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I have a 03 250 FX4 that acts strange when I try to turn off the 4X4. $wd works fine, but getting it to shut off is another thing. All it wants to do is make a whisling sound. Only was to stop this is to put it in reverse for 1/4 mile. What do I need to do to fix this? It only has 21,000 on it, and the 4wd has only been used a few times.
Even if the hubs are sticking, the transfer case should come out of 4x4.
What is it doing? Does the 4x4 light stay on? If it's really the transfer case staying in 4x4, that means you probably need a servo. The whisting might be the servo's bearings.
The hubs lock with a 20 second vacuum pulse, and unlock with a 5 second pulse. If you hear constant whistling, it's possible the ESOF vacuum solenoid is bad and leaking.
Get back to me with the following answers:
1) Does the 4x4 light go off in the dash, or stay on?
2) The whistling, does it only happen for about 5 seconds when you try to turn off 4x4 or is it constant when trying to disengage 4x4?
3) Are your hubs locked or free when it's doing this? (try to turn the axles by hand).
The light goes off when I put the switch in 2wd. The whistling stays on when the truck is moving. I must come to a complete stop and put it in reverse for about 1/2 mile to get it to quit. Not shure if the hubs are free or not, but it pulls hard when it is whistling. Thanks
That "whistle" might be the needle bearing in the hub - get it checked before it does some real damage...
Check to see if the axles are unlocking.
Also, if the ESOF hubs are sticking, you can use the hand-**** to unlock, turn to lock, then turn back to auto, and it should come onlocked. The next time you hear the "whistle" do this to each wheel, one at a time, and test. If it goes away, you have a sticking hub. Again, that needle bearing might be going and you can limit the damage before it takes out the hub (I believe)...