I have one or more problems with my 4X4. I jacked up the entire vehicle to
try to determine where the problem is. I have the eletronic dash switch.
When I turned on 4H, the transfer case engaged, rather noisily. The
driveshaft started turning, then stopped. The noise I heard from the
transfer case also stopped. By the way, I also tried to engage the 4L,
and could not even get the dash light to come on.
When the drive shaft was turning, one of front axles was turning, but not
the other. (I don't know much about the front differential to know
whether this is an open differential, or not). Anyhow, the auto hubs did
not engage. We looked at the hubs, and both had grease and did not have
any obvious problems. I'm confident I can change out the auto hubs with
manual hubs, if one problem is there. I'd like to do the work on the
transfer case, if it is not too complicated.
What is/are possible causes of the problem with the transfer case? Would
this affect how the hubs engage? Thanks for any help you can offer.
Ulysses - 17 Jan 2005 18:31 GMT
Well, since nobody else responded I'll give you my 2 cents ;)
First off you seem to think you have a problem with your autohubs but you
also suspect the transfer case. I'm at a loss how you can know if the
autohubs are failing if the transfer case is not engaged. The only thing
that comes to my mind (other than serious problems inside the transfer case
or front differential) is that your servo motor is stuck and not turning the
transfer case far enough. I suggest (if you haven't already done it)
pushing the 4X4 button and removing the servo motor and seeing if it has
moved to the 4H position. I explained how I fixed my motor(s) on the next
post ('91 4x4 shift motor install).
Sooner or later you will probably have to replace the autohubs. I put the
Warn manual hubs on my '91 (not hard to do) and may be putting them on my
'92 soon. So far I have not read about anyone's Warn manual hubs failing.
> I have one or more problems with my 4X4. I jacked up the entire vehicle to
> try to determine where the problem is. I have the eletronic dash switch.
> When I turned on 4H, the transfer case engaged, rather noisily. The
> driveshaft started turning, then stopped. The noise I heard from the
> transfer case also stopped. By the way, I also tried to engage the 4L,
> and could not even get the dash light to come on.
Robert67 - 18 Jan 2005 06:49 GMT
Ulysses,
Thanks for the response. I am concerned about the autohubs because I am
able to get the front drive shaft to turn for a little bit, then it stops.
The hubs do not engage during this time.
I basically tried what you suggested the other day. I took off the shift
motor and took it apart, following the procedure on one of the strings I
downloaded from one of the web sites. The motor was in great shape. I
tested it when it was unbolted from the T-Case, and it turns to 4H.
I suspect the problem is in the T-Case.
Jim Warman - 18 Jan 2005 07:05 GMT
Errrrmmm.... the premise of the auto hubs is that (once the transfer case is
engaged in 4WD) if the axle shaft is turning faster than the wheel, the hub
should engage. You say you can get the front driveshaft to turn for a
"little bit" but the hubs don't engage. It would be interesting to know just
what is limiting the movement to a "little bit".
Other than the noise you alluded to (which I would expect with the way you
were checking things), do you have an identifiab;e, repeatable concern with
4X4 operation? If you look under enough rocks, you will find a bug.
> Ulysses,
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> I suspect the problem is in the T-Case.
Ulysses - 18 Jan 2005 20:08 GMT
So, what you are saying is the axle has to turn in order to lock the hubs
and the hubs won't lock if the truck is jacked up and you turn the wheel?
As I mentioned in another post I don't even know how the things are supposed
to engage/lock on the axle. On my '91 4x4 definately did not work and I
surmised it was the auto hubs. I installed the Warn manuals and 4x4 works
great. I'm in the process of trying to understand why the auto hubs are not
locking on my '92 (currently on jacks and Warn hubs on order). I just can't
see anything wrong with them. I can't see how I could possibly turn the
axle with 4x4 engaged with only the front end off the ground. Is there a
simple way to test them without lifting the entire truck off the ground?
I've tried spinning the tires briefly and only the rear ones are kicking up
dirt. This is, of course, all acedemic at this point unless it rains before
my new Warn hubs get here :-|
> Errrrmmm.... the premise of the auto hubs is that (once the transfer case is
> engaged in 4WD) if the axle shaft is turning faster than the wheel, the hub
> should engage.
Ulysses - 19 Jan 2005 02:32 GMT
As I mentioned in another post....
I drove the truck in 4WD and jacked up one side and the hub was securely
locked onto the axle. I jacked up the other side and it was trying to catch
but not quite making it. I read somewhere that too much grease can cause
hubs to not lock. Is that a possibility with the Ford auto hubs? They look
well greased inside but not any thick globs or anything. Just for the
record I suspected the driver side hub to be bad and it was making a "clunk"
sound while turning in 4WD. I switched the hubs before checking them as
described and the one I thought was bad turned out to be bad. It still
clunks though. I'm hoping that the clunking is being caused by the hub not
engaging properly, but then I probably shouldn't hope for too much.
I don't understand why they lock with the axle turning but not by turning
the wheel. Can anyone explain how these things work? You mentioned that
the axle needs to be turning faster than the wheel but that doesn't seem to
register in my limited brain.
Is there a
> simple way to test them without lifting the entire truck off the ground?
Robert67 - 19 Jan 2005 05:14 GMT
My concern with the 4X4 operation is a combination of the noise I
previously described, and the fact that I got virtually stuck at a few icy
uphill intersections, while I had 4H on. I live in Anchorage, so ice and
snow is an issue for half of the year.
When we tested it (all 4 wheels jacked up), the front drive shaft was
turning for a short time (approximately 30 seconds), then it stopped (the
noise stopped at the same time).
Thanks for the thoughts.