4x4 02 Ford Lariat question

[loon]

Coming off the fields last night and my 4 wheel drive wouldnt work? the light came on but thats it, gonna check it out today but wondering if anyone had any pointers?

Thanks!

loon

 

[Dune]

Both gearboxes in neutral? Locking hubs? How cold out was it?

Your trailer looks stern heavy.

 

[loon]

Both gearboxes in neutral? Locking hubs? How cold out was it?

Your trailer looks stern heavy.

Shift on the floor Dune and no locking hubs only around -7c out..

Dropped the trailer off at the farm and tried it a couple more times and got the same thing? Hoping maybe a fuse and gonna get ready now to go have a look..

Thanks..

 

[loon]

Dune the 2 fuses were fine? Pretty sure there is some kind of vacuum hose that deals with the 4x4..Will take it into work tomorrow as one of my buddies is a pretty handy backyard mechanic

loon

 

[Highbeam]

Usually it's those automatic hubs. Failure prone. My 2000 F350 got the manual hub replacements and all is well.

How's your hvac working? Does it work in positions other than defrost? If not, that is a sign of vacuum loss which would effect the hubs.

 

[loon]

Usually it's those automatic hubs. Failure prone. My 2000 F350 got the manual hub replacements and all is well.

How's your hvac working? Does it work in positions other than defrost? If not, that is a sign of vacuum loss which would effect the hubs.

Will check that out in a bit Highbeam..

Thanks

 

[loon]

Everything else works fine?

 

[Highbeam]

With 4x4 engaged as best you can, reach under and try and spin the front driveline. If it doesn't spin that's good, if it spins freely then your order for 4x4 is being ignored by the truck. If the driveline doesn't spin then jack up one front tire and try to spin it, if it spins but the driveline does not than your hub(s) are shot, if the wheel spins and the driveline spins at the same time then your transfer case is not engaged. If the jacked up wheel does not spin then you are in 4x4 and it is all working fine.

 

[loon]

OK Highbeam, Will check that out after work today..

Thanks.

 

[loon]

Highbeam is there anything i can check for it to freeze?

Had it in a heated garage this morning and just tried it again and no problem engaging? Shifted in and out a couple times and its working fine now?

loon

 

[Highbeam]

I don't live in a super cold climate but in extreme cold vacuum motors actuate more slowly. The rubber diaphragms get stiffer and stickier. The automatic hubs are a known weakness for all brands.

If your transfer case is really lever actuated, just becuase it has a floor lever does not mean that it is mechanical, then you can rule out the transfer case engagement.

You kinda need your 4x4 to work, especially in the cold I'd think. I had the auto hubs stick "free" and stick locked. I had to tow a 7000 lb trailer for 50 miles with one hub locked in one time and that's when I permanently fixed the problem by going manual on the hubs.

Transfer cases, even those actuated with an electric motor are fairly dependable compared to those hubs.

 

[loon]

Yes its lever actuated.

In my old Chev i could actually see the engagment pin when i crawled under it. Not sure about this truck as its the first time it has let me down..Will still be checking it out after work to see if i can pinpoint any moving parts up front?

Thanks for the help

 

[jeff_t]

F150s don't use any kind of automatic hub. They have CV joints and half-shafts that drive all the time. Similar to GM's IFS. There may be some kind of vacuum actuated disconnect on the front differential that disengages one side to keep it from spinning the front driveshaft all the time. I only had one F150 from that basic design, and didn't have it long enough to have any problems with it.

Look here for all things Ford truck http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/index.php

For the record, the ESOF hubs in my '00 Excursion are still going strong. Had to replace the vacuum hoses once.

 

[jeff_t]

This may sound wierd, but switch your HVAC controls to floor or A/C. If there is a sizable vacuum leak, it should default to defrost. Try it with 4x4 engaged and disengaged. If it goes to defrost with it engaged, start looking at vacuum hoses around the front diff and T-case.

 

[loon]

Thanks for the help jeff and the link,will try the controls tomorrow.

A couple of us jacked it up today and checked everything we could and couldnt find anything wrong? The truck was still engaging fine when i got back home tonight.

Highbeam the shafts were doing what you said and it just seems something was frozen?

It was in the garage for about 5 hours then i hit the underside with a hose to clean it up for after work but then it was working?

loon

 

[jeff_t]

If it's working now, you won't find anything with the controls. Something to try if it happens again.

 

[Highbeam]

F150s don't use any kind of automatic hub. They have CV joints and half-shafts that drive all the time. Similar to GM's IFS. There may be some kind of vacuum actuated disconnect on the front differential that disengages one side to keep it from spinning the front driveshaft all the time.

What you describe is an automatic "hub" system. It does not act at the hub but accomplishes the job of connecting the hubs to the front driveline. I had the system in my IFS GM pickup and it was electrical and actually worked well, much better than a vacuum system.

The only company stupid enough to run the hubs locked in all the time by design is Dodge.

 

[jeff_t]

Ah, yes. GMs were electric. I think there was an aftermarket cable kit available?

My '01.5 Dodge 2500 had a center axle disconnect. A sliding collar on the right side axle shaft. The left side still turned the differential all the time, but not the driveshaft. I think that was eliminated in '02.

 

[heat seeker]

The only company stupid enough to run the hubs locked in all the time by design is Dodge.

Our Jeep Cherokees have no hubs, the front differential turns all the time. Grand Cherokees have a vacuum operated slider for one axle, but our basic Cherokees don't. Saves manufacturing $, but costs in gas and wear over the years.

 

[loon]

If it's working now, you won't find anything with the controls. Something to try if it happens again.

Its been sitting at the house all week and took to town this morning and it wouldnt engage again..Tried the controls jeff but they were fine.

Put it in the heated garage again gang and the thing worked fine at noon? We think something is freezing up and going to leave it in the garage overnight next week and with the heat high add an industrial fan aiming under the truck..

Might be worth a try but none of us know? And i am trying to NOT take it to a garage$

loon

 

[skinanbones]

we ran into this issue with our 99 f150 and floor shift. It turned out to be the shift mechinism under the floor as it gummed up it got harder and harder the colder it got, which lead to us pullling harder on the lever and causing enough flex to make the lever go where needed. I fixed it by drilling out both holes where the lever bolt to the mechinism and bolt them together with some 5/8 grade bolts and nylocks. That ended up being the best thing i ever did to that truck

 

[woodsman23]

There is a vacuum switch located near the front diff. crawl under truck and look for the clear vac lines plastic/rubber? and follow to vacuum switch. pull off lines and reverse them ,have someone put into 4x4 and out then back in a few times. Spray some wd40 into the hole and reattach 1/4" plastic lines, should be good to go.

 

[loon]

There is a vacuum switch located near the front diff. crawl under truck and look for the clear vac lines plastic/rubber? and follow to vacuum switch. pull off lines and reverse them ,have someone put into 4x4 and out then back in a few times. Spray some wd40 into the hole and reattach 1/4" plastic lines, should be good to go.

Thanks woodsman Its been on the mild side here for a bit and the truck is working fine? No problems at all now with the 4x4 engaging? Will see what happens in a few days though as it is supposed to get good and cold again..

loon

 

[heat seeker]

Maybe moisture in the vacuum lines that freezes and thaws?

 

[nate379]

Our Jeep Cherokees have no hubs, the front differential turns all the time. Grand Cherokees have a vacuum operated slider for one axle, but our basic Cherokees don't. Saves manufacturing $, but costs in gas and wear over the years.

Other way around. Some XJs have disco, no ZJs do.