2002 f350 auto 4wd

[Spaarky]

I keep having problems with the auto 4wd on my 350. The 4wd still works fine when I lock the hubs. I run about 30 miles into town most of the time when I am working or plowing snow. Plus in the summer I have aftermarket rims, that the center caps cover the hubs. So, it would be nice if it worked properly.

The auto has been fixed three times. The mech says that it is a common problem with this truck. The seals that lock the hubs are a nightmare.

Has anyone else had these problems? Do you have a fix? Mech says I should dump the stock system and just put on Warn lockers? Which means I loose the auto.

thanks...... Justin

 

[94fordguy]

I have the electronic 4x4 on my '02 truck and I fought the front hub's 2 years in a row until this last fall when my dealer finally found the ultimate problem. Most commonly it would go into 4wd just fine, but the hubs would not disengage fully and start howling/grinding a few miles later, OR last summer it finally got to the point the hubs would not engage at all and I would have to turn them in if I needed 4x4. The transfer case ALWAYS shifted perfectly.

I had one seal replaced 2 years ago which didn't really help to solve the problem, but the last time I took it in for the hubs not working the mechanic insisted my seals were good as it was pulling full vacuum when the switch was engaged. He tried it 3 times in a row and then the 4th time the transfer case engaged but nothing happened up front and we found the vacuum solenoid was faulty and not was always sending the proper vacuum pulses to the hubs. It is apparently a common problem, but difficult to diagnose as they don't always just fail, they often will work intermittently (as mine was) and you can be chasing it for a long time.

It's about a $50-$75 electronic valve on the passenger side of the engine compartment.

I've used the 4wd many times over the last 6 months since they fixed it and it has not given me 1 single issue since!!!!!

 

[Spaarky]

Sounds good. I will have them replace or check it. I need to bring it in and have the steering column gone through too. The shifter is getting out of wack.

I hope its something that simple. I talked to a ford dealer today(Summitman) and he said they have not had a ton of problems. He thought they should check the pump too.

Its not too big of a deal, more of convenience. A couple nights ago, I pulled into a parking lot to plow. I had not locked in the hubs yet, it locked em up, but as I started to plow I could feel them slamming in and out. Stopped immediately and locked the hubs.

 

[94fordguy]

Have them throw a vacuum gauge on the line by the tire... you should have 20lbs of vacuum for 1 minute when you activate the 4wd and you should have 5lbs on disengagement for the same 1 minute. If the vacuum falls off then you have a leak somewhere, or if you don't read any vacuum them most likely the solenoid is bad. Repeat the test 4 or 5 times in a row (with a couple minute break in between each cycle) and that should give you a good idea. You could also pop out the hubs and give them a shot of a VERY light-weight oil to make sure they aren't sticking. That's what the service technician did right in front of me when they told me they fully inspected my truck and found nothing wrong, that's when the 'intermittent' part of my problem showed it's face!

 

[AZ800]

Sh!at. I just picked up a 13 f250 work truck and drove it to AK. Saw the auto on the hubs thought Ferd cam up with something new.
I can say with certainty that 4wd did not work in the snow tuggin a trailer thru the Yukon!!
Got out locked them up and good to go. Figured "auto" was a gimmick or misspelling on the hubs!
Haven't unlocked them. Now it's like my dodge, goes into 4 wd when you turn the dial!