4WD question... Easy one
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
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4WD question... Easy one
I have myself a nice 2003 F-150 Supercrew FX4 with the 5.4, auto, and that wonderful SOTF 4WD system. I love the truck, but I have a question about the operation of the 4WD system. I was trying to leave the oparking lot at work today and it was fairly slick with packed down snow from the day before. I parked the truck in the morning with it in 2WD. When i tried to leave, i had backed out onto a slight decline and couldnt get the truck moving in 2WD, just got some fancy rooster tails of snow. I tried goingt o 4WD HI, got nowhere, rooster tails. I tried going to 4WD LO, same thing. I can hear the front end "locking in" and I know the T-case motor is engaging. So here's my question :
Does the shift-on-the-fly system having to be moving forward in order for it to engage the front drivetrain and move the front wheels in 4WD? Should i be getting 4WD operation right at the point when I engage it with the dash switch? I had a 99 Ranger Off-Road with the same type system before my 150 and never noticed anything like this when I needed 4WD. It seems that even when I switch to 4WD HI while driving in the slippery stuff that it takes 50-100 ft or so until I feel the front tires start to "bite". I know the system is engaging but it just doesnt seemt o be engaging quickly enough or as quick as I think it should.
Let me know what you guys think. I've had the truck in for service once since I bought it about 3 months ago for the transfer case motor not working at all. Ford replaced the motor under warranty but I didnt really use the system regularly until a week or so ago when we started getting tons of snow.....
Does the shift-on-the-fly system having to be moving forward in order for it to engage the front drivetrain and move the front wheels in 4WD? Should i be getting 4WD operation right at the point when I engage it with the dash switch? I had a 99 Ranger Off-Road with the same type system before my 150 and never noticed anything like this when I needed 4WD. It seems that even when I switch to 4WD HI while driving in the slippery stuff that it takes 50-100 ft or so until I feel the front tires start to "bite". I know the system is engaging but it just doesnt seemt o be engaging quickly enough or as quick as I think it should.
Let me know what you guys think. I've had the truck in for service once since I bought it about 3 months ago for the transfer case motor not working at all. Ford replaced the motor under warranty but I didnt really use the system regularly until a week or so ago when we started getting tons of snow.....
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2005
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On my 99 f-150 i can put it in 4hi driving or stoped, when im stoped it seems like it takes a sec or two before you can hear it engage, but it does. And for sure you have to be stoped and in neutral to engage 4low. I would say get a mechanic to look at it if it happens again and if somthing needs to be repaired, do it before warranty goes out. Good Luck!
John
99 f-150 ext. cab
rear steel buper..grilleguard w/4 KC lights
tool box..bed linner
dual exaust..K&N air intake...
John
99 f-150 ext. cab
rear steel buper..grilleguard w/4 KC lights
tool box..bed linner
dual exaust..K&N air intake...
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 27
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From: Richwood, WV
Make sure the 4X4 is working...
"I've had the truck in for service once since I bought it about 3 months ago for the transfer case motor not working at all."
Try it again and see if the front wheels are spinning are just sitting there.
Since they replace the transfer case motor they might have forgotten to hook up some vacuum lines. I made this mistake on an S-10 ZR2 I had. We replace the clutch and didn't get the vacuum lines to the transfer case install correctly. I could hear it kicking in 4X4 when I pushed the button, but the front wheels wouldn't pull.
You might have to take it back in and have them check it for you.
Good Luck
Try it again and see if the front wheels are spinning are just sitting there.
Since they replace the transfer case motor they might have forgotten to hook up some vacuum lines. I made this mistake on an S-10 ZR2 I had. We replace the clutch and didn't get the vacuum lines to the transfer case install correctly. I could hear it kicking in 4X4 when I pushed the button, but the front wheels wouldn't pull.
You might have to take it back in and have them check it for you.
Good Luck
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,773
Likes: 7
From: On the road in Ohio
Hi giddy up and Welcome to FTE,
with the ESOF system you do need to be moving for it to engage the front axle,but as was said before have the vacum lines checked, also you should use it once a month to keep it in good working order.
with the ESOF system you do need to be moving for it to engage the front axle,but as was said before have the vacum lines checked, also you should use it once a month to keep it in good working order.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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You do not need to be moving to engage 4x4 on the esof or msof on 97 up. Nor on previous years if manual hubs and hubs were locked in. You do have to be stopped, trans in neutral or park and foot on the brake to shift to 4lo.
I suspect that when you shifted to 4x4, the wheels were already spinning or you may have a problem with the front diff locking in.
I suspect that when you shifted to 4x4, the wheels were already spinning or you may have a problem with the front diff locking in.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,773
Likes: 7
From: On the road in Ohio
Originally Posted by kingfish51
You do not need to be moving to engage 4x4 on the esof or msof on 97 up. Nor on previous years if manual hubs and hubs were locked in. You do have to be stopped, trans in neutral or park and foot on the brake to shift to 4lo.
I suspect that when you shifted to 4x4, the wheels were already spinning or you may have a problem with the front diff locking in.
I suspect that when you shifted to 4x4, the wheels were already spinning or you may have a problem with the front diff locking in.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...highlight=ESOF
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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I have shifted to 4hi many times while sitting in my drive way and had 4x4 right from the get go.
I know the 97 up to 04 have no hubs and that was why I stated manual hubs pre 97, not auto hubs.
My 83,85,and 90 all had manual hubs and no problem with 4x4 from a standing start. My 98 with msof and 01 with esof angain would start in 4x4 from a stop.
My 04 with vacuum hubs will engage from a standing start.
In all cases when stopped, engage 4hi, and go, there was no noise of engagement like you get when engaging on the move, but the front tires would spin (especially when playing around) on the snow or ice.
I thjink racerguys comment was how it worked when moving. It does not have to spin up when stopped, so engagement should be immediate.
I have never had to be moving to get 4hi to work.
I know the 97 up to 04 have no hubs and that was why I stated manual hubs pre 97, not auto hubs.
My 83,85,and 90 all had manual hubs and no problem with 4x4 from a standing start. My 98 with msof and 01 with esof angain would start in 4x4 from a stop.
My 04 with vacuum hubs will engage from a standing start.
In all cases when stopped, engage 4hi, and go, there was no noise of engagement like you get when engaging on the move, but the front tires would spin (especially when playing around) on the snow or ice.
I thjink racerguys comment was how it worked when moving. It does not have to spin up when stopped, so engagement should be immediate.
I have never had to be moving to get 4hi to work.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,773
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From: On the road in Ohio
Well how about trying this although I don't recomend doing it without some one standing by to pull you out,(and with a camera 
) but here it goes , go find a good sized mud hole, drive in using only 2wd, and get yourself stuck to the point where you can't move forward or backwards not even an inch, now turn the switch to 4wd and see if it engages, 3 out of 10 times it won't , thats the fun way of doing it.
Now here's the boring way, get the truck up on jack stands with the wheels off the ground and hold the front wheel "lightly" like it was touching the ground try it. Do this several times and see the results
) but here it goes , go find a good sized mud hole, drive in using only 2wd, and get yourself stuck to the point where you can't move forward or backwards not even an inch, now turn the switch to 4wd and see if it engages, 3 out of 10 times it won't , thats the fun way of doing it. Now here's the boring way, get the truck up on jack stands with the wheels off the ground and hold the front wheel "lightly" like it was touching the ground try it. Do this several times and see the results