Transfer Case problem - 2001 F350
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Transfer Case problem - 2001 F350
I have an issue with the transfer case, while driving in 4wd it will drop out to 2wd & the 4X4 light will still be on. If I flip the switch to 2wd & then back to 4wd it will re-engage. It seems to drop out of 4wd when there is no load on the drivetrain, if you stay on the throttle it stays engaged, but when you coast it drops back to 2wd. Also when I turn the truck off in 4wd it will be in 2wd (with the 4x4 light on) when I restart it. I have replaced all of the seals in the hubs/knuckles and they are working fine. I have stopped & checked when it drops out to 2wd the hubs are still locked (can't turn the driveshaft), so I beleive it is something wrong with the transfercase.
Please Help! I did a search & could not find any answers!
Thanks in advance for any help!
Please Help! I did a search & could not find any answers!
Thanks in advance for any help!
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Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Charlotte NC
Sound like a hub problem to me. If the transfer case was still locked in 4x4 the front driveshaft would not turn. I would jack up the front end, spin the front wheels and check if the hubs are still locked.
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Thanks for the advice, however, maybe I'm not explaining it clearly, when the transfer case drops out of 4wd into 2wd while driving in the snow I can spin the rear wheels & then I stop to check & the hubs are still locked & the 4x4 light is still on. I know the hubs are locked because I can't turn the driveshaft, however only the rear wheels spin. If I flip the switch to 2wd & then back to 4wd the transfer re-engages.
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I guess my first question to you would be how do you know you are dropping out of 4WD? If the hubs are still locked and the 4X4 light stays on, what is telling you that your truck isn't in 4 wheel drive?
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When the sun comes up I will check to see if the front drive shaft is rotating while the rear wheels are spinning, this will help verify if it is the hubs or the transfer.
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I stand corrected, it is a lockout/hub issue, the left one is unlocking, and it will re-lock as soon as I flip the switch. I also noticed that when it unlocks, if I spin the tires in reverse it will re-lock with a loud clunk. It is frooze-up & I can't manually turn it to the lock position so I will buy a new one & go from there.
Does this make sense to anyone?
Would a vacum leak cause it to unlock after it's already locked?
Thanks FTE for the responses and the loads of info I have found on this forum
Does this make sense to anyone?
Would a vacum leak cause it to unlock after it's already locked?
Thanks FTE for the responses and the loads of info I have found on this forum
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From: Charlotte NC
A vacuum leak would make it unlock after it was locked. After you buy a new one you may still have a vacuum leak to find. You will at least be able to put the hub in the lock position though.
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I also noticed after it unlocks, if I spin the rear wheels in reverse it will lock back in with a loud clunk, then put it in drive and away we go. To me this doesn't sound like a vacum leak, however I've been wrong before......
Also I don't have the typical heater/defrost issue associated with a vacum leak.....or does that only happen with a large leak?
Thanks again for the help!
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From: White Rock BC Canaduh
It is not constant vacuum. A few seconds to engage then a few seconds to dis-engage.
Just a guess but it does seem like the hub is damaged somehow popping into engage/dis-engage.
Rick...
Just a guess but it does seem like the hub is damaged somehow popping into engage/dis-engage.
Rick...
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From: Charlotte NC
This is how the hub operation is described in the Ford WSM: The Super Duty and Excursion 4X4 ESOF system uses timed vacuum sequences to lock and unlock the wheel ends. A high vacuum level is used to engage the hublocks, and a lower vacuum level is used to disengage the hublocks, after which the vacuum is released and the hublock holds itself in the proper mode. The vacuum signals are supplied to the hublocks by system components, including the GEM, wring harness, solenoid, vacuum harness and vacuum seals. As the first step in service, eliminate such obvious items as loose wiring connectings, loose vacuum connections, or damaged vacuum lines.
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From: Long Island USA
You have only ONE hub that is coming unlocked. That's why you can't turn the axle by hand.
There is a latching mechanism in the hub, and if that breaks, it won't stay locked after the initial vacuum pulse which lasts 40 seconds.
I had this happen to my 2001, so instead of buying a complete new hub, I replaced them both with Warns. No problems now
There is a latching mechanism in the hub, and if that breaks, it won't stay locked after the initial vacuum pulse which lasts 40 seconds.
I had this happen to my 2001, so instead of buying a complete new hub, I replaced them both with Warns. No problems now
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From: San Diego, CA
My truck is doing the same thing. I'll have to jack it up and check the hublocks, but I recently replaced all my ball joints and got all new seals, o-rings and hub assemblies so I didn't even consider it to be a hub problem.
I don't understand how one hub not locking will cause it to go in and out of 4wd. When I engage mine all my wheels claw for their lives in the sand, but after awhile without using the 4wd too hard, I'll get back on it in a soft section and my rear wheels spin. A quick click to 2wd and back to 4wd and my front wheels are clawing away again. All the time my 4x4 light is on (except when I select 2wd). I've been trying to chase it down, but it is starting to do it a lot now and I'm sure it's not great on the t-case to keep cycling it like that.
I don't understand how one hub not locking will cause it to go in and out of 4wd. When I engage mine all my wheels claw for their lives in the sand, but after awhile without using the 4wd too hard, I'll get back on it in a soft section and my rear wheels spin. A quick click to 2wd and back to 4wd and my front wheels are clawing away again. All the time my 4x4 light is on (except when I select 2wd). I've been trying to chase it down, but it is starting to do it a lot now and I'm sure it's not great on the t-case to keep cycling it like that.
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I got the new lock-out/hub today, installed it in the parking lot at the Ford store, flipped the switch to 4x4 & away we went on the snow covered streets. After 30 miles of city streets & country roads she never un-locked once, She's fixed! I know I could have bought a set of after market lock-outs for the cost of one oem, but I'm lazy & it sure is nice to just flip the switch & not have to get out to lock in the hubs.
Thanks for the help!
Jeff
Thanks for the help!
Jeff
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