I am hearing some noise (Playing cards in spokes) coming from my left front wheel. Usually when I disengage it from 4wd. I have read much of the thread on the IWE system and it has been very helpful.
Does anyone have any pics or detailed photos of the solenoid, reservoir, or check valves? If not, will a repair manual like Haynes have some pictures in it? I have an understanding of the test procedures, But locating everything is a different matter. Thanks for your time. Photos would be greatly appreciated.

 

I don't have any pics of what you're asking for, but xjcamaro did include some photos on some of his many write ups on IWE over the last year.

 

The Haynes manual is absolutely worthless for any repair work to the IWE. No pictures and virtually NOTHING about the 4x4 system.

 

In playing with mine, I replaced the solenoid in the hope that doing so would resolve the issue... Not so in my case, but for you, there's a good chance the solenoid would do it. It took me about an hour to replace the part in the winter cold, and 23 bucks at my local Ford dealership for the new replacement part.

This isn't my pic, but this is the solenoid (old part on the left, replacement on the right):

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/P1000671.jpg

It's located just above the battery on the passenger side. The vacuum reservoir is a simple, sealed plastic box located directly on the outside of the battery well. The check valves are rubber stops at the intersections of the vacuum tubing (the thin, hard black tubes connected to the solenoid).

Let me know if you want me to send you more detailed pictures, but they're pretty easy to get to, and replacing the solenoid is an easy cheap thing to try (disconnect and remove battery, unscrew and remove battery well, disconnect, unscrew, and replace solenoid, replace battery well, replace battery), particularly if you're getting this noise everyone talks about.

 

Magnet, i would try replacing the solenoid, if its making the noise when you disengage 4WD then the vacuum isnt being reapplied as rapidly as it should, and that is what the solenoid does, or you have a small leak somewhere and it takes a little bit of time to build up the vacuum to release the IWE. Either that or you have moisture in the lines or IWEs and it is frozen and not letting the vacuum build properly, i saw that happen on someone elses truck a couple weeks ago.

In any case if the solenoid doesnt fix it, get a vacuum guage and start testing lines, and read the thread, "Everything you wanted to know about the IWE system.....and then some."

Oh, and Magnet, if your in Bethlehem, your not too far from me i think, are you near Clarion? Im about an hour shot west on 80 from Clarion.

 

Thanks guys & XJ for all the help. I picked up a new solenoid yesterday from the dealer for $35.00. Just got done installing it along with adding a make shift shroud for the solenoid on the transfer case to try and keep alot of the crap off of it. We are in the process of getting 18" to 2' of snow here on the east side of PA; So I will be trying the 4wd out very soon. If the solenoid isn't the problem I'll start vacuum checking everything and see if its the actuators. I hope they are not the problem because I only have 30,000 miles on the truck. Thanks again for your time