possessed low range
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: Cottondale, Texas
possessed low range
I have a 2000 F250 SD 4x4, V10 Auto. with 54,000 miles. While out hunting week before last I had to change from 4 High to 4 Low. 4 high was working fine. I stopped, put the truck in neutral and turned the switch to 4 Low. There was no noise to indicate that the shift was made but I put it back in drive and went on, noticing that it was still in high. I stopped and repeated the whole procedure. This time I waited before putting it back in drive. After a couple of seconds there was the typical loud clank and slight movement of the truck that it had engaged. But before I could get it back into drive, it clunked taking itself back out low. So I sat there as second and sure enough without changing anything it went back into low. It proceeded to go back and forth continuosly. Every couple of seconds it would engage, then after a couple of seconds it would disengage. I put the truck in drive while it was engaged and sure enough I had 4 low, and it would stay in 4 low as long as the trans was in drive. Anyone ever had this problem?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,859
Likes: 7
From: USA
possessed low range
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 20-Nov-02 AT 03:09 PM (EST)]Esof Problem # 3,000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000001!
Paul
Welcome to FTE!
Rich
well before anyone else replies I hope! while I'm typing ,i will try to explain what I think is happening!
the esof consist of
Electric shift motor with contact switches that tell the gem and pcm what position the motor is in 4h or 4low
the switch on the dash with its contacts
the connectors to the sensors and motor
plus the infamous front auto hubs that lock in somtimes
was it snowing or raining that day ,did you go through any big puddles?
Now your problem could be moisture in the connectors to the sensors or motor.Try putting special grease on them !
or your shift motor is loose or slightly out of adjustment
Shift relays could have a loose ground !
numerous things can cause these famous ESOF 's not to work
I'm sure alot more people will come along and offer there help here!
Rich
02 F250 4x4 SC 5.4v8 6spd 3.73ls Trueblue/Silver and Chrome Nerfs
"All Levers"
Paul
Welcome to FTE!
Rich
well before anyone else replies I hope! while I'm typing ,i will try to explain what I think is happening!
the esof consist of
Electric shift motor with contact switches that tell the gem and pcm what position the motor is in 4h or 4low
the switch on the dash with its contacts
the connectors to the sensors and motor
plus the infamous front auto hubs that lock in somtimes
was it snowing or raining that day ,did you go through any big puddles?
Now your problem could be moisture in the connectors to the sensors or motor.Try putting special grease on them !
or your shift motor is loose or slightly out of adjustment
Shift relays could have a loose ground !
numerous things can cause these famous ESOF 's not to work
I'm sure alot more people will come along and offer there help here!
Rich
02 F250 4x4 SC 5.4v8 6spd 3.73ls Trueblue/Silver and Chrome Nerfs
"All Levers"
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,535
Likes: 1
From: I'm lost somewhere in NJ -- can someone please find me?!?!?!?
possessed low range
<Twiddling thumbs, pretending that I never read this one. ESOF is good... ESOF is good... might have a "hickup" now and then, but it's soooo convenient>
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,535
Likes: 1
From: I'm lost somewhere in NJ -- can someone please find me?!?!?!?
possessed low range
Question for Paul: Have you tried 4 Low since that initial problem? It's possible that by not waiting for it to engage the first time, you threw something off temporarily. Has the problem re-occured, or was it a one-time thing?
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,496
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Canada
possessed low range
ESOF is good!
Really!
It's worth the extra money!
You just would've had to spend the money on floor mats for your muddy boots after getting out to lock your hubs anyway.
Right?
Seriously though, Forty is right. You've got an electrical problem.
The good news is that it's not the shift motor, and most likely not the switch. It's somewhere in between.
First step is to check all the connections. It sounds like you have a corroded connection, a short, or a bad ground somewhere. Electrical work is a pain in the butt. Work slowly and check all the connections with a good voltmeter. It's a process of elimination. A good service manual with a wiring diagram is worth its weight in gold here.
I believe, and I'm not positive here, so correct me if I'm wrong, that the shift motor requires constant voltage to maintain 4Lo, so every time it cycles out of 4Lo on its own, in effect it's as though you turned the switch off, you've lost power to the motor somewhere. Likely a poor ground or a short.
Good luck, and don't lose the faith!
Waxy
Really! It's worth the extra money! You just would've had to spend the money on floor mats for your muddy boots after getting out to lock your hubs anyway. Right?
Seriously though, Forty is right. You've got an electrical problem.
The good news is that it's not the shift motor, and most likely not the switch. It's somewhere in between.
First step is to check all the connections. It sounds like you have a corroded connection, a short, or a bad ground somewhere. Electrical work is a pain in the butt. Work slowly and check all the connections with a good voltmeter. It's a process of elimination. A good service manual with a wiring diagram is worth its weight in gold here.
I believe, and I'm not positive here, so correct me if I'm wrong, that the shift motor requires constant voltage to maintain 4Lo, so every time it cycles out of 4Lo on its own, in effect it's as though you turned the switch off, you've lost power to the motor somewhere. Likely a poor ground or a short.
Good luck, and don't lose the faith!
Waxy
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,328
Likes: 0
From: Medford USA!
possessed low range
Yeah yeah yeah, but where was Yeti (I needed his young, strong arms) when I couldn't get my old Ford Ranger into 4 HI because the LEVER was stuck. PULL PULL PULL ROCK ROCK ROCK and no go
Back then I never even HEARD of ESOF 
Back then I never even HEARD of ESOF FTE Stories
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: Cottondale, Texas
possessed low range
Thanks everyone for the input, had no idea that little contraption was so complicated. To answer on of the questions, yes, there was a lot of moisture. I live in North Texas and we had three weeks of rain prior to this, there was two creeks that I crossed where the water was up to the running boards, and all of the 3-4 miles of road that I traveled was goo. I have since then tested 4 Lo and it still cycles on and off, if you get it into drive while it is engaged it stays engaged.
I will say this, when I order my next truck, this convenient little option will not be on the list. I hope you can still get manual hubs with manual transfer case shifter.
I'll check out everything and post the results.
Thanks,
Paul.
I will say this, when I order my next truck, this convenient little option will not be on the list. I hope you can still get manual hubs with manual transfer case shifter.
I'll check out everything and post the results.
Thanks,
Paul.