. it looks like a piece of cake to swap out. i'll keep you all posted. on a side note, my dad bought my 98 4x4 ranger from me and he said the 4 wheel drive didn't engage on that either...anyone here of this being a ford wide problem?

 

You can search TSB's on this site, just go to the bar at the top of the page and click Recalls/TSBs.