One night last week, I reached over the turn my heater fan on.
and ACCIDENTALLY SHIFTED THE 4X4 from 2H to 4H....
I was going about 45mph.
I almost had to change my underwear! (tmi?)
I heard a loud clunk in the transfer case underneath me, and there was a drag deceleration....
I let off the gas and let it drift to the shoulder.
I clicked it back to 2H (the 4X4 light went off) I backed up about 10 feet, (experience from manual hubs) then resumed back to highway speed.

This didn't cause any damage ..did it?
I can't believe I did that!
Ford put the 2 identical switches rather close to each other!!

I'm sure thats not what they meant by "shift-on-the-Fly" ..right?

Can anyone give any real-life description of what goes on with automatic hubs?
Is it vacuum?...

 

Here is what the manual says......

The electronic shift on the fly (ESOF) system is an electronic shift 4x4 system that allows the operator to choose between two different 4x4 modes as well as 2-wheel drive. The operator can switch between 2WD and 4WD HIGH mode at speeds up to 88 km/h (55 mph). To engage or disengage LOW Range, the vehicle speed must be less than 5 km/h (3 mph), the brake depressed, and the transmission must be in NEUTRAL.

The transfer case is equipped with an electromagnetic clutch which is located inside the case. This clutch is used to spin up the front driveline when shifting from 2WD to 4x4 High mode at speed. When the control switch on the instrument panel is turned, the generic electronic module (GEM) recognizes that a shift has been requested and activates the electromagnetic clutch and the relays which power the transfer case shift motor. When the shift motor reaches the desired position, as determined by the contact plate position inputs to the GEM, power to the shift relays and motors will be removed. When the transfer case front and rear output shafts are synchronized, the spring loaded lockup collar mechanically engages the mainshaft hub to the drive sprocket. Finally, the front axle collar is engaged and the electromagnetic clutch is deactivated.

 

'Ol Jed's a millionaire!

Thanks for the entry.

I hope that little beauty never goes up, huh?

I guess that would render the entire 4X4 system inoperable~~

It wouldn't appear that I did any real damage.
Not something I would EVER do intentionally, though.

 

I hate when that happens. I must admit to doing this twice when the truck was new back in Sept 01. The second time, late at night, w/ no alcohol involved, on a rough road was not noticed until I pulled into my driveway. The binding noise in the front end made me think I had ruined something up there. As far as the little 4X4 light- well it hides behind the steering wheel and I didn't see it. Funny, normally it's very easy to see. I did feel pretty stupid but felt (a little) better after I found out that it occasionally happens to other people. I think Ford could've done a better job in either placement or a different feel for the switch.

It's been almost 40,000 miles since I did it, including probably over 800 miles in 4wd, without any problems.

Tim

 

Dave, do you know if the ESOF process and description you mentioned is the same way it works on the Rangers?

 

A 1998 Ranger works somewhat differently......

The four wheel drive system is an electronic shift 4X4 system that allows the operator to choose between three different modes. The operator can switch 4X4 HIGH modes at any speed. To engage or disengage 4X4 LOW the vehicle speed must be less than 5 kph (3 mph), the brake depressed, and the transmission must be in NEUTRAL.

The shift motor sense plate, an integral part of the electronic shift motor, informs the generic electronic module (GEM) of the transfer case shift motor and contact plates A, B, C and D position.

The digital transmission range (TR) sensor is located on the LH side of the transmission, and informs the GEM when the transmission is in the NEUTRAL position.

The electronic shift motor is mounted externally at the rear of the transfer case. It drives a rotary cam which moves the mode fork and range fork within the transfer case between the 4X4 HIGH, 4X4 LOW and 2WD range positions.

When the GEM verifies the completion of the transfer case shift from 2WD to 4X4 HIGH (reading the contact plate positions), the GEM will then energize both pulse vacuum hublock (PVH) solenoids (supplying ground for 45 seconds). The PVH solenoid will allow a HIGH flow of intake manifold vacuum to the "wheel end hublocks", engaging the wheel end hubs to the front differential and transfer case to achieve four wheel drive.

When the GEM verifies the completion of the transfer case shift from 4X4 HIGH to 2WD (reading the contact plate positions), the GEM will then energize only one (low vacuum solenoid) of the PVH solenoids (supplying a ground for 10 seconds). The PVH solenoid will allow a "LOW" flow of intake manifold vacuum to the wheel end vacuum hublocks, disengaging the wheel end hubs from the front differential and transfer case to achieve two wheel drive.

The 4X4 shift motor uses a module containing two relays which, under control of the GEM, shifts the transfer case shift motor between 4X4 HIGH, 4X4 LOW and 2WD modes.

The solid state clutch relay is used to activate the clutch within the transfer case which aids in shifting to 4X4.

 

Thanks! Hope you don't mind if I share this with the folks over in the Ranger Forum.

 

My wife did this to my Supercrew a couple of weeks ago and then drove home 8 miles in 4 wheel drive on dry roads to complain to me the heater fan did not work right!

So far, nothing has fallen off.

 

Truth be told, I'll bet MANY of us have done it.

I LMAO abt the "heater fan doesnt work right" comment, though....what a scream!

 

Lmao Don that's the funniest bloody story I have heard on here. short, sweet, and to the point with that one.

 

My wife drove my truck as her daily driver for a year while I drove a pos 4 cyl 83 mustang because we couldn't afford her car payment when she quit work after we had our first kid. She called me one day after she had somehow accidently put the truck in 4 wheel low on a very light snowy day and didn't know how to get it out of 4 wheel low. She had been driving around in 4 wheel low and called me to say the truck was jerking the steering wheel around and felt really "jerkey." I told her how to get it back to 2 wheel drive and everything was OK. Not the exact situation but thought I would share.
By the way, I have done the same thing you did before and have had no bad results from it.

 

The only draw back to the ESOF is accidental or "uninformed" activation of the switch. I have a floor shifter in mine and it seems that everyone is afraid to touch it! I guess that's actually a good thing.