Stuck in 4WD?
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Tuned
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 296
Likes: 14
From: Jefferson, TX
Stuck in 4WD?
Vehicle is 2004 F150 SuperCrew 4X4.
I ran across a couple of threads describing turning of the front 1/2 shafts to check IWE operation, but I can't seem to locate them again??
With the motor off, I grabbed each shaft just outside the front diff and tried to twist. No go.
Started the motor, repeat. No movement. Just a bit of play. Clunk, clunk.
Should they turn with the engine running and in 2WD? Is there a way to test engagement of the front hubs other than what I described?
THANKS!
jtexfisher
I ran across a couple of threads describing turning of the front 1/2 shafts to check IWE operation, but I can't seem to locate them again??
With the motor off, I grabbed each shaft just outside the front diff and tried to twist. No go.
Started the motor, repeat. No movement. Just a bit of play. Clunk, clunk.
Should they turn with the engine running and in 2WD? Is there a way to test engagement of the front hubs other than what I described?
THANKS!
jtexfisher
Last edited by jtexfisher; Nov 13, 2007 at 02:44 PM. Reason: Forgot vehicle info.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 808
Likes: 0
From: P.G. VA
Lift the tire off the ground and try to spin the tire with the engine running. When you try to turn the shaft you have to turn the entire axle assembly all the way to the transfer case. Probably requires more effort that your bare hand can muster.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,713
Likes: 2
From: In my House
With the tire off the ground, the only thing that should rotate is the tire, hence, not in 4wd. When the truck is off, there is no vacumn to the IWE so the IWE(hubs) stay locked in. Only with the engine running doe s the IWE solenoid pull a vacumn to the IWE to "unlock" them out of 4wd. This is whay there is special towing requirements for flat bed towing our trucks when you have the electric shift T-Case, as, the Electric shift case has no neutral position.
Rich
Rich
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
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my driver side is not disengaging so when the truck is running and I spin the tire the axle shaft moves along with the drive shaft. I lifted the pasenger side and its working. What causes the hub to stick? I'm getting vacuum in the lines too.....
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,606
Likes: 149
From: SE Georgia
Your IWE is probably bad then.
If the IWE is good...and you have vacuum at the lines...then the IWE will disengage when in 4x2 and motor running.
you under warranty?
and are you sure you are getting vacuum at the drivers IWE?
If the IWE is good...and you have vacuum at the lines...then the IWE will disengage when in 4x2 and motor running.
you under warranty?
and are you sure you are getting vacuum at the drivers IWE?
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 374
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no I have 43k on it. Yeah I made sure the line was sucking. The drive shaft isnt turning now just the axles when I spin the driver side wheel. It must be the vacuum actuator on the hub thats leaking. The passenger side is free like I said and the 4x4 ingages when I turn it to 4x4. The actuator has to be stuck.
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,606
Likes: 149
From: SE Georgia
ouch...sorry man.
I know a few guys on F150online.com who have changed their hubs out several times. You may want to drop into there and ask what all is involved.
I know a few guys on F150online.com who have changed their hubs out several times. You may want to drop into there and ask what all is involved.
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Hutchinson, KS
I have the same prob. Drivers side is almost engaged everytime I start the truck and start to drive away. But put it to 4-high and back to 2wd and the noise is gone, usually. There have been times when the hub tries to engage right away again. So switch to 4-high for a few seconds, wait for noise to go away, then back to 2wd.
I've started to chase down the vacuum lines. Since they are routed through some tight areas I run out of time or energy to continue chasing. I can't seem to follow the drivers side vacuum line through the skid plates and to the passenger side. I always get lost in there. LOL.
I've started to chase down the vacuum lines. Since they are routed through some tight areas I run out of time or energy to continue chasing. I can't seem to follow the drivers side vacuum line through the skid plates and to the passenger side. I always get lost in there. LOL.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 374
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well here is what you need to do and this is from experience. Take off the vacuum line down at the hub to make sure the line has vaccum. If it doesnt most likely its your IWE solenoid. This is up on the fire wall behind your battery. Very easy to change out and the part cost me $40 + at the Ford dealer. That fixed my problem that I had that you are explaining here (exactly). I had another problem with the IWE vacuum actuator that I just replaced because my axle was locked in on the driver side. My other side was free when I would turn the wheel with the truck running. The seals in the other side acuator were bad. When I replaced it problem solved. These are very easy fixes but try what i said to do and you should have yours fixed too. Do it soon so you dont strip the gear teeth off when its trying to lock in 4x4 due to vacuum leaking or just not working.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2007
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Well I would but I dont have the bags with the numbers and I never wrote them down. I got all my information of what might be the problem off this website. I love this website as its helped me fix the issues I have had. I'm sure I have saved thousands of dollars by doing the work my self with the help of a manual. Just ask for the IWE solenoid and vacuum actuator if you need any one of these or both of these and tell them its for the 4wd system. Its amazing even some of the parts guys at the dealer dont really know what you are talking about until they start looking for pictures on their parts computer.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 247
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From: Concrete WA
Just trying to understand the operation here. Is the vacuum used to engage the front end or disengage the front end?
I was under the understanding that it needs vacuum to engage 4X4. My reason is I ordered my 2004 F150 with auto transmission and manual transfer case to allow us to tow the F150 4X4 all wheels on ground being towed behind a truck. The instructions I was told are, once the vehicle is connected, with engine turned off pump brakes to remove all vacuum to ensure front end is not engaged. Amazing what you learn from FTE.
I was under the understanding that it needs vacuum to engage 4X4. My reason is I ordered my 2004 F150 with auto transmission and manual transfer case to allow us to tow the F150 4X4 all wheels on ground being towed behind a truck. The instructions I was told are, once the vehicle is connected, with engine turned off pump brakes to remove all vacuum to ensure front end is not engaged. Amazing what you learn from FTE.
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,606
Likes: 149
From: SE Georgia
Just trying to understand the operation here. Is the vacuum used to engage the front end or disengage the front end?
I was under the understanding that it needs vacuum to engage 4X4. My reason is I ordered my 2004 F150 with auto transmission and manual transfer case to allow us to tow the F150 4X4 all wheels on ground being towed behind a truck. The instructions I was told are, once the vehicle is connected, with engine turned off pump brakes to remove all vacuum to ensure front end is not engaged. Amazing what you learn from FTE.
I was under the understanding that it needs vacuum to engage 4X4. My reason is I ordered my 2004 F150 with auto transmission and manual transfer case to allow us to tow the F150 4X4 all wheels on ground being towed behind a truck. The instructions I was told are, once the vehicle is connected, with engine turned off pump brakes to remove all vacuum to ensure front end is not engaged. Amazing what you learn from FTE.
the problem is your IWE hubs...not the t-case itself
Motor Off:
vacuum is broken...IWE hubs are engaged...truck is locked in park at all 4 wheels
this is why you must flatbed tow a 04+ F-150 4x4. DO NOT GET IT TOWED WITH ANY OF THE 4 WHEELS ON THE GROUND.
Your front axle will be engaged and spinning. This in turn will spin the t-case. And since the t-case fluid pump is driven off the transmission input shaft and not the t-case output shaft...it won't get lubed. Any significant amount of time towed like this will cause t-case and front axle failure.
Motor On: this is why you must flatbed tow a 04+ F-150 4x4. DO NOT GET IT TOWED WITH ANY OF THE 4 WHEELS ON THE GROUND.
Your front axle will be engaged and spinning. This in turn will spin the t-case. And since the t-case fluid pump is driven off the transmission input shaft and not the t-case output shaft...it won't get lubed. Any significant amount of time towed like this will cause t-case and front axle failure.
A little vacuum pump draws a vacuum on the IWE's within a second or two. This DIS-ENGAGES the hubs...now you are in 4x2 mode. Will remain there until switch/lever is put into 4x4Hi
4x4 Mode:when you turn the switch to 4x4hi/4x4lo or move the lever to 4x4, an electric circuit kills the IWE vacuum pumps and breaks the vacuum (1-2 seconds). This loss of vacuum causes your front hubs to engage. This all occurs while the T-case is shifting.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: Concrete WA
Thanks for the feedback. I have a brochure (Picture of Motor Home towing a tow rig) from Ford stating with the manual transfer case only it can be towed with four wheels on the ground. It was the Fleet Dealer rep that gave us the instruction on pumping the brakes to confirm no vacuum and place the transfer case in neutral and good to tow. This seems backwards from what I and reading here.