It goes into 4lo but front doesnt pull...I need help.

[justin146]

It wont pull in 4high either. I didn't find out it wasnt working until I was too far to turn back in a mud hole. I just had my transmission rebuilt and it (4x4) worked before the rebuild. The light on the dash does come on and the transfer case will put it into 4lo, but like I said the axle doesn't turn.

-light comes on
-front axle does not pull
-will go into 4lo with no front pull

:frustrate

 

[Michigander]

haave you had it in 4x4 high above 40 mph? Does the 4x4 high and 4x4 low lights flash?

 

[justin146]

the lights do not flash. My OD off light is flashing and the check engine light stays on. I am leaving it at the transmission shop tomorrow. I wish someone could tell me what is wrong so I wont have to give up my truck for the day. They may be able to fix it but I would much rather fix it myself.

I just remembered something... I went through the automatic car wash the other day.....the one with the underbody wash. Could this have knocked a wire loose?

I got someone to look at my front driveshaft just a little while ago while power-braking on soft grass(mud) while in 4 wheel drive. The driveshaft is not turning--so, that may rule out front axle problems. It has to be the transfer case.

 

[TPLYNCH]

Check the connecters on the T/F case. I think there are 2. Make sure they did not pop off........

 

[justin146]

There are no loose wires. I just got it from the transmission shop about an hour ago. They put it on the code reader. The only code that came up was EGR problem. Could my problem with the 4x4 be a vaccume problem?

 

[Jason_25]

No the '97 front end isn''t vacuum controlled. It sounds like you have a problem with the internal TC clutch. This is not a good thing. The TC is non-rebuildable so you will have to buy another one.

 

[Robert]

You need to take it to a place that can read Ford OEM specific DTCs. The place you took it to obviously can't. If your OD light is flashing, it is seeing a problem with your transmission and there is a code set. It just takes the right scanner to pull them.

 

[justin146]

I need to know more about the internal TC clutch. How easy are they to replace and what about cost.

Now when I switch into 4hi or 4lo my headlights dim and my Voltmeter drops way down. After I turn it back to 2hi, the 4lo and High lights start to flash. These lights do not come on anymore(as of tonight) when I switch into 4 wheel drive.

 

[Jason_25]

If it is indeed the internal clutch the entire TC must be replaced.

Have you tried just resetting the computer?

 

[justin146]

I unhooked the battery for an hour. That didn't even reset my trip computer or radio memory. How long should I leave it unhooked?

I think it has to be an electrical problem. Why else would my lights be dimming when in 4x4? Is there a solenoid that engages the front driveshaft? If there is, it may have a short in it.

 

[Jason_25]

I need to reserach a bit further into the solenoid problem because I don't know exactly how the vacuum is controlled.

But if you disconnect your battery then turn your lights on that will be sure to reset the memory.

 

[justin146]

bump..I need help!!

 

[yob_yeknom]

Get someone to watch your front driveshaft while slosly moving in your driveaway. It should turn, even in 2wd. (power braking in 4auto may not make the driveshaft turn) If it turns in 2wd, then I suspect the t-case clutch as Jason said. If it does not turn, then I suspect a problem in the front axle itself.

Let us know what you find out.

 

[justin146]

It really makes me feel bad that y'all are not willing to help me. Thanks all of you that posted. I cant believe that I am the only one on this board that has had this problem with my truck. I am in serious need of help here. Some of my friends and I were planning on going wheeling this week(spring break). I won't be able to go very far with a gimp truck.

 

[Jason_25]

Did you follow John's advice, if so, what did you find out?

 

[yob_yeknom]

It's not that we don't want to help, but that you seemed to have us stumped. We need a little more information before we jump to conclusions and send you on a wild goose chase. It's far better that we keep quite until we know what we're talking about than it would be to have you waste your time and money to fix something that isn't causing the problem.

Did you ever find out if the front driveshaft turns while in 2wd? Once we know the answer to that, we can go from there.

 

[TPLYNCH]

Did you try any of the suggestions above? Did you try cleaning the T/F case motor, tapping on it with a rubber mallet and disconnecting the battery. See here for cleaning instructions..... Dead Link Removed

 

[justin146]

The front driveshaft does turn while driving. I have reset the battery and hit the shift motor with a hammer. I am sure it is not the shift motor because it does shift it into low range, just in 2 wheel drive. This motor doesnt affect the front driveshaft.

How can I test it to see if the internal clutch is bad?

Why does it draw so much current when I shift into 4 wheel drive? It draws so much that the voltmeter drops almost all the way down and the headlights dim.

The 4auto light no longer comes on and the lights(4auto and 4low) aren't flashing anymore.

Could I have a bad speed sensor somewhere? Where are they and how do I check them. I replaced the sensor in the transmission a few months ago because my speedo was going crazy.

 

[Jason_25]

Sounds like a really crazy problem you have.

I have determined your t-case clutch isn't bad because your front shaft turns while in 2 wheel drive.

It sounds like a computer or sensor problem to me. Because I don't think the clutch ever disengages in 95-96 models, it's always on. It seems to me that for some reason when your in 4-low, your front disconnect turns off. Can you confirm this??

 

[justin146]

4auto doesn't work either.