97 Transfer case going crazy

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Jun 4, 2009 | 10:08 AM

stevejeri

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97 Transfer case going crazy

When I start my truck, there is a clicking noise for about 10 seconds behind where the 4x4 light is on the dash, and sometimes the 4x4 light stays lit, sometimes not. Then when I put it in gear, (auto trans) sometimes it does fine, sometimes it is in neutral and if I try to put it back in park it grinds unless I turn it off first, so transfer case is going into neutral by itself. Sometimes driving down the road and let off gas, truck goes into neutral and I have to stop, turn it off, restart. So, I was wondering if a relay or switch was going out causing it to shift into neutral by itself, or if something was just loose, or if a vacuum hose was leaking, or if it was something else all together.

Thanks for any help.

Jun 6, 2009 | 05:32 AM

stevejeri

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It is a '97 F-150 with a 4.6L auto trans.

Jun 8, 2009 | 10:48 AM

Prozon

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From: Olympia

I've never heard of that happening. I'd suggest checking vacume lines though. Maybe you should just buy a better truck.

Jun 8, 2009 | 06:00 PM

guitarnik

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From: foristell, missouri

dont knock another mans rig!!! if you can park the truck for a few days i would tell you to drop the t-case and crack it open. i have a manual t-case that would sometimes feel like it was in nuetral. what happened was that the shift forks got wore out and so it wasnt keeping it in gear. i think the previous owner ran it out of fluid???? you might just checked your fluid level first.....i dunno i dunno how the autos work but if its hydraulic it might mess it up if its low on fluid

Jun 8, 2009 | 11:04 PM

9.ford.5

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From: raymond alberta

yeah i dont know much about push button t-cases but that sounds like a shift fork problem to me...or some sort of sending unit ?

Jun 9, 2009 | 05:08 PM

stevejeri

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Thanks for the input. I have noticed it doesn't do it when I first start the truck in the morning, but after I drive it for awhile and it warms up I guess, it starts doing it. I already changed the fluid in it. I don't know how the previous owner treated it though.

Thanks for the suggestions though. No one I have talked to has ever heard of one doing this.

Jun 9, 2009 | 11:48 PM

9.ford.5

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From: raymond alberta

when you changed the fluid did you notice any excessive metal in the oil or on the plug? this would tell you something is definitely worn out in there and could be the problem