jeff strickland

Going in Reverse also releives the stress that binds the works. That's why
it is suggested to back up a few feet. As a practical matter, selecting
Neutral before shifting out of LO Range should remove the stress that is
binding the system too, and the Part Time 4WD system should never be used on
pavement.

Having said all of that, I'm not certain of any benefit Spdloader might get
by setting the parking brake and applying the service brakes. On a hill,
these systems may offer the benefit of holding the vehicle in place, but
there is nothing that connects the brake system to the 4WD button or lever.

snoman

True about going into reverse sometimes and while neutral can relieve
stress from engine is does nothing for the torque bind that can form
between axles on a hard surface.

I concur because if you coast in neatral it removes drive line input
stress and when gear moving slowly too it is easier to change ranges
sometimes. BTW, even in neutral some power goes through tranny and it
is enough to spin the input gear in Tcase and make engagement noisy is
vehicle is not rolling some too. I do use the stand still method most
of the time with my trucks (coast to stop in neutral and then aplly
and hold brake and place in park to shirt) but they are manual shift
too and you can "feel" what is going on if there is a problem.
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TheSnoMan.com

spdloader

I do it this way because it's the factory instructions in the manual, and on
the underside of the sunvisor in my '99 F350 SuperCrew Dually 4x4. It has
taken as long a 45 seconds to unlock.

......and it always works.
......so far.


Spdloader

matt macchiarolo

Spdloader is right. Superduty's require all this to shift into and out of
4lo.

snoman

If it takes 45 seconds it is because something is in a bind and you
need to change methods regardless of what manual says. Manual is
written to keep "instructions" it as simple as possibly and nothing
more.
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TheSnoMan.com

whitelightning

God for bid the designers might know what they are talking about. And I
guarantee
they are written more to make sure the damn thing makes it out of warranty
then to keep
them as simple as possible.

Whitelightning

matt macchiarolo

Or it's because that's the design parameters for the 4wd system. The FSM
states that the electronic system will make at least five shift attempts
(assuming the truck is in the right configuration to shift from 4lo) before
it throws an error code. And it won't throw a code for a bad hub, only a
transfer case problem. FSM says to give it twenty seconds, though, 45 sounds
excessive. Mine's never taken more than 3-5 seconds for the T case to shift,
although I have had problems in the past with the vacuum-operated autolock
hubs.

spdloader

FSM says to give it twenty seconds, though, 45 sounds

Conditions, northern West Virginia, 3+ weeks of single to low double digit
weather, and ice / snow caked on the underside of truck.

Normally, it happens within 5-10 seconds.

Spdloader

bob statkus

thanks for the ideas for the fix guys - I did try the shift in neutral, I
never had to wait longer than 3 to 5 seconds in the past for it to shift but
I'll try a long wait to see if it works.
I going under the truck today and check wiring, connectors, and motor next.
I also wish it had the manual shift T case but I don't think you could get
it , maybe special ordered new but I'm second owner.

Do you think the auto hubs that are on the truck now would work w/a manual T
case retro fit?

matt macchiarolo

No, the electronic gizmos that tell the Tcase to shift also tell the hubs to
lock/unlock with vacuum. If you go with a retrofit (which may involve
replacing the T case with a manual one) you'd do well to replace the hubs
anyway with some manual hub locks (I would recommend Warn). You can do that
even with an electronic shift T case too...