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Old Jan 3, 2008 | 11:03 AM
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Switch Power Question

Everyone...I have a question. My ESOF switch does not seem to work. Yesterday in the snow I turned the **** to 4x4 and nothing happened. Last year when I had my hub problem at least my 4x4 dash light came on even though my hubs didn't engage. My vacum pumps works and my vents all change fine.

Now I didn't even get my dash light on. So I stopped and tried the 4x4 LOW and nothing happened at all....nothing. About 3 weeks ago, I had used the 4x4 high and the had no problems at all.

I got the book out and found a fuse that was associated with the ESOF and the backup lights, etc. The backup lights are working so I don't think it is that fuse.

So that brings up my question.....what would it be then?
 
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Old Jan 3, 2008 | 05:07 PM
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I tried again today to see if it had started working and it was still dead.
 
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Old Jan 3, 2008 | 05:34 PM
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Sounds like you have a fuse or relay blown. If not, they your motor is gone. You can check the obvious and if fuses are good, then you need to check for power under the truck.
 
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Old Jan 3, 2008 | 08:56 PM
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what does check for power under the truck mean and how do you do it?

also where else besides the cab fuse box should i look?
 
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Old Jan 4, 2008 | 07:14 AM
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Check for power at the transfer shift motor for the transfer case. Should have power on it when dash switch is on. If not then you need to check fuses and relays. If yes, the your shift motor is bad.
You have a Power Distribution Box (fuse box) under the hood, drivers side, on fender well. It has a plastic cover over it. Fuse # 17 (30amp) is for the ESOF (4x4). There are also two relays under seperate small covers beside the PDB which holds the relays. There are 4 relays side by side. 2 are for the ESOF and 2 are for trailer tow battery charge. Either of the 2 for the ESOF go bad and motor want have power and you want have 4 wheel drive. They are #40 and 41.
 
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Old Jan 4, 2008 | 11:47 AM
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Originally Posted by zx250
Check for power at the transfer shift motor for the transfer case. Should have power on it when dash switch is on. If not then you need to check fuses and relays. If yes, the your shift motor is bad.
You have a Power Distribution Box (fuse box) under the hood, drivers side, on fender well. It has a plastic cover over it. Fuse # 17 (30amp) is for the ESOF (4x4). There are also two relays under seperate small covers beside the PDB which holds the relays. There are 4 relays side by side. 2 are for the ESOF and 2 are for trailer tow battery charge. Either of the 2 for the ESOF go bad and motor want have power and you want have 4 wheel drive. They are #40 and 41.
thanks....as soon as my hood thaws out so that it will open, i will check that out and post again if i need anything. THANKS
 
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Old Jan 17, 2008 | 08:00 AM
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UPDATE--> FInally got around to checking the truck. The fuse under the dash was checked and it good. The 30 fuse in the powerbox under the hood was checked and good.

Guess I should have asked how do you tell if a relay is bad or not? Found them and removed then, and put them back and not sure how to check them.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2008 | 08:06 AM
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There are two more under the other little plastic cover, swap them out with the ESOF ones and check if that fixed the problem. If not, chances are you have a bad shift motor or a bad place in the wiring. You can see the shift motor mounted on top of the transfer case. Unplug the wire and with the ESOF switch in the on position, check for power. If you have it, plug it back and see if it works, if not then it's motor time.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2008 | 03:15 PM
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I found both of those. One of the little boxes for lack of better explanation runs parralel with the truck and the other sits the other way looking side to side. Which ones are the ESOF ones? The ones I pulled out , looked at, and put back in were the ones that run parrallel with the truck closest to the windshield.
 
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Old Jan 17, 2008 | 08:31 PM
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I assume that it is OK to drive this way???
 
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Old Jan 18, 2008 | 07:08 AM
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I'm really not sure which is which. Two are for ESOF and the others are for trailer tow stuff. So unless you are towing, it will be ok to drive.
 
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Old Jan 18, 2008 | 07:54 AM
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Originally Posted by zx250
I'm really not sure which is which. Two are for ESOF and the others are for trailer tow stuff. So unless you are towing, it will be ok to drive.
OK....I will try the swap this evening. I only tow in the summer so I will see what happens.
 
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Old Jan 18, 2008 | 08:14 AM
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I wish I could remember which ones were which. You could also have someone turn the switch while you listen/feel the relays. If they are working, you should be able to tell, if you don't feel anything, then they are not working or you are not getting power to them.
 
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Old Jan 19, 2008 | 10:13 AM
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Update #2--> I swapped all 4 of them around two each to the other spot. I turned on the key and when I turned to swith to 4x4 I could hear a small motor turning on and off and on and off, etc from what sounded more like the drivers side of the truck. I know it was NOT the vacumm pump as I know its sound and where it is located. Was this motor the shift motor maybe?

None the less, 4x4 still did not engage and did not show up on the dash indicator.

Thoughts for the next step?
 
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Old Jan 19, 2008 | 03:58 PM
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Same symptoms as mine, here was my solution a while back

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...xxxxxxxed.html
 
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