Has anyone seen this issue going to 4 will drive only during cold temps.

[vontar]

I recently got a used Ford Sport Trac back in January. Very happy with it and feel I got a good deal.

It is a 2003, Ford Sport Track.

I had been wanting one of these for a while and finally found the deal I could live with.

I tested the 4 will drive during my test drive and knew it engaged correctly.

However As soon as the temp dropped below freezing, I found it did not want to go in to 4 wheel drive.

First snow and I ended up driving home in 2 wheel drive when I really should have used 4x4. As soon as I parked at home, I turned it off and thought maybe I should try it again and it went directly in to 4x4 no problem.

We had 3 more snows and it seemed to do the same, however I also found if I did the procedure of holding the brake and being in netural I could go to 4X4 Low and then go back to 4H.

After this, I got to wondering how much I could currently trust the 4 wheel drive feature so I started shifting into it and back out just to make sure it would engage and it seems to be engaging just fine when the temp is above freezing.

However when the temps dropped back to below freezing it seemed to act up again.

Has anyone else seen this issue where it appears to be related to temperature ?

Any suggested solutions?

The truck has 140k, appears to have been serviced regularly by paper work I found in the truck. It had been serviced and cleaned by a local Ford Dealer apparently for all these years.

At work they have already nicknamed my truck Snow Bringer has we have had more snow this year then the last 5 years together.

 

[vontar]

O boy, appears I have an uncommon issue, which usually means difficult to track down.

In short, 4wheel drive works fine, unless the temps drop below 32. Then it just does not want to engage 4H, but will go to 4L then back to 4H.

 

[Galactica]

Probably a sticky motor on the transfer case. Sounds like everything else is good. You may want to at least service the transfer case and replace that little motor, just for good measure.