4 Wheel drive not working

Tiny
LEFTYLIBRA3
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 FORD F-250
  • 12,300 MILES
I recently got stuck in the mud and used 4 wheel drive to get out. After disengaging 4 wheel drive I have had a popping noise in the front end when turning tight left and right at slow speeds and the 4 wheel drive does not work anymore. Now when I try to turn 4 wheel drive on I here an odd sound. Please help!
Tuesday, March 5th, 2013 AT 12:00 AM

24 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Have the hubs checked as they may be malfunctioning from all the mud

Roy
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Wednesday, June 21st, 2017 AT 8:54 PM
Tiny
FRANK1971
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2002 FORD F-250
  • 100,000 MILES
Have 02 f250 7.3 auto trans, 4wd don't work have replaced just about everything, new switch, control motor on transfer case new module under dash, fuses and relays are good, what else is there, should I have power to the switch only power I have is for the light.
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:29 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Stop replacing parts without knowing the issue.

You need someone with a scan tool to monitor the system and locate the failure.

There are codes for this system and you can acuate the motor at the case.

Roy
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:29 AM (Merged)
Tiny
FRANK1971
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
That's what ford garage told me code was, the trans esof motor, other garage told me code was module, still not getting answer I need, should I have power on switch in dash and where does that power come from
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:29 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMIE SOJDAK
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 FORD F-250
  • 83,000 MILES
I have shift on the fly and when I turn on to 4 wheel drive light don't come on and 4 wheel drive don't work? I did all that even put new hubs and vac lines on but when I turn the switch I have no light and no 4 wheel drive. My lock outs work good its the transfer case that is not kicking in the switch has no light I have power to the motor on the transfer case but its not kicking in on and thank u for this help.

Thank u again for this help I am lost I just bought a new motor for the transfer case and I hope that's the problem if not its a costly very costly mistake lol
mike thank you but I was wondering if u had the wiring diagrams also cause its telling me to check all these wires and I have no clue where they are lol and again thank u for the help

Iam pretty sure everything is cause I hooked a tester up to it and I can make the 4 wheel drive engage well at least that's what the machine said lol and it shows the switch is working but the real weird thing is that when I moved it the other day it was actually in 4 low but the switch was not on I was thinking I did that with the tester I was wondering if there was a separate wiring harness to the motor on the transfer case I dont want to get a whole new wiring harness for the whole thing again thank u for ur help
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
Hello,

When the four wheel drive stops working it usually is the fuse, relay or transfer case actuator. Here is some diagrams (below) and a couple for guides to help you test for the problem.

You can see from the wing diagrams the fuses and relays.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

Here are wiring and fuse diagrams (below)

Please run some tests and get back to us so we can continue helping you.

Cheers, Ken

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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:30 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DDKLIMEKS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 FORD F-250
  • 94,000 MILES
Turn switch to 4 wheel and does not turn on
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:51 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Does the 4 wheel light illuminate?

If it does, the motor on the transfer case may be failing.

If it does not, it could be a control issue with the bcm.

Roy
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:51 AM (Merged)
Tiny
NATHANIAL CAIN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 FORD F-250
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 208,000 MILES
I have a 2001 f250 powerstroke and the fourwheel drive wont turn on when I turn the switch on no light or anything comes on
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:52 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Have you checked to see if there is power to the actuator on the transfer case? Have you checked fuses and the relay?
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:52 AM (Merged)
Tiny
NATHANIAL CAIN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
No I havent checked to see if it is getting power at the acutator, and I dont have an owners manual to see what fuse it would be. Thanks for the help
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:52 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PGRTRUCK
  • MEMBER
  • 21 POSTS
Make sure transmission is in neutral and wheels are straight ahead.
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:52 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Under the hood is a power distribution box that contains relays and fuses. The underside of the lid should list each component.

Let me know what you find.

Joe
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:52 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CLAKERS23
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1999 FORD F-250
109,000 miles I was driving all day and the four wheel drive was working fine. I shifted out of four wheel drive & tried shifting back in & now it will not work.
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:53 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GODBEAR839
  • MECHANIC
  • 77 POSTS
Electric or manual shift?
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:53 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CLAKERS23
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
It's electric shift and I'm not getting any power to it.
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:53 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TEXMAR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 FORD F-250
Electrical problem
1999 Ford F250 V8 Four Wheel Drive Automatic 100K miles

Turn on the head light switch the 4 wheel drive kicks out, while the windshield wipers do not work and the electric side windows do not work.

Turn off the head lights the 4 wheel drive kicks in cluncing, not working propersly, now
the windshield wipers work and the electric side windows work.

I have disconnected the axel for the 4 wheel drive,
still the things above happens.

The fuse box has taken water and there is some green in ther, however, I do not where I can buy a new one?

If that is my problem?
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:53 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Scan it for B codes, this sounds like the GEM(generic electronic module) is defective, but scan with either a Ford tool, or at a good shop that can scan B and U codes. B and U codes will not turn on the MIL(check engine light).
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:53 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BRIGGS LANDSCAPE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 FORD F-250
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 242,000 MILES
Ford f-250 1998 4x4 issue. Recently I had a new transmission put in. When I got the truck back we had electrical issues. Windows dont function, 4x4 is now not engaging? I brought the truck back and they will were unsucessful. What can I do, where do I start?
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:54 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,386 POSTS
Start off by making sure all the connectors are attatched and no wires were cut or pinched in the process of having the trans put in. It is all too common. Also make sure all ground are good and tight. Grounds are a big one.
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Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 AT 11:54 AM (Merged)

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