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Electronic 4-wheel drive "issue"

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Old Mar 24, 2015 | 07:14 PM
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Electronic 4-wheel drive "issue"

I have a 1995 F150 Eddie Bauer 4x4 with the 351W. It is the first vehicle I have ever owned with push button 4-wheel drive. The problem is, I don't know how to work it, or it isn't working. The lights don't come on and it doesn't sound like it engages, but I'm not sure how to get it to work. Is there a way to reset the circuit breaker? or a common problem with this system? It's gotta be a first of it's kind system because my parents old 89 has the levers to get it into 4-wheel drive, and my old '00 and '01 cherokees also had mechanical linkage to put in 4-wheel drive as well. What is the process to put her in 4-low? I'm still yet to change the transmission fluid, but the previous owner assured me he saw the 4-wheel drive work when he had some front end work done, so it's gotta be something simple like operator error, or a blown fuse, switch or bulb. The pickup is pretty clean and well taken care of, it just sat for a little while out in the desert heat.
 
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Old Mar 24, 2015 | 07:21 PM
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It's simple to work. Push the "4x4" button any time and it goes into 4WD (shouldn't be turning, spinning or skidding tires when you do this, but you can be moving and you don't need the trans to be in any particular gear). Push it again (any time) to shift back to 2WD.

To shift into 4lo you first need to shift into 4WD, then, while in neutral, push the "low range" button. You ought to be stopped when you do this. Stop, shift into neutral and press it ahain to go back to 4hi.

If that's not working for you, then something's wrong. Sorry, I can't give you any specific help on that.
 
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Old Mar 24, 2015 | 07:26 PM
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That's how I figured it worked, and it's not working like that... so... back to the drawing board. haha. Thanks!
 
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Old Mar 25, 2015 | 07:54 AM
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That's the ESOF (Electronic Shift-On-The-Fly) system. Check the fuses first... and don't just eyeball them either, use a meter or test light and actually test them.

The ESOF controller is on the right side of the cab near the glovebox and behind the side trim panel. If you take it out there's a LED and a pushbutton on the side which you can use to run the self-test on page 19 here:

http://www.revbase.com/BBBMOTOR/TSb/...adPdf?id=35193

Basically you unplug everything but the connector marked "A" and hit the test button. If it don't do anything, you either have no power or the module is dead. If it stays on for 30 seconds then goes out, it's junk. If it comes on for 4 seconds and goes out, it's okay.

Typical problem for these is that the shift motor locks up, but you should still hear the relays clicking in the ESOF controller. Start with checking fuses!
 
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Old Mar 25, 2015 | 11:15 AM
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dixie460 covered it well.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2015 | 10:45 PM
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Thanks for the help. I'll get on that when I get daylight again. Seems like an easy thing to troubleshoot.
 
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Old Mar 27, 2015 | 06:42 PM
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electronic 4-wheel drive issue is sort of redundant. it'd be like saying small small, jumbo jumbo, or problem problem.


electronic 4-wheel drive is synonymous with problem.


if you don't find anything obvious, after thorough testing as per instruction above, source a manual case and shifter from the jy and swap 'er in.
 
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