Auto hub operation
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 65
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From: CT shore
Auto hub operation
Searching turned up a lot of hub posts but I can't find an answer. most likely because this is very basic but...
06 f-250 with lock out hubs. I drove all summer with them in Auto.
In Auto the other day in snow, I start to slip so I switch, on the dash, to 4x4 high. Truck now pulls right out, 4 wheel drive working...
that got me thinking, I turned the hubs to lock and it also seems to work. There is no difference between auto and lock when the dash selector is in 4x4.
To me, auto is really off or disengaged...no? Are my hubs froze engaged? They turn good but I always thought that if I'm in Auto, and I put it in 4x4, the 4 wheel drive should not engage...or am I wrong.?
and I've lost the owners manual ....lol
06 f-250 with lock out hubs. I drove all summer with them in Auto.
In Auto the other day in snow, I start to slip so I switch, on the dash, to 4x4 high. Truck now pulls right out, 4 wheel drive working...
that got me thinking, I turned the hubs to lock and it also seems to work. There is no difference between auto and lock when the dash selector is in 4x4.
To me, auto is really off or disengaged...no? Are my hubs froze engaged? They turn good but I always thought that if I'm in Auto, and I put it in 4x4, the 4 wheel drive should not engage...or am I wrong.?
and I've lost the owners manual ....lol
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
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From: Stephensville WI
If the truck pulls to the right while 4H is engaged, most likely the left front hub is NOT locking while in automatic. This is confirmed when you lock the hubs manually and you do not have a pull to the right.
Look for a vacuum leak.
When in auto, the hubs should automatically engage when you flip the switch to a 4 wheel drive setting. The light in the dash only means the electric motor has shifted the transfer case.
Look for a vacuum leak.
When in auto, the hubs should automatically engage when you flip the switch to a 4 wheel drive setting. The light in the dash only means the electric motor has shifted the transfer case.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 617
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From: Washington,KS/Lincoln,NE
redford is correct. In the lock position, the hubs are engaged all the time. In the auto position they are supposed to lock only when called for by switching to 4WD on the dash. When switched back to 2WD the hubs should unlock in the auto mode, but stay locked in the lock mode.
The lock mode on the hub is for tough driving conditions such as mud, where you don't want to have to wait for the hubs to lock to start pulling.
The lock mode on the hub is for tough driving conditions such as mud, where you don't want to have to wait for the hubs to lock to start pulling.
Last edited by Larry NCKS; Jan 3, 2010 at 09:53 PM. Reason: typo
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 65
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From: CT shore
Okay, it does disengage when going into 2wd so I think I'm okay.
Sorry bout the duplicate posts, the original post would not submit and I had to hit "try again" That, evidently was the reason.. PCs slow..
Sorry bout the duplicate posts, the original post would not submit and I had to hit "try again" That, evidently was the reason.. PCs slow..
FTE Legend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,918
Likes: 178
From: Princeton, BC
Searching turned up a lot of hub posts but I can't find an answer. most likely because this is very basic but...
06 f-250 with lock out hubs. I drove all summer with them in Auto.
In Auto the other day in snow, I start to slip so I switch, on the dash, to 4x4 high. Truck now pulls right out, 4 wheel drive working...
that got me thinking, I turned the hubs to lock and it also seems to work. There is no difference between auto and lock when the dash selector is in 4x4.
To me, auto is really off or disengaged...no? Are my hubs froze engaged? They turn good but I always thought that if I'm in Auto, and I put it in 4x4, the 4 wheel drive should not engage...or am I wrong.?
and I've lost the owners manual ....lol
06 f-250 with lock out hubs. I drove all summer with them in Auto.
In Auto the other day in snow, I start to slip so I switch, on the dash, to 4x4 high. Truck now pulls right out, 4 wheel drive working...
that got me thinking, I turned the hubs to lock and it also seems to work. There is no difference between auto and lock when the dash selector is in 4x4.
To me, auto is really off or disengaged...no? Are my hubs froze engaged? They turn good but I always thought that if I'm in Auto, and I put it in 4x4, the 4 wheel drive should not engage...or am I wrong.?
and I've lost the owners manual ....lol
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 617
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From: Washington,KS/Lincoln,NE
That's incorrect. Go back and read my earlier reply.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,918
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From: Princeton, BC
What I meant to say is when in auto and you turn the switch on the dash. Which I believe is exacty what you said earlier.
I read your earlier reply and was in my mind basically agreeing with you.
I read your earlier reply and was in my mind basically agreeing with you.
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Lead Driver
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From: Wheatland, Mo
What LARYYNKCS said....Auto...unlocks when the switch is in 2Wd. Locks when in 4WD
LOCK...locked all the time wether you have the switch in 2wd or 4wd.
The switch also engages the T-case to the front axels when turned on.
If you are having issues with the hubs not locking in AUTO, turn on your heater to the FEET position, then turn the switch to 4wd...wait a few seconds and if your heater swithes to DEFROST on it's own, you have a vacuum leak in your hubs or the vacuum lines to the hubs.
LOCK...locked all the time wether you have the switch in 2wd or 4wd.
The switch also engages the T-case to the front axels when turned on.
If you are having issues with the hubs not locking in AUTO, turn on your heater to the FEET position, then turn the switch to 4wd...wait a few seconds and if your heater swithes to DEFROST on it's own, you have a vacuum leak in your hubs or the vacuum lines to the hubs.
New User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 21
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What LARYYNKCS said....Auto...unlocks when the switch is in 2Wd. Locks when in 4WD
LOCK...locked all the time wether you have the switch in 2wd or 4wd.
The switch also engages the T-case to the front axels when turned on.
If you are having issues with the hubs not locking in AUTO, turn on your heater to the FEET position, then turn the switch to 4wd...wait a few seconds and if your heater swithes to DEFROST on it's own, you have a vacuum leak in your hubs or the vacuum lines to the hubs.
LOCK...locked all the time wether you have the switch in 2wd or 4wd.
The switch also engages the T-case to the front axels when turned on.
If you are having issues with the hubs not locking in AUTO, turn on your heater to the FEET position, then turn the switch to 4wd...wait a few seconds and if your heater swithes to DEFROST on it's own, you have a vacuum leak in your hubs or the vacuum lines to the hubs.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 7
From: WV
In Auto the other day in snow, I start to slip so I switch, on the dash, to 4x4 high. Truck now pulls right out, 4 wheel drive working...
that got me thinking, I turned the hubs to lock and it also seems to work. There is no difference between auto and lock when the dash selector is in 4x4.
To me, auto is really off or disengaged...no? Are my hubs froze engaged? They turn good but I always thought that if I'm in Auto, and I put it in 4x4, the 4 wheel drive should not engage...or am I wrong.?
and I've lost the owners manual ....lol
that got me thinking, I turned the hubs to lock and it also seems to work. There is no difference between auto and lock when the dash selector is in 4x4.
To me, auto is really off or disengaged...no? Are my hubs froze engaged? They turn good but I always thought that if I'm in Auto, and I put it in 4x4, the 4 wheel drive should not engage...or am I wrong.?
and I've lost the owners manual ....lolI think he was saying that the automatic hubs were working as in "it pulled right out" as opposed to "it was pulling to the right".....?
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
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From: Long Island USA
The "LOCK" position on the hubs is in case you are stuck and unable to move, or the auto-locking function is not working. The hubs usually need to be rotating to auto-lock. In other words, it's "shift on the fly" for a reason. You have to be moving to get the auto-lock hubs to lock.
If for some reason, you can not move, manually lock them, turn the **** on the dash to 4x4, and you have 4x4 without being "on the fly".
If for some reason, you can not move, manually lock them, turn the **** on the dash to 4x4, and you have 4x4 without being "on the fly".
New User
Joined: Jan 2010
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I have a 05 f250 4x4, if the auto-lock function is not working and the hubs are not turnable by hand the hubs are probably gunked up. Take the center cap off the rim, pull out the hub out(three screws), saturate the spring in the hub with some type of WD-40, clean excess, apply grease and re-install. I do it every season due to gunk getting in there. ford wants 175.00 per hub. This fixes alot of hubs and saves alot of money Your truck should work with them locked for 4x4, but if those springs and such are gunked up the auto will not lock properly. Those hubs are meant to turn freely by hand if they are in good working order.