Noise when engaging 4 wheel drive

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Jan 17, 2005 | 03:09 PM

KJGMH

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Noise when engaging 4 wheel drive

When I put my 2000 F-150 in 4h the indicator light comes on and then after about a hundred yards it starts to make a ratcheting sound. I turn it back to 2h and after a couple more hundred yards the noise stops. Has anyone had this happen. Here in Northern WI it has been bellow 0 for the last week and I will be able to get it into a heated garge tommorrow and any help would be great. I have searched the past threads and have not found this problem, just general engagement problems.

Jan 17, 2005 | 08:08 PM

beer boy

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From: nova scotia, canada

4x4

what type of 4x4 to you have is it a dial on the dash or a lever on the floor. there are two elec solenoids that control the vaccum to the front pot. i think that they are on the pass side fire wall, youll know them by the four ( or six i can't remember) vac lines going to them. make sure they are on and in good shape. does the 4x4 work well when the noise is made?

Jan 18, 2005 | 08:08 AM

KJGMH

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It is a dash mounted ****. I do not think that I am getting power to front wheels when this happens. It will keep making the noise until I put it back to 2h and drive a couple hundred yards.

Jan 18, 2005 | 03:32 PM

beer boy

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From: nova scotia, canada

4x4

i would check the vac solenoids, one of them may be getting stuck, they have a habbit of seizing up if they are not used for a while, like over summer. take the cap off the tops and soak them with a good quality penetrating fluid. try switching the hoses around whenthe truck running and the 4x4 **** to 4 high. make sure to put them back in the right spot. this may not work but it has worked for me. if everything works good. if it doesent take the truck to a shop that is very familiar with the ford 4x4 system (dealer ?) you may have an internal front differential problem but i doubt it because the noise continues after you trun the **** to 2wd. it took me over an hour on the fatherinlaws truck to get his working 2 yrs ago and they haven't given him any trouble since. hope this works.
ps. make sure that the vac lines all over the engine look good, look around this site on how to check.

Jan 22, 2005 | 03:13 PM

DieselR6

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Hey...

I have the same thing happening to my truck, i put it on 4H and a grinding, ratcher sound started to come about 50m into my drive....i turned off the 4h and it stopped....my 4x4 has not worked since. Let me know if you got your problem fixed....im going to check the solenoids like these guys suggested...I would really appreciate a response if you fixed the issue, thanks!

Jan 22, 2005 | 07:15 PM

017.3

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check your hubs, ive had the teeth one the older ones actually mushroom out a little and not engage, causing the ratcheting sound cuz they just click against each other. I got rid of my whole vacuum setup it never worked good. all you need is one of those hubs to not lock in and your front won't work at all.

Jan 24, 2005 | 08:23 AM

KJGMH

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Update

Well I feel pretty stupid after bringing the truck into the dealer. It turned out that a heat shield was bent and was rubbing against the front driveshaft at times. Made a hell of a racket. Quick fix, just bent it out of the way.