This is my first post to this board. I have a 2005 F-150 Super Cab 4x4 XLT with the 5.4 and 3.55 gears. It's been a great truck, but I have had a few problems in it's 6000 mile life time. This is the latest problem.
On a trip through the mountains of Oregon I ran into a major snow storm/blizard. I had to slow to 10-15 mph as visibility was poor at best. The road quickly became snow covered and I turned the 4x4 switch to 4HI. Nothing happened. No light, no clunk, nothing. I tried it many more times with the same result. I made it to the next town, LaGrande, and looked for any blown fuses etc. I couldn't find anything wrong. Fired up the truck and tried the switch again. Nothing. Tried to put it in 4LO. Nothing. I made it home with no problem in 2x4, but I paid for a 4x4 and that's what I want!
The following day I tried the 4x4 switch again and it worked!? I activated and deactivated the switch many times and it worked every time. Any ideas why this would happen?
Thanks,
Marlon

 

Was the temperature just as cold on the day that it worked as the day that it didn't?

The fact that you had no sound, no indicators at all would push me to look at a bad 4x4 switch on the dash. I've seen cold have these same effects on turnsignals and 4x4 switches. It may be something other than the dash switch of course, but it sort of sounds electrical.

CMOS

 

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If you do a search someone else had posted a problem with their 4x4. In that person's case he would here a grinding in one of the front wheel hubs when it was in 2 wheel drive. If he touched the switch, the grinding would stop. My point being that it seemed that the 4x4 switch was the cause of his problems also, although in the opposite situation. You may want to have the dealer check you 4x4 switch, it seems that they are a weak link in the 4x4 system. To bad you can't get the floor shifter anymore in the xlt fx4 lariat.

 

Thanks for the responses. I have made a service appointment with the dealer for Thursday morning. I already know they're going to say they can't duplicate the problem, but at least the failure will be documented.
To answer the temperature question. On the day it did not work it was about 25-30 F. The day that it worked was 35-40 F. About two weeks prior to the failure I was on another trip to Portland on I 84. The road was ice and snow covered from Pendleton to Troutdale. The temperature was about 20-25 F. I used 4x4 for about 200 miles with no problems at all. I also used it while hunting just two days prior to failure, temperature was 30-35 F, with no problems.
I think I might have electrical gremlins in the truck. Cmos, you mentioned turn signals affected by the cold. I've had problems with them as well, right side flashing fast--no burnt bulbs-- just flashing fast--dealer could not duplicate, but not at the same time as the 4x4 problems. This problem occured after driving in deep snow at about 25-30 F. I've also had the intermittent no start when hot problem. Dealer could not duplicate.
Hopefully the dealer will be able to find something. I will keep you posted. Any additional suggestions/ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Marlon

 

Were you slipping? Are you sure it didn't go into 4x4? Next time do a quick test. When on snow or ice, stop the truck and then try to accellerate quickly. You will know immediately for even with LS, the back will break free.

As for the 'clunk', that really only happens in when transfering into 4x4 low when it changes the front transfer case.

The 04 and beyond (not sure for the prior years but I do know this is different than my 93 Ranger) default to engaging the front hubs. A quick test for this is when the truck is on the lift and turned off, spin one front wheel. The other will turn in the opposite direction. If you turn on the truck, the other wheel does not move. The way this works is by a vacume pump. When the truck is running the vacume pressure keeps the front hubs disengaged.

I have a 04 Lariat 4x4. I do not (and should not) hear anything when it is engaged. I also do not hear it when it disengages. However, I am sure it is working (got stuck in the mud at the dump towing a trailer -- 4x4 pulled me right out).

When a 4x4 is well engineered and the machine is moving, all parts should be timed just right such that they engage without an impact. Older systems were not this nice and used to bang some when they went in and out.

In short, do not be surprised if they tell you everything is OK. I hope this is true for you.

 

Mcalton, As I read your post I remember readin in my 06 manual in the shifting from 2H to 4H "Do not perform this operation at speeds above 45mph if the outside temp is below 32F" Not sure as to why that is, maybe due to the vacumn shift motor on the front axle not being able to bring the case up to speed fast enough in the cold weather? I'm still learnin this new style 4x4 with my 06, Hell my 96 I can tell ya all bout that 4x4 system!!

Rich

 

****Update****

I took the truck to the dealer today. They said there was an intermittent code for the shift motor for the 4x4 system. They have ordered the part and it will be in on Thursday. Also, they looked at the slip/clunk issue again. This time they ordered a new drive shaft. I'll keep you posted with the results.
Marlon

 

Thanks for the update. Keep em coming.

You know, I really wish we could get these trucks with the manual transfer case shifter like my 97 had.

CMOS

 

Worst problems usually with them is the vacuum solenoid on the passenger firewall. the truck is held in 2wd while vacuum is applied. usually you can pull the hoses off and hear the pressure release. the vacuum hoses are actually vulnerable being they are unprotected going into the hub assembly. if you wonder if the hubs are not functioning go to autozone or someplace and rent a vacuum pump, plug the small line, apply vacuum to the larger of the two on the hub and see if it holds vacuum. if it does, no problems there, look else where. i've not saw any problems in particular on the floorshift trucks, but with the switch they do seem to sometime. Boy, what I'd do to have some lockouts on my truck.

 

****Update #2****
They finally got the parts in for my truck and installed them today. They replaced the 4x4 shift motor on the transfer case which caused the intermittent problem shifting into 4x4. So far so good. I thought they were going to replace the drive shaft for the slip/clunk problem, but they just lubed the splines. We'll see how long this lasts. Hopefully no more problems!
Marlon

 

Your truck sounds like mine. The very first time I tried to put in in 4wd nothing happened. No 4X4 ight and the rear end was fishtailing and spinning away in the snow. I threw the switch into 4wd about 10 times. Nothing happened. The next day, and every time since, it works just fine. Glad you posted what they did to yours so I have some reference when I bring it in.

Also like yours, mine feels like something in the drivetrain slips on take off sometimes. Good luck with the yoke greasing. I've read alot of posts on this and don't think anyone's had a permenant fix. I've got about 8,000 miles on mine now and either it's broken in or I'm just so used to it that I don't notice so much. 05 4X4 5.4L crew.

 

its saturday feb 4th, woke up washed truck , trying to go downtown, roads slippery and icy, going about 5-10 mph, engaged 4x4 tires grabed, locked, but had a loud clicking sound from front end, i would shut off 4x4 noise would go away, does any one think the vacume part of it may have froze up?? Rob

 

No, I think you have a bad from hub and it failed to engage.

 

Was This Covered Under The Extended Waranty??? Are Normal Ware And Tear. Having The Same Kind Of Problem