I hate to just post without scouring the threads, but I am time crunching big time. I have two young children and they require and deserve a lot of attention.

I am really sorry if I posted this in the wrong place. I will change it if notified.

I finally got back into the cool truck game several days ago after going over 15 years owning vehicles with less than 33" tires.

I bought a 2000 f250 supeduty with 8" lift and 38" Mickey MTZs 3 days ago. I finally got to take my wife to the beach with both kids this morning and it was great until I had to get a guy with a Chevrolet to pull me out.

IT WAS LIKE A COMMERCIAL FOR CHEVEROLET! My huge jacked up F250 pulled out by a little chevrolet... so sad.

I know how to drive on the beach, so I am not a complete idiot. I have been doing it for years with vehicles with much smaller tires.

The front tires would not engage the 4wd. I tried everything.

The 4x4 light was on. Someone even said the drive shaft was turning. I even tried 4 lo after using neutral to switch to it.

I tried putting the locking hubs in different positions and I tried the hubs in full clockwise several times and full counter clockwise several times. I rocked the truck back and forth 'cause I had to keep digging the tires in sand to to try to spin the fronts.

Man, any help would be great. It had to be a Chevy to pull me out. My wife will be ragging me for six months.

I will probably end up taking it in, but I really wanted to see what you guys would say on the forum.

thanks again in advance...

 

ESOF or manual T-case?

If you have ESOF (the switch on the dash rather than the lever in the floor) it sounds like you may have a vacuum issue. Can you get air out of any vents other than the defroster? If you can't get normal air flow out of anything but the defroster then it is definitely a vacuum issue.

 

I know of this issue and there is no 5 minute fix as i know. You bought a 9 year old truck and its been posted many times how the auto hubs go out (seals around hub, switch, soleniod). I have auto hubs also and will change them out in a few years.

 

Awesome guys. That was a quick reply. I am getting air. I will note your issues and do my best to respond when (VERY SOON) I get it fixed.

 

If the drive shaft was turning, then it has to be a problem with the hubs. What I find strange is that the hubs would not engage when you manually turned them to "Lock." Something must be malfunctioning with the hub itself.

Sounds like it's time for a good quality set of Warn manual locking hubs.

This, of course, assumes the transfer case was engaged.

 

Hmmm... I ordered the Haynes manual. I used that with my '84 Bonco and it was great guide. Do you guys think that manual will give good instructions for hub replacement?

Are those Warn hubs really good? I have been out of this so long. I am such a noob again...

One more dumb question: Would the front drive shaft turn if the front wheels were rolling, or is it disengaged completely with the 4wd is off?

 

Try this. Keep your T-Case in 2wd and put the hubs in the locked position.

Drive the truck forward slowly. Have someone look and see if the front driveshaft is spinning. Theoretically the front driveshaft should spin if the hubs are engaged regardless of whether the t-case is engaged.

Now if the t-case is engaged and the hubs are not you will see the front driveshaft spin, but the front wheels will not get power to them.

It's really a pretty simple system. If it's not the t-case it's the hubs. If it's not the hubs it's the t-case.

If the hubs will not engage and the t-case is in neutral the front driveshaft should not be spinning at all.

Now before someone jumps on me: When I am talking about the t-case being engaged I mean engaged in 4wd.

 

It sounds like 1 hub is not engaging when you turn the dial clockwise. I would do a clean-up and greasing of the hubs before going any further. (It's pretty easy to do).

 

Wow, I get it... I will try it.

So the hubs are locking the 4wd power to the wheels.

Either way (4wd or hubs) you are engaging the shaft. Without the 4wd engaged, or teh hubs locked the shaft will not spin? Wow. I got it if that's right.

 

If the transfer case is engaged the shaft will spin. However you will get no power to the front wheels if the hubs are not engaged.

The shaft will not spin if the transfer case is not engaged.

 

I'd do this. Even if it ends up not being the issue, it's good to do anyway.
Welcome to guzzle's 4x4 Autolock Hub Lubrication Maintenance Web Page

 

Wow, those were great instructions baja.


when talking about the t case being engaged, you simply mean putting it in 4x4 right. I know it seems to be a stupid question, but I am trying to make sure i am not confused.

 

Yes I mean putting it in 4x4.

If your truck is a diesel stop down by the 99-03 7.3L PowerStroke forums. Those guys will have you fixed up in no time flat.

 

Thanks Rocket. You have been a big help. It's gas, so I guess I'll stick here.

I told my brother-in-law what you guys said, and he told me to bring it by the fire station (he's at work today) to see what he can tell.

I am going to do it this afternoon. I will let you know what we discover.

 

From the description
- Shaft was turning ( so the t-case was locked)
- Tried the hubs locked and unlocked (assuming that you tried locked on both sides
at the same time )
Easy way to tell if the hubs lock is to turn the **** to 4x4 and then make a sharp
turn, you will feel it in the steering wheel of they lock. Other suggestion was great
to of locking the hubs by hand and the moving the truck and have someone (safely)
see if the shaft is turning.

Just try one step at a time to narrow it down... Also verify that the t-case really does
engage. May be just a sticky hub as was mentioned also.