I bought a 2004 F-350 that has manual hubs and also has the manual shifter on the floor. The 4x4 light does not come on when it is in 4WD. Before tearing the dash out and checking the bulb, would there be any other reason why the light would not come on?

 

I believe there is a switch at the transfer case that is activated when you switch into 4x4.
Test the switch. Check fuse, wiring etc. The dash bulb should be that hard to replace. If you pull the instrument cluster might just as well change all the bulbs too. Good luck
Jeff

 

There is a switch at the transfer case. It should have two wires. It grounds one for the 4x4 light, and the other for the 4x4LOW light.

If you remove the connector, with the engine running, ground one and then the other. Either light should come on as you ground the appropriate wire.

If they don't, it's most likely the bulbs (or a wiring issue). If they do, replace the switch.

 

A 2004 should have the computerized dash module. The lights should come on momentarily as a test when you start the truck. Or there is a test procedure that involves holding the odometer reset button down while turning the key to run. Hold the button down until you see the odomoter say "test". Then each push of the button will cause it to cycle through a series of tests. One of the first two or three the odometer will read "bulb" and all the indicator lights will come on.

Somewhere there is a post with probably a better write up of the dash module test procedure, perhaps someone who knows can point you to it. It is a good way to tell if the problem is a bulb, or if the problem is in the switch or wiring, etc.

 

Dave, even with the manual 4x4, they do the electronic module too?

 

I can't say for sure, Art. However, I'm assuming the module is the same. It would make sense. Diagrams for ESOF show simply two wires going to the console display module, power goes onto one for "4x4" and one for "Low". The module looks for power on those two wires and lights the appropriate lights. I'm assuming the same thing happens with the manual 4x4, except the power comes from a switch on the transfer case, and not the 4WD Control Module. It would make sense, to me anyway.

 

OK, I got one part of it wrong. The 4WD Control module does have two wires going directly to the Instrument Cluster. It grounds one wire to turn on the "4x4" indicator light, and grounds the other wire to turn on the "Low" indicator light.

I'd be willing to bet that the console in manual shift models is the same, but takes it's ground signals from the switch on the transfer case, just like Art said in his first post.

I'd also be willing to bet that the test procedure I described would work with either ESOF or manual shift systems.

 

Hate to dig up an old thread as my first post, but I've been searching for a few days across many sites and can't seem to find an answer. This seems to be narrowing in on what im looking for so i thought id piggyback off it.

Im nearly completed with my 4wd swap on my 2006 f250. Used a manual setup, and my question is where do i wire in the indicator light off of the transfer case?