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So I have 2013 f250 6.2 4x4. Recently tried engaging 4 wheel drive to no avail. I believe I need a cv shaft. Would this be the reason as to why it's not engaging? Also can I manually engage it and would it work. And at slow speeds its so incredibly tough to turn steering in the direction i need to go. Would this be caused by cv shaft also. I replaced steering pump last year. Any insight would help out allot. Thank you
Its electronic and to be honest I don't know if hubs are in auto or locked position. I know last years snow the 4 wheel drive worked and I haven't messed with any of the hubs. So I don't know, but I will check it out tomorrow.
Last edited by Capitolmasonry; Jan 15, 2024 at 11:03 PM.
You don't have CV shafts. You may need a u-joint replaced in the front axle somewhere but that won't cause your 4wd not to work. If it's electronic then your vacuum hubs likely in the 'auto' position but the seals have failed. If you turn the hubs to 'lock' then your 4wd should work normally.
Seriously!!! We got allot of snow here in lincoln nebraska and you mean I could've just locked the hubs and I would've had 4 wheel. I've been almost stuck twice now thankfully for the locking rear axle to get me out. I'm going to lock them in this morning and will let you know if that worked. I do need a u-joint front passenger side. Thank you for the input. Oh and yesterday my damn hood release cable broke I believe. Haven't really looked into it (too damn cold out). Is there a way to get hood open without cable if I need to? Until I have time and warmth to mess with it. Thank you for input.
I would concur, your hubs likely have lost vacuum due to a seal failing. For the now, because you know a u-joint is going bad, use the switch to get the xfer case into 4wd, get out and lock the hubs in. Unlock them when you don't need it so you don't keep winging that bad u-joint around unless you really need to. Get the u-joint / axle shaft fixed asap to save even more expense if it fails and rips more stuff up as the axle flails around. Sucks to find out things like this are bad in the middle of a cold snap.
There should be a way to sneak a screwdriver or a small pry bar up in there to pop the hood, have a new cable handy to replace it or at the minimum some thin rope and let it stick out the side of the hood so you can yank it and pop the hood for the moment.
Another thing to check is the vacuum lines going to the hubs themselves, these can dry out and crack reducing the vacuum going to the hubs, I recently had to replace mine for the same issue. Here’s some photos from my 2012 showing the vacuum lines I was referring to.
madsonp is correct, those vacuum lines could also be the culprit, you'll need to inspect everything. Just make sure you're inspecting the vacuum lines and not the brake lines - some people get them confused because they do look similar.
But I agree, unlock the hubs when you don't need them - the bad u-joint might be causing some extra drag when in 2wd anyway, but no point in accelerating the problem. Definitely get it fixed as soon as you can.
Thank you and will look at the vacuum lines as well.
Let us know what you find out. Do more than just a visual on them, visually mine looked fine, but when I flexed them a little I could clearly see that they were cracked.
Yes I will let ya'll know for sure. Looking its going to warm up a bit in the 30's next week here so I'll check things out then. Again guys thank for all your help.
Ok...so I put truck in 4hi and physically turned hubs to lock position. Got in truck and drove truck. Still no 4x4. Haven't checked vacuum lines yet. Or any of the other stuff. Just thought I could manually put it in 4wheel. Any ideas
xfer case in 4wd, jack 1 side and try and turn the tire, if both hubs are locked, you shouldn't be able to turn the tire since the other side is firm in place, and the xfer case is engaged while in park.
If the tire can move, see what's turning, if jacked side tire turns but the axle shaft doesn't that side hub isn't engaged, if the axle shaft on the other side is turning then that hub is not engaged, if the front driveshaft is turning up to the xfer case then the xfer case is not in 4wd.
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