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Troubleshooting help, please--4x4 not working

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Old Jan 12, 2009 | 11:33 PM
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Troubleshooting help, please--4x4 not working

05 Ex, v10, shift on the fly, auto hubs.

When I switch to 4 hi, light comes on, but no traction at the front. Also, no "hopping" when steering is turned tight.

Any good sequence to troubleshoot this?

(I searched, but didn't find anything).
 
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Old Jan 12, 2009 | 11:51 PM
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If you set your hubs manually do they work? Lock not Auto.
 
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Old Jan 12, 2009 | 11:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Move over I'm coming
If you set your hubs manually do they work? Lock not Auto.
Was hoping to avoid that step...I didn't knock out the covers on the front hubs on my new wheels--they fit without removing them; never thought I'd need to lock the hubs manually...

Any other ideas before I have to go pull the front wheels?
 
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Old Jan 12, 2009 | 11:57 PM
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First check to see if you have vacume in the lines at front hubs. Or at a rubber connector upstream from hubs.
If you do then the hubs are leaking, sticking, or binding up.
Clean & service the hubs. Replace the O-ring. Or replace the hub assembly.
if no vacume then trace back.
 
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Old Jan 12, 2009 | 11:59 PM
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Why did I ask that?
I wanted to make sure you didn't have a problem in the transfer case before replacing your hubs.
4x4 works then hub/vacume problem.
 
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Old Jan 13, 2009 | 04:53 AM
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Sit in your truck. Have the heat on full blast on vent. Switch to 4x4Hi. If, within 20 seconds, it switches to defrost, you have a vacuum leak. That was the problem iwth my 4 on the fly, and an easy way to determine if it's vacuum.
 
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Old Jan 13, 2009 | 05:18 AM
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You can tell if your hubs are locking by just reaching behind the front wheels and trying to rotate the axle by hand. If you can turn them, the hubs aren't locking.
 
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Old Jan 13, 2009 | 03:43 PM
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Good tips Jay and Cardiac!!!

Now I've got something to do tonight when I get home.

Thanks!
 
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Old Jan 13, 2009 | 05:39 PM
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Husky, FWIW, I went through this and decided to change out my vacuum hubs to the manual Mile Markers from Summit. It was the easiest thing I've done. Took about 30 minutes, tops. The vacuum line was plugged going to the hubs. Now I know for sure when I lock the hubs, they are locked, and also when I unlock them, they unlock. I no longer have the vacuum seals as a maintenance item.
 
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Old Jan 13, 2009 | 11:38 PM
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Originally Posted by hvacguy
Husky, FWIW, I went through this and decided to change out my vacuum hubs to the manual Mile Markers from Summit. It was the easiest thing I've done. Took about 30 minutes, tops. The vacuum line was plugged going to the hubs. Now I know for sure when I lock the hubs, they are locked, and also when I unlock them, they unlock. I no longer have the vacuum seals as a maintenance item.
Are you still able to "shift on the fly" from 2Hi to 4Hi with the new hubs?

Thanks.
 
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Old Jan 14, 2009 | 12:05 AM
  #11  
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If you change your hubs to any other than OEM you loose the "on the fly" option.
They are manual hubs now.
You can however, leave your manual hubs engaged in bad weather and just use your dash switch for the transfer case engage function.
You will loose some economy as the shafts are turning when locked in.
I would also not switch to 4-wd on the fly with manual hubs.
It would be better to come to a stop then engage so any backlash potential damage is eliminated.
 
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Old Jan 14, 2009 | 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by hvacguy
Husky, FWIW, I went through this and decided to change out my vacuum hubs to the manual Mile Markers from Summit. It was the easiest thing I've done. Took about 30 minutes, tops. The vacuum line was plugged going to the hubs. Now I know for sure when I lock the hubs, they are locked, and also when I unlock them, they unlock. I no longer have the vacuum seals as a maintenance item.
This is exactly what I did after messing around with two pair of new ESOF hubs from Ford. They suck. I love my Mile Markers. Very high quality and very simple to install. I also plugged up the vacuum lines to the hubs.
 
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Old Jan 14, 2009 | 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Move over I'm coming
If you change your hubs to any other than OEM you loose the "on the fly" option.
They are manual hubs now.
You can however, leave your manual hubs engaged in bad weather and just use your dash switch for the transfer case engage function.
You will loose some economy as the shafts are turning when locked in.
I would also not switch to 4-wd on the fly with manual hubs.
It would be better to come to a stop then engage so any backlash potential damage is eliminated.
This is all true, but I would argue that the slight inconvenience of having manual hubs out weights the huge problems you can have with the poorly designed Ford ESOF system used on our Excursions. Also, I do agree with coming to almost a complete stop before engaging the 4x4. You can, however go to 4x2 at any time.
 
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Old Jan 14, 2009 | 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by rlh68050
This is exactly what I did after messing around with two pair of new ESOF hubs from Ford. They suck. I love my Mile Markers. Very high quality and very simple to install. I also plugged up the vacuum lines to the hubs.
Where did you plug your lines at, Rob? I put the Mile Marker hubs on and haven't plugged my lines yet.

Bob
 
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Old Jan 14, 2009 | 09:59 PM
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Originally Posted by JaySVX
Sit in your truck. Have the heat on full blast on vent. Switch to 4x4Hi. If, within 20 seconds, it switches to defrost, you have a vacuum leak. That was the problem iwth my 4 on the fly, and an easy way to determine if it's vacuum.
My 4 wheel drive wasn't working so I tried this after reading it and the 4 wheel drive started working. I was happy. especially after I drove on the roads today.
 
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