transfer case stuck in low
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transfer case stuck in low
I was driving down the road at about 55mph and my truck felt like it went into neutral. Hit the gas and revved the engine. Stopped, put in park and truck kept rolling. Got on level ground backed up, went forward, shifted 4wd in and was able to go. the transfer case is now stuck in low. got underneath the truck and the driveshaft going into the tcase is turning, could this be the tcase motor? or is it something else in the tcase? also, the 4wd is not engaged in the wheels, just in the t-case. any suggestions would be helpful. by the way, the truck is 1998 ford f150 4.6
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maybe this is a better description. i should have said that you could turn the drive shaft going into the t-case not that it was going by itself.
I have a 98 f150 4X4 off road package manual shift transfer case. this weekend i was driving at 55mph and my truck shifted into neutral without touching a gear shift i was going down a hill when this happened so i stoped put it in park so i could check things out and it started rolling down the hill. i got back in and put truck in 4-lo to see if trans case would engage, and it did then tried to put it back in 2-wd hubs came unlocked but i was still in low range, i keep thinking about the transfer case motor, but what would have caused it to shift into neutral at 55mph
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I have a 98 f150 4X4 off road package manual shift transfer case. this weekend i was driving at 55mph and my truck shifted into neutral without touching a gear shift i was going down a hill when this happened so i stoped put it in park so i could check things out and it started rolling down the hill. i got back in and put truck in 4-lo to see if trans case would engage, and it did then tried to put it back in 2-wd hubs came unlocked but i was still in low range, i keep thinking about the transfer case motor, but what would have caused it to shift into neutral at 55mph
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there is a motor looking thing on passenger side of the tansfer case that hooks on to the shift linkage i got under and tapped on it anf got my transfer case into neutral. tried to put it back in 2wd and it would not go. it would let me go into 4wd low and when i put it 2wd the hubs unlock but the transfercase stays in low range
"Mifflin Clay"
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,177
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From: Mifflin, PA
If the hubs lock and unlock by themselves, you have ESOF. Do you have a switch on the dash to select 2WD/4WD? If so it's ESOF.
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somthing simiar happened to me. it was because the shift fork in the transfer case wore out and allowed it to shift into neatral by its self. Try draining the oil out of the transfer case and see if theres anything in it.
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Joined: Apr 2021
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maybe this is a better description. i should have said that you could turn the drive shaft going into the t-case not that it was going by itself.
I have a 98 f150 4X4 off road package manual shift transfer case. this weekend i was driving at 55mph and my truck shifted into neutral without touching a gear shift i was going down a hill when this happened so i stoped put it in park so i could check things out and it started rolling down the hill. i got back in and put truck in 4-lo to see if trans case would engage, and it did then tried to put it back in 2-wd hubs came unlocked but i was still in low range, i keep thinking about the transfer case motor, but what would have caused it to shift into neutral at 55mph
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I have a 98 f150 4X4 off road package manual shift transfer case. this weekend i was driving at 55mph and my truck shifted into neutral without touching a gear shift i was going down a hill when this happened so i stoped put it in park so i could check things out and it started rolling down the hill. i got back in and put truck in 4-lo to see if trans case would engage, and it did then tried to put it back in 2-wd hubs came unlocked but i was still in low range, i keep thinking about the transfer case motor, but what would have caused it to shift into neutral at 55mph
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did you ever figure out what the problem was? My 98 4.6 with manual shift Tcase seems like it’s stuck in 4low. You can move the shifter around and changes lights on dash but truck is actually still in 4low. I was driving down road and felt like truck went into neutral. Inspected shift linkage for transmission even tooo linkage off and went through PRND21 by hand and it would shift but wouldn’t move. Hopped back up into cab and messed with 4WD shifter and finally got truck to move. But like I said no matter where 4wd shifter is at, (2H,4H,N,4LO) Tcase stays in 4low.
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maybe this is a better description. i should have said that you could turn the drive shaft going into the t-case not that it was going by itself.
I have a 98 f150 4X4 off road package manual shift transfer case. this weekend i was driving at 55mph and my truck shifted into neutral without touching a gear shift i was going down a hill when this happened so i stoped put it in park so i could check things out and it started rolling down the hill. i got back in and put truck in 4-lo to see if trans case would engage, and it did then tried to put it back in 2-wd hubs came unlocked but i was still in low range, i keep thinking about the transfer case motor, but what would have caused it to shift into neutral at 55mph
<!-- / message -->
I have a 98 f150 4X4 off road package manual shift transfer case. this weekend i was driving at 55mph and my truck shifted into neutral without touching a gear shift i was going down a hill when this happened so i stoped put it in park so i could check things out and it started rolling down the hill. i got back in and put truck in 4-lo to see if trans case would engage, and it did then tried to put it back in 2-wd hubs came unlocked but i was still in low range, i keep thinking about the transfer case motor, but what would have caused it to shift into neutral at 55mph
<!-- / message -->
did you ever figure out what the problem was? My 98 4.6 with manual shift Tcase seems like it’s stuck in 4low. You can move the shifter around and changes lights on dash but truck is actually still in 4low. I was driving down road and felt like truck went into neutral. Inspected shift linkage for transmission even tooo linkage off and went through PRND21 by hand and it would shift but wouldn’t move. Hopped back up into cab and messed with 4WD shifter and finally got truck to move. But like I said no matter where 4wd shifter is at, (2H,4H,N,4LO) Tcase stays in 4low.
New User
Joined: Apr 2021
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I don’t know much about ford transfer cases but I’m fairly mechanically inclined. How big of a job is it to rebuild one? Or would it be more efficient to get a used/new one. I have about 3700 in truck
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 31
From: Winnipeg
It's not too hard to do. Just take lots of pictures from different angles as you disassemble. helps for reassembly or when a piece falls on the floor. Use care and take pics as you split the case and separate. Don't forget to buy case adhesive to reseal the two haves back together. There might be a service manual download still available here that may have the rebuild procedure.
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Joined: Apr 2021
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It's not too hard to do. Just take lots of pictures from different angles as you disassemble. helps for reassembly or when a piece falls on the floor. Use care and take pics as you split the case and separate. Don't forget to buy case adhesive to reseal the two haves back together. There might be a service manual download still available here that may have the rebuild procedure.
Thank y’all for the reply! I appreciate it, would you know where to find the rebuild procedure on here as I’m new to this site as well?