4x4 Help Please
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
4x4 Help Please
I have a 1997 Ford f-150 and the 4x4 does not work.I put the truck up off the ground and put it in 4 wheel and then looked and the front shaft spins but the light does not go on and the front wheels do not spin.I was told that it is my vaccum lines but the ones that run to the firewall are hooked up and are getting good vaccum but it still does not engage does anybody know what the problem might be?
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Sorry I am not to mechanically enclined when it comes to 4 wheel Basically when I shift it into 4 hi or low it goes in gear and in 4 low it feels like it is working with the low gear pull but the light does not come on and the front wheels do not spin but the front shaft does.
Thanks for you trying to help
Thanks for you trying to help
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 11,496
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
You need to check the vacuum shift motor on the front axle as ranger88a suggested. If that motor does not engage the axle, you will not have 4X4. There have been a number of threads on that so you can look around and see what others have encountered.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 1
I had a similiar problem and the dealer said that the "4 wheel shifting fork" was bent (I'm not a mechanic just telling what I was told) because I had shifted it into 4wh when I was going to fast. This was when they were running the ad with the f150 on a race track and shifting it into 4w. Got it fixed and now stop everytime I want to put into 4 w anything.
2003 f150 4x4 Xlt Spr cab 5.4
Builder
2003 f150 4x4 Xlt Spr cab 5.4
Builder
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 727
Likes: 0
From: north shore, minnesota
There is an aluminum shift fork on the front axle by the vaccum shift motor that is likely broken.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 727
Likes: 0
From: north shore, minnesota
No actually it's not. I've only done one of them but it was actually pretty easy and the shift fork is a cheesy cheap piece of aluminum.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 727
Likes: 0
From: north shore, minnesota
When a 4WD range is selected, a vacuum shift motor on the front axle engages the differential with the right axleshaft via a shift lever which moves a shift fork which slides a coupler cluster gear, meshing it with a cluster gear shaft.
1. Raise vehicle and support with jackstands
2. Remove shift motor cover.
3. There are 2 vacuum lines to the shift motor diaphragm. Disconnect the line from the inner port hook up a vacuum pump in it's place. Apply 10 inches of vacuum and watch the shift lever. If it moves freely the vaccum shift motor is working properly.
4. If vaccum is holding and the shift lever doesn't move, the problem is something binding in the shift fork and mechanism or a clogged vaccum port.
5. If vaccum does not hold, the vaccum motor is faulty - replace it.
1. Raise vehicle and support with jackstands
2. Remove shift motor cover.
3. There are 2 vacuum lines to the shift motor diaphragm. Disconnect the line from the inner port hook up a vacuum pump in it's place. Apply 10 inches of vacuum and watch the shift lever. If it moves freely the vaccum shift motor is working properly.
4. If vaccum is holding and the shift lever doesn't move, the problem is something binding in the shift fork and mechanism or a clogged vaccum port.
5. If vaccum does not hold, the vaccum motor is faulty - replace it.
