I was trying to pull a friends truck that got stuck. Turned switch to 4H thought I was in 4x4 gave it some gas and bang. It was a loud metal on metal hit. Little while later it did the same thing. Any ideas?

 

From I read I assume that it was the truck engaging into 4wd when the rear drivetrain was already moving and front end was not- or getting into the gas before the 4wd is fully engaged. This would definitely cause a bang IMO. Always a good idea to make sure you are 100% engaged before giving er hell. I think in a muddy situation I prefer reverse because it positively engages the front hubs as well. If this is what happen you can bet something broke. Maybe a hub, usually they go first.

 

NEVER engage 4 wheel drive when your tires are spinning (unless you are driving down the road). If you are basically stopped then come to a complete stop and then engage 4 wheel drive. Once it is engaged slowly give it gas then when you KNOW it is in 4 wheel drive then give 'er. Once again this doesn't apply when driving down the road at normal speed.

-Matt

 

I put in 4H around 10mph before I was hook up to the guy. I only noticed it was not locked in when the front tire was not spinning. My friend said he thought he heard the hubs spinning but they were not locked in. I put it in neutral and tried 4L with no luck.

 

I'd willing to bet you busted a hub. Not uncommon for Automatic hubs.

 

just wondering, do you guys normally pull 'em out going fwd or rev? (if you do have the choice)

 

Our hubs work the same going forward as they would backward. They are engaged by dumping the vacuum supply to the hubs. Check you vacuum solenoid to see if it ingested water. If your truck is an 04, check your vaccum lines going to the IWE(hubs), some of the 04's had issues with getting pinholes in the hard lines, maybe this is why you heard a bang when the rpm's started to rise.

 

put the front of the pulling truck where there is the most possibility of traction, thats your best bet.

 

Well, 4H and 4L work with no problems now. I dont know where to start looking for trouble maker now.

 

I just had mine in the shop for the same thing last week. They replaced the vacuum solenoid (second time in a month) and they said the right hub was shot.

They said if water gets in the vacuum line, the hubs won't engage. Evidently, the part was redesigned with a shield over it to prevent water from getting into it.

Crossing my fingers.

 

i have pulled some trucks out of the mud that were bigger than mine, i always pull in reverse unless i cant turn around. but everytime i get em right out. My guess is that u broke the hubs, they r sensitive when worked hard.

 

hi this is my first 4 wheel drive I bought the truck new it is a 04 f-150. When the 4 wheel drive is engage on the fly and gets under a pull like up a steep heill it would pop and bang. I complained to the dealer from the day I bought it they said that is normal. I have not worked in a dealership in 30 years but I knew the noise was not normal. When driving down the highway at times I get a winning noise if I shift in to 4 wheel high and flip it back out the noise goes away. I trie d to back up the hill yesterday to hook up my boat now 4 wheel drive will not engage at all. it tryes to engege but just pops back out with a loud bang and the whole truck shutters. I read your post and you said your 4 wheel drive is ok now what did you have to do to fix it and if i need parts where is the best place to get them.

Thanks in advance
katjac

 

F-ing dealers...I think that is the universal reply to every problem ever mentioned..."That is normal"

What, you say you went to roll down the window, there was a loud 'buzz' then the truck caught on fire and burned to the ground....that's normal!

Put it in reverse, there was a loud bang and a puddle of red fluid under the truck? Normal!

Sorry to hear about your problems, hopefully it won't be too hard of a fix. As far as the towing, if it is a heavy load that is going to need a lot of pull, but not much speed, I try and hook up with the front end and use reverse to pull. This, plus 4x4 lo should give you the numerically highest gear ratio for the most 'pull', plus you have the weight of the front end and engine over the front wheels for the most traction. If it is a pull that is fairly light but will need some tire speed (mud), I usually back up to the load and use normal forward gears. Just my .02

 

katjac, I'm assuming your out of warranty. If you want to try and replace the IWE solenoid, its right behind the firewall and costs around $40 I believe. But in 2004 they also had issues that someone posted on a while back, about the hard vacuum lines running to close to the exhaust manifld on the pass side and having little pin holes in them.
Rich

 

Not real sure it working. Going to hook up to a tree and make sure today.