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Can someone help (4-low)

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Old Sep 21, 2008 | 04:56 PM
  #1  
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Can someone help (4-low)

Unfortuatly my truck has the worthless ESOF system, Im about to pull my hair out with this thing, The problem is that it sometimes doesnt want to go into 4-low (at all) or if I finally get it to go in, it will take me like 10 minutes to get it back out. Or sometimes it will work perfectly. I know the correct procedure for putting it in, and ive tried every other way possible. I just put a brand new shift motor on the transfer case and this didnt help. Changed the fluid as well. Its almost like theres a bad connection somewhere, Ive messed with the connectors on the motor and that doesnt do anything, is there a relay or something that could be messed up?? Anyone have any ideas??? Thanks for any help.
 
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Old Sep 21, 2008 | 05:31 PM
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Some of my trucks are stubborn....but the following method always works for me:

Foot on Brake
Truck in Park
Turn **** to 4x4 lo from 4x4 hi
Shift truck to Neutral (keeping foot on brake).

Goes right in or out anytime I do that.
 
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Old Sep 21, 2008 | 05:53 PM
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It could be the Solenoid going out for the 4LO.
 
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Old Sep 21, 2008 | 06:31 PM
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Originally Posted by jdecker88
It could be the Solenoid going out for the 4LO.
Any idea where that is??
 
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Old Sep 21, 2008 | 06:44 PM
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Not a clue I have been told a few times that if your 4Lo has been having alot of trouble engaging the Solenoid could be going out and if so the part is 500 dollars.
 
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Old Sep 21, 2008 | 07:08 PM
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Adam,

I was having a problem engaging 4x4L in my 99. 4x4H worked fine. I have two relays under the hood for 4x4H and 4x4L. I swamped the relays, they are identical, but still had a problem. I bench tested the relays and they operated fine and had good continuity through the make contacts. I cleaned the spade terminals and when I put them back in 4x4H & L engaged. I know all your fuses and relays are under dash. I looked in an online user's manual for a 2002 and none of the relay designations were listed but there are a bunch on them on the diagram. Must be some secret chit so you have to go to the dealer. You may have a bad relay, unfortunately I can't tell you which relay.
 
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Old Sep 21, 2008 | 08:11 PM
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Thanks Robin, Ill try messing around with the relays and see what happens.


Justin, I believe the solenoid is the shift motor, sometimes its called a shift motor, sometimes called a shift solenoid... I think...?
 
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Old Sep 21, 2008 | 09:06 PM
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it could be your switch. mine is all jacked too. vac leaks and what not. but mine was hard to get in and out of 4 hi and 4 lo. i tried to get an esof switch at the parts store and no go gotta go to ford still havent replaced mine yet. good luck
 
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Old Sep 21, 2008 | 09:27 PM
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I was going to mention small vacume leak... Or my buddies truck did the same thing He thought it was out of 4wd it was stuck in between or something weird. Final result was the truck hitting 4 low on it own on the freeway at about 60mph... Big boom and shi*t was flying everywhere. it granaded the t-case and blew the drive line off... I would get it fixed ASAP... Good luck!
 
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Old Sep 21, 2008 | 11:23 PM
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Originally Posted by DCSpecial
Some of my trucks are stubborn....but the following method always works for me:

Foot on Brake
Truck in Park
Turn **** to 4x4 lo from 4x4 hi
Shift truck to Neutral (keeping foot on brake).

Goes right in or out anytime I do that.
Wow, same here, to the letter. Every time.
 
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Old Sep 22, 2008 | 08:45 AM
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Vacumn only controls the hubs right?? It doenst have anything to do with the 4low engaging would it?? My 4x4 works fine.
 
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Old Sep 22, 2008 | 12:30 PM
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Yor're right Adam. The vacumn is only for engaging the hubs.
 
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Old Sep 22, 2008 | 07:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Powerstrokedlariat
Wow, same here, to the letter. Every time.

Yep, my 01 F-350 and 99 F-150 will not go in 4x4 lo unless I do it that way.


My 07 F-350 occasionally will go in without shifting to neutral....and never tried to put the 05 F-150 in 4x4 lo.
 
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Old Sep 22, 2008 | 08:52 PM
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I had an 2004 with the 6.0 before my 7.3 and the 4-Low worked great on that thing, I could be on a hill or whatever, it always went in and out great. Its been a nightmare on this 02.
 
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Old Sep 22, 2008 | 08:56 PM
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I take it, you've already tried the shifting from park into neutral when you do turn the ****?
 
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