I usually post in the F250 forum. I am trying to help a friend that has a 1997 F150, 4.6 4X4. The truck has the shift on the fly in the dash with Auto hubs. He shifted the truck into 4X4 low and now it is stuck in low. The indicator lights on the dash do not light up. I have checked all the fuses and they are good. I talked with a dealer parts guy and he told me that the transfer case has a vacum motor on the passenger side of the transfer case. I do not see this, all I see is a electrical motor on the driver side transfer case with no vacum lines going to it. If anyone has any thoughts it would be a great help. I think the electrical motor is bas or maybe the switch in the dash, but I do not want to throw parts at it. Thanks for your help.

 

I had this happen on my 99. what i did was remove that electical motor and put the transfer case back into 2hi with a pair of pliers then I took a battery and hooked it up to the power wires for the motor till it was back to the 2wd position and then bolted the motor back on. what I think happened was the sensor that tells it when its in 4low must not be working. as long as i dont use 4low i dont have any problems.

 

Thanks. Was it hard to put the truck back into two wheel drive with the pliers or is this fairly simple? I was thinking of trying this today but it is cold up here in New england.

 

Have you tried putting the truck in reverse, mashing on the gas to make the rear end break loose?

I would try that before tearing my transfer case apart. The key is making the rear tires break loose.
This happened to me in 4x4hi. I put the truck in 2wd, put it in reverse and mashed the gas. Works every time.

Good luck!

 

Not to hard. just take the three bolts holding the motor on out, i think there 1/2", then turn the shaft clockwise until its in 2wd.

 

Just to keep it simple, shift into neutral, then move the selector. You can shift into 4W on the fly, but not out. Least not in mine.

 

You left out engine running and foot on brake pedal, but my guess is he's already tried that.