I have a 2000 ford f150 4x4. It has 415000 miles on it and is an automatic. The other morning I started the truck and let it warm up and we have quite a bit of snow here and it's been really cold. I needed four wheel drive so I turned the **** to go into four high. I noticed it took a little longer to switch over than usual. But it went on into four high and I went up the little hill like I needed to and when I got ready to back out I went to put the truck in reverse and low and behold I can not get the truck to go into reverse. I can hear what sounds like a little grinding noise like something wasn't fully engaged. It even was having a hard time going into park. But when I would put it in drive it would do just fine. I tried to switch into four low and it would not go into four low. After trying for a little bit to get it out of four wheel drive I could not get it to. I finally gave up and shut the truck off and called my local transmission shop because I though I was going to have to have to transmission rebuilt. But he told me it could be the transfer case being in a bind and causing it not to go into reverse. I don't know what it was. But I waited a bit because I was frustrated and I went back to the truck and the four high four low switch I had switched to two high and when I started the truck it was out of four wheel drive back in two high. I also got my reverse back and it has been running fine switching gears. Now it will not go into four high or four low. Well one time this morning it switched into four high and it seemed like it was working very well. So I switched it back to two high and went on. Later this evening I though well I will try it again and when I did it will not go into four high or four low. Ever since this has happened every time I start the truck I can hear a clicking noise in the dash that has or was never there before. It will click like four to six times then stop. The transmission shop said I could have a bad transfer case but I am no mechanic especially when it comes to the four wheel drive. I have never had a problem with my four wheel drive and I use almost every day and on weekends I am usually out four wheeling. But I do not believe it is my transfer case because when I did get it to go into four wheel drive the last time it was not making any noises and worked just like it always has. With the clicking noise I hear I believe it is electrical. Even the 4x4 or 4low lights will not light up on the panel. Any little bit of advice would help.

 

415000.... wow
If you're using the 4 wheel drive that often...doubt that its mechanical, well maybe with that may miles, anything is possible...probably more electrical...check the relays and or the switch...vacuum lines...etc.

check the t-case fluid level? You mentioned more snow, does this sit outside?? How about front window leak & dripping onto the GEM...any other strange electrical issues?

 

No other strange electrical issues. It does sit outside. The windshield doesn't leak onto the Gem. It just happened all at once and with it kicking into four wheel drive once and worked fine just made me think it wasn't the transfer case.

 

Really with those kind of miles could be a lot of things.

Where was the grinding noise coming from?? More from under the seat, or up front??


When was the last time you changed the oil in the T-case? You mentioned that you go offroading often....could some water have migrated in the T-case??
If the T-case oil is old and grungy not letting things slide as well as they use to. Might be a place to start & see how much glitter comes out ...lots of glitter, might be time to rebuild it or replace it.
Is the actuator motor on the T-case getting weak.
Is your steering wheel /column loose at all?? or shift lever mechanism in the column sloppy, linkages to the tranny, electrical connections? Was it parked on a grade, either pointed up or down hill?? That could put extra strain on things & not letting you shift to. Also when things are colder, stuff just don't move like they should some times? How cold did it get there?

If it does not reproduce or is inconsistent with the same symptoms it gonna be tough to track down.

How long do you intend to keep the truck?? You might be more economical to get a used tranny & t-case out of a salvage yard and take a chance on them or have them rebuilt and just swap them out and save yourself the down time. Not sure if this is your only means of transportation?

 

I do need to check the fluid in the transfer case. The noise was coming from underneath the truck at the transfer case. No my steering column isn't loose but I do have a bit of play in the shift lever but it's nothing major. I plan on keeping the truck until I die or it is so rusty that I am not allowed to drive it down the road anymore. I know it could be anything causing it. It has been a good truck from the day I got it. I have climbed hills that people said I couldn't climb. The clicking noise in the dash is what is confusing to me. I never from the day I have owned the truck heard that clicking noise in the dash. I do need to check the actuator on the front end. I did go off in the ditch the other day when it was snowing and freezing rain here the other day. It did hit kind of hard.

 

So I broke down and took it to the dealer and had them check it out. It was the electric motor on the transfer case that was bad. I changed it and now I have four wheel drive again.

 

glad ya got it figured out