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4x4lo light

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Old Oct 3, 2009 | 08:40 PM
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4x4lo light

i have a 1997 expedition 5.4 and when i try to put it in 4lo the light never comes on. i can hear it switch and everything but i really cant tell a difference between 4hi and 4lo when driving. is the 4lo light a completely different light?
 
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Old Oct 3, 2009 | 10:43 PM
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Yes, 4 low is a different light. However I'd say you're not even shifting in to 4 low because there's a defendant noticeable difference between 4 hi and 4 low.
 
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 09:36 AM
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ya thats what i thought. so what would be the problem how would i go about fixing this problem.
 
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 09:40 AM
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The most common problem is a bad shift motor on the transfer case, it looks like this.

 
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 12:35 PM
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Originally Posted by boeamos
i have a 1997 expedition 5.4 and when i try to put it in 4lo the light never comes on.
You have to be in neutral to switch between 4WDH and 4WDL.
 
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 04:27 PM
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Originally Posted by alloro
You have to be in neutral to switch between 4WDH and 4WDL.
I guess I was under the impression he knew that. Could very well be his problem. This is from your owners manual.

Shifting from4Hto 4L(and 4L
to 4H)
1. Bring the vehicle to a stop.
2. Depress the brake.
3. Place the gearshift in N
(Neutral).
4. Move the 4WD control to the 4H
(or 4L) position.

Here's your owners manual if you don't have one. http://www.motorcraftservice.com/pub.../97exdog1e.pdf
 
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 05:27 PM
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Originally Posted by madsonp
I guess I was under the impression he knew that.
Maybe he does know it, or forgot about it. Either way I just figured I'd make sure the obvious was covered.
 
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Old Oct 5, 2009 | 08:24 AM
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ya thanks guys i know about putting it in neutral when switching between the two. i also have a 86 FS eddie bauer bronco. i hate the electrical switches i just want to pull the lever and it go in gear.
 
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Old Oct 5, 2009 | 09:19 AM
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Originally Posted by boeamos
i hate the electrical switches i just want to pull the lever and it go in gear.
You mean like in the good old days where you had to get out of the nice warm cab and go stepping through the snowbank to lock in your front hubs? No thanks!
 
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Old Oct 5, 2009 | 04:49 PM
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Originally Posted by boeamos
ya thanks guys i know about putting it in neutral when switching between the two. i also have a 86 FS eddie bauer bronco. i hate the electrical switches i just want to pull the lever and it go in gear.
Well, I'd say we're probably back to the shift motor then. Here's a few things you can try or check before getting a new motor. I've heard of some people able to get them working by tapping on it, or loosening the bolts on it. You can try that first and see if that does anything. Also check the wires at the connector on your neutral safety switch, I had a couple of wires broke by what I suspected were rocks being kicked up underneath my vehicle that resulted in mine not switching into 4 low. This switch is on the drivers side, about halfway down the tranny right next to the pan. Here's a thread I wrote about what I found.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ow-issues.html
 
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Old Oct 5, 2009 | 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by madsonp
Here's a thread I wrote about what I found.
Did you ever install the shield around the switch and connector?
 
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Old Oct 5, 2009 | 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted by alloro
Did you ever install the shield around the switch and connector?
Nope, not yet, I haven't had time to fab it up, and now it's snowing here. It's on my project list, one of many. It's kind of low priority at the moment, because the wife's been bugging me to get back to work finishing off the basement. Gotta keep them happy you know.
 
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Old Oct 5, 2009 | 07:00 PM
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Originally Posted by madsonp
Gotta keep them happy you know.
How happy is she gonna be when she's stuck in a snowbank without 4WD?
 
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Old Oct 5, 2009 | 07:44 PM
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Originally Posted by alloro
How happy is she gonna be when she's stuck in a snowbank without 4WD?
She doesn't drive mine, she has her own, and I checked hers out also, and hers looked fine. I still did the wire loom fix like I did on mine, but she drives much slower than me so I find it unlikely she'll have the same problem.
 
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Old Oct 6, 2009 | 07:29 AM
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Originally Posted by madsonp
I checked hers out also, and hers looked fine.
Are we still talking about the truck?
 
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