Stranded in Traverse City
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Stranded in Traverse City
My 1997 Ford F150 has left me stranded. 4-wheel drive lights come on...transfer case does not engage. What I believe is the transfer case relay underneath the passenger side dashboard clicks when trying to engage. Have swapped it with other relays of same type, but no change. Dealers don't seem to offer me any help or direction to go, unless I bring it in. I am mechanically inclined. I believe the relay is OK.... so what could be tripping the relay?? I have inspected the transfer case for loose damaged wires or connections - all electrical parts of transfer case seem fine. Lots of snow this weekend to NOT have 4-wheel drive. If anyone has any time off during this Thanksgiving holiday, I'd love to hear any thoughts of what I could do to troubleshoot from here. I've never had a problem with this before. Thanks,
Dave
Dave
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From: GANS
I think F150's have some kinda of vacuum hub type thing. Try locking your truck into 4wd or 4lo, move the truck forward, then put the ebrake on (plus whatever safety devices you need to keep the truck from running over you, and crawl under and see if you can turn the front drive shaft. You might have to unbolt the shaft from tcase or diff incase the front hubs lock in.
if the tcase spins, then the tcase isn't locking in. If the tcase doesn't turn, then it is working. If the tcase is ok, then it must be something with the hubs.. try to spin either axle-shaft.. if one spins and the other doesn't, then that one probably isn't locking in..
if the tcase spins, then the tcase isn't locking in. If the tcase doesn't turn, then it is working. If the tcase is ok, then it must be something with the hubs.. try to spin either axle-shaft.. if one spins and the other doesn't, then that one probably isn't locking in..
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does it have manual hubs? after you lock those in, make sure you move about 10 feet in either direction. that will lock everything in and enable you to put it in 4wd. when i first got my 97 f250, i didnt know this and tried like hell to put it in 4x4 to no avail. the light did come on, but no actual 4wd. seems simple, but some people overlook this step.
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thanks guys. I tried all ways to lock in hubs,they are not manual.When I have 4x4 engaged I CAN'T move the fr drive shaft.When I disengage 4x4 I can. I believe this would eliminate the transfer case.I still am very curiuous about the relay under the passenger side of the dash board.I believe I always noticed a relay "click" when engaging to 4x4, BUT now I engage 4x4...hear the normal "click" ....4-5 seconds later the same relay "clicks" again....that is something it didn't do before. so,what could be making the relay click again....a short, bad relay... some senser ? I believe this relay is called the transfer case relay, but I can't confirm this. I suppose it may be time to go buy a manual with wiring diagrams. This sounds electrical to me ? Could weather be making something stick? Thanks for your help. I would be open to hearing any more suggestions regardless of how much of a stretch they may be. I would like to try to continue troubleshooting before spending money at the dealer. The dealer has been less than helpful so far. Thanks again. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.
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