4L problem
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 223
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From: southeast texas
4L problem
Hey fellas, i have a buddy with an '07 F-250 cc swb 4x4 w/ 50,000 miles and NO mods on it except for 33x12.50's and it doesnt want to go into 4L. 4H goes in fine. He rarely ever uses 4wd and baby's this truck. We tried dropping it in gear and turning it in 4L and throwing it back in neutral and it will work but makes a bad clunkin. any ideas on what may be causing this? thanks for the help guys.
Senior User
Joined: May 2007
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From: Central Texas
While in 4H, I go to neutral, step on the break, and shift to 4L. I will here a small clunk noise when 4L engages but nothing after the shift is complete. Are you stopping and shifting into neutral befor going to 4L?
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Ohio
Moved to Super Duty
Going to assume he has ESOF on his truck. Where is the noise coming from, front hubs or transfer case? Has anything been checked out so far as to oil levels? Vacuum pump working?
Going to assume he has ESOF on his truck. Where is the noise coming from, front hubs or transfer case? Has anything been checked out so far as to oil levels? Vacuum pump working?
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: southeast texas
yes it has ESOF and always gets put in neutral before engaging 4wd. The noise i was referring to was it finally engaging after trying to let it slip in slowly after putting it in drive and letting off the brake barely to get it to roll and then switching the esof to 4L and throwing it in neutral right away.
and its comming from the transfer case, have not checked vacuum since 4H is working without issues. Do they work seperately?
and its comming from the transfer case, have not checked vacuum since 4H is working without issues. Do they work seperately?
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: southeast texas
I dont get it?
Does anybody know what may be wrong with the 4L problem?
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: S CAL
Only the front hubs use vacume to lock them in. The transfer case gets power from a
4X4 module or sometimes referred to as the GEM module. This power goes to a motor on the transfer case which then will shift it to the different modes like 4H and 4L. There is also a encoder that is used to determine when it is in the correct position. I would check the wiring going to the transfer case and make sure nothing has snagged on it and chaffed or pulled something loose. When the shift motor reaches the correct position for 4L and the front and rear output shafts are synchronized then the lockup is mechanical from that point.
4X4 module or sometimes referred to as the GEM module. This power goes to a motor on the transfer case which then will shift it to the different modes like 4H and 4L. There is also a encoder that is used to determine when it is in the correct position. I would check the wiring going to the transfer case and make sure nothing has snagged on it and chaffed or pulled something loose. When the shift motor reaches the correct position for 4L and the front and rear output shafts are synchronized then the lockup is mechanical from that point.
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Scio, OR
I have a manual transmission and not an automatic, but the transfer case is the same. You need to be in neutral with your foot on the brake enough to activate the Brake Pedal Position switch before the 4x4 module will attempt to shift, but you probably already know that.
I find with mine however, a 2004 with about 50k on it, that most of the time I need a little bit of forward motion before it will shift. So I let it roll a little bit, apply just enough brake pressure to activate the brake switch (it takes very little) and turn the switch and it will drop right in.
You might suggest your friend try this. Allow the truck to roll a little, put it in neutral, then turn the switch. It should drop right in. I suspect the clunking you are hearing is because he is turning the switch then putting it in neutral. It takes a part of a second for the transmission to disengage, so basically the transfer case is shifting while the transmission is still applying power. Which probably isn't a terribly good thing.
I find with mine however, a 2004 with about 50k on it, that most of the time I need a little bit of forward motion before it will shift. So I let it roll a little bit, apply just enough brake pressure to activate the brake switch (it takes very little) and turn the switch and it will drop right in.
You might suggest your friend try this. Allow the truck to roll a little, put it in neutral, then turn the switch. It should drop right in. I suspect the clunking you are hearing is because he is turning the switch then putting it in neutral. It takes a part of a second for the transmission to disengage, so basically the transfer case is shifting while the transmission is still applying power. Which probably isn't a terribly good thing.
Well you posted in the 6.0L engine thread, so I moved you to SuperDuty for a better answer.
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
It's not an issue with the hubs, as 4HI works.
It sounds like the system is just not in the "right spot" when you try to get into 4LOW.
With the brakes applied, and the tranny in neutral, switch from 4HI to 4LOW and see if the servo motor on the transfer case makes any noise.
If possible, you can let it roll slightly while going into 4LOW but it has to be in neutral and your foot on the brake slightly. It WILL make some noise when it shifts in.
It sounds like the system is just not in the "right spot" when you try to get into 4LOW.
With the brakes applied, and the tranny in neutral, switch from 4HI to 4LOW and see if the servo motor on the transfer case makes any noise.
If possible, you can let it roll slightly while going into 4LOW but it has to be in neutral and your foot on the brake slightly. It WILL make some noise when it shifts in.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Stillwater, OK
1) Brake
2) Shift to N
3) Engage 4Hi
4) Engage 4Low
5) Reduce brake pressure. Let the truck roll if it wants, until you hear it engage
6) Hold brake
7) Shift to D
leave it in N when you "let off the brake barely to get it to roll"
2) Shift to N
3) Engage 4Hi
4) Engage 4Low
5) Reduce brake pressure. Let the truck roll if it wants, until you hear it engage
6) Hold brake
7) Shift to D
The noise i was referring to was it finally engaging after trying to let it slip in slowly after putting it in drive and letting off the brake barely to get it to roll