Thanks for all of the ideas guys, I really appreciate it. I will try locking the hubs manually tonight on the way home and see what happens. I can also try some of the other stuff tomorrow when I can pull the truck into our heated shop. I will report back tomorrow. Thanks again.

 

next time order your truck with manual shifter and you wont have to wonder if there are going to work, ask your dealer if they have a lot of problems with auto 4/4 . i bet some of the new trucks on the lot don't work . good luck

 

aldonco,
Once you understand the operation of the ESOF you can make them just as reliable as the manual setup. I don't know why the mfg hasn't addressed this problem or at least sent out notifications about the lazy and/or comatose prone problems with it, but it is a learned system.

When a 1st-time buyer goes to get the ESOF he or she is filled with joy to hear that there will be no more days of getting out in inclement weather to lock the hubs since 4WD comfort can be achieved within the comforts of the cab by simply turning a switch. A good sales pitch, but that's about it - the rest depends on how loyal that person is about energizing the ESOF...and that must be fairly often.

But, once a routine is established, the ESOF is just as reliable.

 

Just a thought but doesn't really sound like OAGES issue. Recently I was tinkering with my ESOF and I tried 4 LOW. When I engaged it in nuetral with my foot on the brake it would go in 4 LOW then go back to regular 4wd then back to 4 LOW and ect.... I tried it again and then it worked, turned out it was my switch on the dash, I got it to work in 4 LOW and just by putting my hand on it made it start switching in and out again. I popped the switch open and cleaned the contacts with a tissue and walla, it works great now. I have already eliminated my vacume from the system. The hub seals went at around 65K, 107K on now. I forgot, before I found the switch to be faulty I did pop the plugs off of the TC motor and spray some contact cleaner and also took out both relay's and scraped the contacts(not too complicated if you have a heated shop). OAGES might want to try that before taking it in. Good luck

Brad

 

Careful, you're getting into an area where emotions are high - like the leaf-spring vs. coils debate (hate coils, if there were a point to coils, ALL big trucks would use them - when was the last time you looked under a heavy-duty TRUCK and saw coils?)



And to aldonco, if wishes were butterflies, we'd be covered in caterpiller poo.

It's nice to stand there and say "next time get a manual shifter", but we have what we have, and since these trucks last a long time (I'm going to keep mine until it rusts into the ground, probably), there's no reason for me or anyone else to order a new one anytime soon just to get rid of the **** on the dash.

As to retrofitting, because the transfer case itself is different, you can't do much about that except find a junker in the boneyard and pull all the necessary parts. The vacuum hubs can be replaced, or just manually lock the stock ones and cap the vacuum hoses.

Back to the problem at hand:

Brad99SD brings up a good point, the switch can be suspect too... keep the problems (and fixes) coming guys, this is some GOOD STUFF!

I think if everyone used the scientific method to debug their ESOF and posted their results, we'd have an ESOF FAQ pretty quick.

art k.

 

You forgot the gas and diesel thing, art....
I guess we could get a peice of tool steel, mill some wrench flats on it, install a pillow block bearing and hand crank it into gear...
I'm gonna give you some points for that, art.

On Edit: Sorry - admin said I had to spread around the points before I give anymore to ya', art. Guess, this is just as good, though.

 

I completely disassembled the auto hubs on my 01 and was amazed they worked. The factory grease was hard and the spring that forces the gears to mesh was barely strong enough to engage. My ESOF was working, but seemed sluggish. After reassembling with fresh grease they locked much faster. If you take them apart you will get a very good idea of how they work, pretty simple. Be sure to clean or replace the O-ring to provide a good vacuum seal. If you are stopped, they won't lock unless the teeth happen to be meshed.

Good luck

Eric

 

Had the same problem with my 99 F250 ESOF. The transfer case motor would make a series of clicks, stop ,then repeat, and would not engage 4x4. Replaced the electric shift motor, 15 minute job, $240 motor and all is fine.

 

I want a hand crank for backup

I don't get into the gas vs. diesel thing, there are two (maybe three) very clearly defined groups of criteria, if you ask me, and every single time I hear someone ask the "question" it's obvious (to me) what they should get. So I stay out of it and watch the ****-fight develop ...

The leaf-spring vs coils, well, I'm kinda passionate about that... coils are for Jeeps

 

i hope that your 4/4 gets fixed. but you guys made my point for me . with manuel 4/4 you don't have to fix this and clean that and still wonder if your o ring will fail or the switch will work.at the very least if i plan to keep my truck for a long time it's cheaper and easier to find manuel transfer cases. here in buffalo we need our four wheel drives .the auto switch sometimes can freeze up because of the cold. are you guys that lazy that you can't lock in your hubs before a storm .or maybe in november. if you have auto enjoy.if your depend on your 4/4 then don't make the same mistake on your next truck get the proven manuel style.ok guys blast away

 

Hmmm…..
Have you got an automatic or manual transmission?

How about an automatic or manual washing machine in the house? Dishwasher?

Do you draw your water also? Or are you on that sissified rural or city water or electric pump at the well?

How about a water heater?

Central heat?

Real sharp response, aldonco. Real sharp. You should be proud.

 

Just got the call from the dealer. It was the vacuum actuator solenoid that was bad. $48 for the part and an hour of labor to replace. Thanks for all of the sugggestions guys.

 

Thanks for the feedback

 

> Have you got an automatic or manual transmission?

Had to get auto because the wife refuses to learn a stick - it was enough to get her behind the wheel of a Superduty My '74 wasn't no auto ...

> How about an automatic or manual washing machine in the house? Dishwasher?

Both.

> Do you draw your water also? Or are you on that sissified rural or city water or electric pump at the well?

Public water, and piped-to-the-house natural gas. The house came with it. I would rather have a spring on the property and a bunch of wood-burning stoves...

> How about a water heater?

Ooooh. that's run by the natural gas I wimped out on.

> Central heat?

What's that? I have baseboard heat - heated by that same nasty natural gas... which is less nasty than fuel oil, and is the main reason I hate diesel because of smellling it as a kid working on my mother's furnace ...

Except for the highly-misinformed, I think most who have ESOF got the truck used or off the dealer's lot and didn't care one way or the other. I knew of it's problems before I ever saw my truck on the lot - and while it's a pain in the neck sometimes, I take it as something I knew I was getting into and was willing to deal with for the cool-factor of a perfect V10 SC SB.

As for the auto-hubs not working - FOR THE LAST TIME - you can manually lock them just like the regular hubs, so they are never a problem, except for the extremely lazy (and I was never lazy with my '74 highboy...)

To the comment about the servo's freezing, if it locks up on you in cold weather, it's time to either take it apart, get the water out of it, and lube it good or, get a new one. It's just like any other part - your starter can go just as quickly as the ESOF servo - what's the use of a truck that won't START in 2 feet of snow compared to the one that can't get into 4x4 but runs? Get a shovel, start filling the bed with sand or snow-pack and get out of there in 2-wheel... But you still can't start YOUR truck

I know I'm only feeding the flames here, but I'm trying to get it across to as many people as possible, there ARE reasons people have ESOF besides laziness - this is a problem with salespeople pushing ESOF (because they have too many on the lot) and telling you "You'll never have to get out of the cab to lock the hubs" which we all know is the biggest form of bovine manure... because we've all heard it from the salespeople, we immediately think "it's for lazy people" ... well, yeah, it is, but it's also nice to have the floor open in front of the front-seat.

Anyone who does not test their ESOF on a regular basis (like EVERY time it rains and the road is wet) is begging for trouble.

Hmmm... come to think of it, I would test 4x4 in my '74 (fully manual NP205 and hubs) on at least a monthly basis - so that when I really need it, it works - does the dissenter test his manual 4x4 before really needing it? Or does he get out and lock his hubs when the snow starts falling, hit the lever and curse when he realizes his front diff is full of water from last winter?

Anyway, happy holidays guys! (Merry Christmas for those Christians out there, who like me, think that it's OK to wish non-christians Merry Christmas)... uh oh, now I'll get punted...

 

What are you getting at Krewat? I use my 4x4 on a regular basis almost all year for pulling out stuck fork lifts at work and other uses. It just stopped working, so I guess I am missing what you are saying