Fellas -

Auto hubs are not working on my 2003 Excursion. Winter is approaching, and think I'd rather fix this than replace with Warn hubs. Disassembled and lubed the hubs but this didn't fix it.

Dealership took a look at it and said the "IWE solenoid not applying vacuum to auto hubs." They wanted a fair amount of $ to fix this, so I figured I would try it myself, if that's an option.

Anyone done this repair before? If so, can you tell me what an IWE solenoid is, where is it on the truck, and should I buy this at Napa or is the dealership my only option?

Thanks in advance for any info.

Scott

 

I've never heard of it called an IWE Solenoid. The vacuum solenoid is normally called the PVH (Pulse Vacuum Hublock) solenoid.

The solenoid is on the passenger side firewall in the engine compartment. It is small, held on by just a couple of screws and has 2 vacuum lines and a 3 wire connector. It's not terribly expensive as I recall and easy to replace. If you trust the dealer is giving you good information, you could easily replace it yourself.

Are there any other symptoms?

 

IWE: Integrated wheel end. It's a different variation on the same concept used in the newer expy and f150. it does not have a manual position, but uses a sliding collar integrated into the wheel bearing.

They are probably just using updated lingo for a part that does the same thing on both trucks.

The PVH solenoid is up on the passenger side of the engine bay, near the vacuum reservoir.

 

On a 2000 F350 4wd 7.3 with ESOF I replaced the vacuum solenoid on my truck. I am or I was at the time a police officer (I retired after being diagnosed with mml cancer)and not a mechanic. It was easy and not that expensive. However it did not fix my problem and I replaced 1 ESOF auto hub which did. Approximately 1 year later problems again and Ford had doubled the price of ESOF hubs so I replaced with Lifetime Warns and had no problems at all. The Warn hubs were half the price of 1 Ford auto hub. If I go outside and it is snowing or freezing rain I lock the truck in the same when we feed cattle or attempt to park one of the big trailers and use shift on the fly as needed.

 

when you turn your heater on does it only blow out the defrost?

 

No, it blows down below, too.

Thanks,

Scott

 

Yeah, I'm thinking there may be some Warn hubs in my future. I don't mind getting out to lock the hubs.

Thanks,

Scott

 

There are several posts about the hubs through out this site. I had no problems with mine until I got well over 145,000 miles on the truck. But the second time the hubs failed to work and mine were "gummed" enough that they could not be locked in with your fingers and I was stuck in the lot/cow manure I put the WWarns on because they were considerably cheaper. My ESOF hubs might have failed do to lack of service on my part but it was maintenance I was unaware of and the dealers answer was to put new hubs which was several hundred $. If I remember correctly the heater defaults to defrost if you have vacuum leak-yours sounds like the solenoid-I never heard it called IWE solenoid on the 1999-20004.

 

Just bought a 2001SD. Both hubs were "frozen" locked - set to auto mode. Also very difficult to rotate. Tried using plyers to turn them and broke the cheap plastic tabs. I decided to go with the WARN premium manual locking hubs. Only took about a 1/2 hour to replace both. I love the look and feel.

 

First time mine malfunctioned was last winter, right after telling my girlfriend, "Hey, this is a 4x4, I'm not worried about a little snow. I can park there." Famous last words. Had to use pliers to get them to lock, and it wasn't easy.

Warn hubs it is. Sounds like an easy swap.

Thanks,

Scott

 

I am not a mechanic and it took me 45 mins. I did not even jack the truck up.

 

The biggest bitch I hear about manual hubs is this ""I don't want to get in and out of the truck all the time locking in and locking out the hubs" if it is snowing or freezing rain or you are anticipating driving through mud simply lock in the hubs and use shift on the fly. You can unlock it in the spring.

 

Not sure why, but auto hubs are working now. Just put it in 4x4 today, turned wheel hard at low speed and felt front wheels surging/catching. I'll put off ordering the Warn hubs for now.

Thanks

Scott