[svlandscape]

Hey guys and gals,

I have 04 F350 6.0 with the Electronic Shift on the Fly (I think this is what it is called, has the switch on the dash that reads 2wd high, 4wd high, and 4wd low) hubs have automatice setting and manual lock.

I went up to the local mountains for a day in the snow with the family, came to a road covered in ice, put 'er into 4wd low and manually locked the hubs. Worked great. When I got off the ice and headed back to the local town, I unlocked the hubs, put 'er in 2wd high and the truck felt like it was still in 4wd low. The 4wd light stayed on.

Went to a local garage in town and the mechanic said "it happens to these truck all the time up here, especially if you make a hard turn" which I did. So he jacks up truck and low and behold it comes out of 4wd, light turns off. He said they sometimes bind and by jacking up the front wheels and turning them by hand usually frees 'em and you're good to go.

Now when I went camping 2 weeks ago, I got stuck in a rut with my toyhauler in 2wd and when I tried to put it in 4low it would not do it! I put it in 4wd high, locked the hubs, dug around the weght distributing hitch that was in the ground and was able to get 'er out.

I have read that a vacuum leak can cause problems with these trucks, but my A/C system works fine, it does not go to defrost by default as I have read.

I suspect something mechanical. Any ideas??

 

[2004fx4]

Are you following the instructions in the manual on how to use the 4wd? First, you do not have to manually lock the hubs. The only reason you would have to manually lock them is if the vacumm system did not work and would not lock them for you. It is sort of a backup system. Second, there is a system you must follow to put it in 4 low and take it out of 4 low. I always switch it to 4 high. Then you must come to a stop and put it in nuetral with your foot on the brake and turn the switch to 4 low. To take it out of 4 low you must again come to a stop and put in in nuetral with your foot on the brake. If you do not go in to nuetral with it stopped and your foot on the brake it will not go into 4 low.

 

[OMCUSNR]

To keep the trans from destroying itself by shifting into 4lo at speed, the truck must already be in 4hi, stopped, in neutral, and your brake on. The reverse is true to get out.

ESOF 4hi requires you to be moving forward at least 5m/h or the hubs won't auto lock. If you're stopped, you need to lock the hubs manually before switching.

OMC

 

[svlandscape]

I will try doing as intructed in previous 2 replies. I have gone into 4low before many time with no problems, I believe I have been in neutral with brake on but not 100% sure. Will try and reprt back ASAP.

SV

 

[svlandscape]

Okay, followed intructions on previous posts, worked like a charm. Now I know how to put 'er in 4wd the right way!

Thanks guys!
SV