Will not shift to 4 wheel drive when cold.

[rbbaker]

Hi, just wondering if anyone can give me some clues as to what my issue might be. The 4x4 shift motor does not seem to want to do anything when it is cold. I can hear the relays click when I press the button but it does not shift. Once the temp warms up a bit or the truck has been running for a while it will then shift properly. This issue does not occur at all when the temp is around 0c(32f) or warmer. This morning at -16c(3f) it would not engage till the truck had been running for about 30 min or so.

I have done searches and found out about the plastic bushing issue but since mine only messes up when cold I do not think this is the issue.

Are the gears full of grease that may be old and getting gummed up in the cold. Truck has 355 thousand K (approx 220 thousand miles) or could it be the contacts are getting weak and contracting in the cold.

 

[FR-425]

No grease in the BW1354 it takes automatic transmission fluid.

Change the lube.

 

[2stroke]

I would think water/mud is freezing. Take the motor off, and clean it up good. New bushings wouldn't hurt.

 

[OneofMany]

Are you saying the engine has to run 30mins before you can engage 4x4? I'm wondering how running the engine warms the shift motor. Maybe proximity to the exhaust pipe warms it to where dirt and grease softens to let it move.

 

[xlt1993]

A friend of had this same exact problem with his 89 bronco 2 he used to have. He changed the motor,cleaned the contacts at the motor,changed the t-case fluid and when ot got freezing cold out it would either shift into 4x4 and not shift out or it wouldn't shift in at all. He had to always have someone with him if he thought he would need his 4x4 on a cold day so that someone could push the button while he tapped on the motor housing with a wrench or a screwdriver. He never did figure out why he had that issue. This is why I like the manual shift t-cases vs the "touch drive" feature. While they are nice and convenient they can be troublesome at times. But that's just my .02. To each their own as they say.

 

[larrydd999]

I had a similar problem a few years ago and ended up changing the shift motor. Apparently water got into the motor part (not the gears) and it froze overnight. When I attempted to go into 4 x 4 mode the next morning it wouldn't shift (and I ended up having to put on the chains). Later that day when it warmed up the 4 x 4 worked fine.

 

[rbbaker]

Thanks everyone. Looks like i will have to wait till during the holiday season and hope it warms up enough to pull the shift motor. Was hoping it would be something simple like an adjustment of some sorts. No such luck I guess.

 

[malohnes]

ITs pretty easy to get to and work on this short motor. Mine is acting up too and when I pulled the part out it was filthy and needed cleaning badly. Works awesome now!!!