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.
I recently bought a 1995 F-150 XLT 5.0L 4R70W 2wd, the truck has keyless entry and I was taking the dash apart and I noticed it also has the plug for the push button 4x4 despite it being 2wd, I’m assuming the 4x4 push button harness was part of the keyless entry harness which is why it has it. I do plan on 4x4 swapping the truck eventually and I really like the push button, I plugged a spare button module into the truck and it lit up with the dash lights, but I didn’t hear any relays clicking or anything near the passenger kick panel when I pressed the buttons like you’re supposed to hear, so I didn’t know if it had all the components for the push button system or if there were still some things I would have to install. Obviously I will need the transmission/transfer case and axles to do the swap which I already have but I wasn’t sure what other wiring would be needed if any.
wiring harness usually has all the bells and whistles, whether they are used or not.
as for the relays, why put them in a 2 wheel drive?
as for 4X4, i only use mechanical shift 4X4. i want it to work when i need it.
i have seen way too many ESOF 4X4 not work when needed to own a truck with it.
wiring harness usually has all the bells and whistles, whether they are used or not.
as for the relays, why put them in a 2 wheel drive?
as for 4X4, i only use mechanical shift 4X4. i want it to work when i need it.
i have seen way too many ESOF 4X4 not work when needed to own a truck with it.
I’ve heard from numerous people that the push button 4x4 is problematic as well, I’ve never experienced any issues with it though I’ve actually had more trouble with the manual 4x4 than the electronic. It’s still something I want to install in mine, and it works flawlessly in the donor truck I have so I’m not too worried about it. I beat on it through the woods a bit and it hasn’t let me down yet so.
The ‘94 Bronco had the push button system with auto hubs. I never had a problem with the system but it got used often. Back in the mid 90’s when I worked at the dealership, we used to get a lot of Explorers at the first storm because the shift motor would be seized up from not being used for a year or more. Tapping on the shift motor with a hammer would usually free up the brushes and get it working again.
There is a lot of hate on here for both the push button system and auto hubs.
Push button and auto hubs are a waste of time. I have both and they've both caused issues. The 4x4 motor always gets sluggish in the cold and I usually have to wait for 10 to 20 seconds before it finally kicked in. The auto hubs also have issues in the cold and half the time my diff won't lock in. I buried the truck last year in the snow trying to move a trailer and spent an hour trying to get unstuck and it was all because one hub would only lock in. Very temperamental and useless in my opinion. If you're looking for reliability go get the manual hubs and the transfer case that you can manually pull in to a different range.
The electrically operated transfer case motor MUST be exercised on a regular basis, if not, the contact plate inside the motor tarnishes and fails to make electrical contact.
That's true but at this age in time it's still problematic. I've used my 4x4 almost every day of the week and same results almost every time. Like most people who don't ever use 4x4 much would be better off with both manual hubs and transfer case.
The electrically operated transfer case motor MUST be exercised on a regular basis, if not, the contact plate inside the motor tarnishes and fails to make electrical contact.
I’m a high school kid with an old Ford so I know for a fact I’m gonna be using 4x4 quite often, the donor truck I have sat for a decade and I got it running again and it runs perfect, had no issues with the electronic transfer case. The auto locking hubs I do agree on, the previous owner of the donor truck said it had them and they were always causing him issues, he converted them to manual. I’m not a fan of the brand he purchased though, will most likely be switching them out with a nice Warn set.
I also worked at the dealer in the 90s. The biggest flaw for the push button system and usually tied with the auto hubs was you had to be moving for them to engage and lock the hubs. Had a few people get stuck in their driveway because they couldn’t get enough movement to get the system into 4 wheel drive.
Had a few of the Ranger/Explorer auto hubs just explode when they hit the button at 35-40mph.
I’m a high school kid with an old Ford so I know for a fact I’m gonna be using 4x4 quite often, the donor truck I have sat for a decade and I got it running again and it runs perfect, had no issues with the electronic transfer case. The auto locking hubs I do agree on, the previous owner of the donor truck said it had them and they were always causing him issues, he converted them to manual. I’m not a fan of the brand he purchased though, will most likely be switching them out with a nice Warn set.
FWIW. I replaced my Ford manuals with a set of Warns. Liked the wya they looked, felt solid but man they always were hard to turn. Had one fail after 200K and went with the MileMarkers. Ive used them a bit in the last few months with zero issues and are a lot easier to turn especially with gloves on.
Ford made nothing like the Premium Warn Hubs. I thought you would know that, that’s why I did it specifically say that.
Ford didn’t make them at all. Warn made the hubs for Ford. You never said you replaced them with Warn premium hubs so how would I or anyone else know you didn’t install standard Warn hubs?
FWIW. I replaced my Ford manuals with a set of Warns. Liked the wya they looked, felt solid but man they always were hard to turn. Had one fail after 200K and went with the MileMarkers. Ive used them a bit in the last few months with zero issues and are a lot easier to turn especially with gloves on.
The donor truck has a set of MileMarkers, I'm personally not a fan of them. They turn very nicely but I have a hard time gripping them, could just be me.
about 35 years ago i realized it was a real pain to lock the front hubs when cold out as i had bad frostbite on my hands and toes in 1976. so i made a "tool" to aid in locking/unlocking the hubs. i got a 1 inch PVC "T" and a 1inch screw in coupler. screwed the two together, and cut a slot in the coupler just big enough to fit over the bar in the locking hub. now i can easily lock/ unlock front hubs no mater what the weather is, even wearing thick gloves.
