When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
2019 F250 6.7. Seems like the hubs aren’t engaging in auto mode. I switch to 4h or 4l and the dash shows everything is being done but had to manually lock the hubs to back a trailer up in grass and today had to do it again in snow in California of all places. Truck would slide but with hubs in lock it was a beast.
might be a vacuum line issue but not sure where to look. Still under warranty but last time the truck was at Ford fleet service it was there for 2 weeks so maybe something I can fix or check at least.
Sure glad I remembered to bring an Allen wrench for the wheel cap.
i manually lock mine at the start of each winter and leave them locked until the snow is done.
I had rims with those decorative hub covers but did not install them because i was afraid of the auto hubs failing and i wouldn’t be able to get the cover off if the bolts were fill of ice or something (this was before i started leaving them locked)
Ugh I feel for you!!!! have had that happen to me on 3 trucks before my 05 and current truck! Last truck and current have the "old Fashion" go out lock the hubs and use the trusty old shifter on the floor. No more "fancy" push buttons or dials for me!! Hopefully its a easy fix for you!
If the truck is sitting stationary, and you select 4wd, chances are good the the front hubs will not engage. The front wheels need to be rotating to allow the inner splines to engage the splines on the axle shaft. Its like shifting gears on a bicycle, you have to be pedaling to allow the chain to engage to the next sprocket. Try it again in the snow, while rolling in 2wd, shift to 4wd (high), this should make the difference for you.
I had this problem on my 2017. Turns out the vac line just came disconnected. Start at the hubs and trace the lines backwards. If you turn the wheel to full lock, you'll easily find the vac line forward of the axle.
As mentioned before, the wheels need to be moving to complete the engagement in auto, still doesn't hurt to be sure the vacuum lines are connected. If I remotely think I need 4 wheel drive, the hubs are locked.
Thanks for the tips. I switched to 4h after a chain stop and drove for 20 minutes or so until we stopped for a minute and couldn’t move before going outside to manually lock them
So plenty of time to engage.
Washed it today and put the caps back on but gave the hubs a few spins before. After going back and forth from lock and auto about 4 times air started bubbling out where it says Ford. Tried 4h in the driveway and could tell a difference with steering vs 2h so maybe they were plugged up?
Guess I’ll wait and see for now. My little helper is always down for a challenge.
Moving or shaking the steering wheel left to right will get them to pop into place. What is going on inside is a gear sliding into a housing and the clearance is obviously close to minimize slop, so moving or turning the wheel (which is actually moving the axle shaft a tiny bit) gets the pucks to slide into engagement. Doesn't always 100% work that smoothly, but that is the principal, if you use the vac hubs and need 4wd, shift before you need it.
I will spin my hubs into lock and back to auto every time I fuel up, just good practice to keep everything working smoothly.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
