First of all, I HATE these four wheel drive systems that use an electric servo to engage four wheel drive. However I LOVE my V-10 and my Superduty so I figured i could live with throwing a switch for my four wheel drive. Now with just over 70,000 on the odometer, and one week from the deer hunt my pride and joy has encountered her first problem.

I cant get her into FOUR LOW.

It shifts fine from two to four wheel drive, and I use the system enough to keep it active, but no four low. Has anyone else experienced this problem? And if
so, what was the fix. (I am hoping to hear ANYTHING other than replacing the expensive looking servo).

 

Did you try to put it in 4 low while the truck is in park? I think this is the way to shift to 4 low on a truck w/ esof. Truck in park, foot on brake and shift to 4 low.

 

I tried it in neutral. I have a manual transmission. And It worked just last week.

 

I know some times it takes a little time to engage, but it does work eventually.
I think its the same with a manual also, tranny in neurtal, foot on brake and shift into 4 low. I find it hard to believe that if it shifts into 4 high and back to 2 that the servo is bad. my $.02

 

Going into 4 low should be an immediate abrupt thing... you don't want to be moving when it tries to go in, and likewise, I don't think it will even try to go in when you're moving... meaning, if it doesn't go into LOW right away, it never will...

You're supposed to do it in neutral...

Does it just not bother to go in? Do you hear any clicking? Does the light come on and it's not really IN low? What? Describe it better...

art k.

 

It just wont go in. It sits in 4 hi, almost as if i didnt move the switch at all. I am shifting it correctly here, in neutral, stopped, but its as if I took no action to get into 4 low. Maybe the switch is bad? Did ford even offer a manual shifting T-case? I wouldn't be opposed to cutting a hole in my floor to install some good old fashion steel between me and my T-case.

 

My 2001 has a 5 speed manual trans and a manual, on the floor, transfer case. It also has manual Ford hubs with "free" and "lock" positions as opposed to "auto" and "free". In my opinion it's the only way to go as you generally find out you have a problem with the automatic features at the most inopportune moments. It also gives you the most versatility as I can drop it into 4 low and leave the hubs free if I need to move at just an absolute crawl on dry ground when backing a trailer and such. I didn't realize how rare my configuration was until I started reading these forums and looking at other trucks.

 

This has been gone over lots of times here before
You need the following to alow it to shift to 4lo
1)sw in 4xlo (switch on dash)
2)stopped in neutral (DTR transmission switch) also (vss and abs system ready)
3)foot firmly on brake(brake switch)
4)2 relays working properly
5)fuse 59 .
6)A good 4x4 control module
A common problem is the connection to the shift motor on the tranfercase gets water in it or becomes loose ,caught on brush when hunting or on back roads.
Make sure your brake lights are working this proves out that sw.
jigle the auto shift lever in the neutral position to see if the dtr sw needs adjusting while your trying to go to 4lo.
Then after that you will need some more help with wiring or service
Rich

 

Get it in 4wHi and crawl around a little until you can find fairly level ground. Then press the clutch, the brake pedal and shift your tranny into neutral and let out on the clutch. Then turn the dial to 4wLo, with the brake pedal still depressed. Let it set for about 45 seconds while it "makes up its mind". If it doesn't go, leave the dial in 4wLo and press the clutch pedal and leave it in for about 30 seconds. If it still won't go in 4wLo, then leave the dial in 4wLo, shift the tranny to 1st (granny) gear and creep along for about 10 feet or so. Stop, leave the clutch in and stay on the brake pedal. All sorts of signals are being sent, maybe it will engage. If not that particular relay might be bad.

This is very important: If it does go into 4wLo, then just creep around for 30 seconds and switch it back to 2WD as per manual instructions. Move around to level ground again and put it back into 4wLo as per manual instructions. This will exercise the system, so to speak.

I know this sounds like a bunch of horse biscuits, but sometimes you just have to go through it in order for the ESOF to take hold.

 

dorkdog, i have the same combination as you, 2000 V10 4 wheel 5 speed manual with shifter on the floor. how does that work now, or what is it actually doing when i put the shifter in 4 lo but leave the hubs free, not locked? thanks, matt. i use mine all the time with no problems.

 

This post was for "watergate"
sometimes seperate post should be made,this how they become all confusing
Rich

 

Yep, Rich - dang hijackers...

Let help Watergate out first, men. Then we can talk about some sort of myth about manual shifters being better than ESOF. What say you...?

 

I'm Guilty as charged! MR Big! LOL
Rich

 

Not you, Rich? Surely, you jest?

 

My apologies. I did not intend to detour the topic away from Watergate's problem. The other folks who have replied have more experience with this system than I so I would try everything they mentioned. The fact that the servo is working to shift it into 4H is a good sign as far as the servo is concerned. I would begin with testing the brake switch as noted previously. Since the truck starts you would have to assume the clutch switch works. I don't know that the manual trans has a switch to indicate it is in neutral. If the system is checking and verifying that the clutch is depressed then checking for neutral is somewhat redundant. Glancing at my truck manual it appears that there are two relays for the ESOF system. This could be to reverse the polarity to the servo motor. In any case the relays are almost certainly identical and swapping their positions could rule out or identify a bad relay. If all of this doesn't point to any problems, I would look next at the control switch. This should be easy to check with an ohm-meter if you remove the switch panel from the dash. A Haynes manual that I saw said that this panel can be pryed off (carefully) with a small screwdriver. Good luck.

P.S. I will take up the "Myth" of manual shifters on the thread that 10strokin started so as not to further detract from the subject of this thread.