4x4 would not shift from low to high without shutting engine off.

I have seen this issue in some 4x4 vehicles. The issue may be that although you have moved the shift lever, because there is pressure on the axle components, the vehicle has not released the front wheels. After shifting from 4x4 to 2x4, allow the vehicle to move without torque for a few seconds, allowing the components to move into 2x4.

you cannot run your truck normally in 4x4 low!!!! the low is designed to go slow slow.try shifting into neutral gear on column tap the high 4x4 then shift to reverse,back up 15feet then shift to drive.it should go into high 4x4 then if you want to go back to 2wheel high shift to neutral tap the 4x4 high until the light goes off,shift to reverse and back up 15feet then shift to drive and the 4wheel drive lights should all be off. then you'll be in 2x2 rear wheel drive. thank you for choosing fixya.com

well, if you are sitting still it is recommended you put vehicle in neutral and select 4x4 indicator to desired posistion..... 4 high...4 low...or 2high (auto) when you select 4 low the top speed is not to exceed 25 mph. It is a very low gear for crawling or pulling. At any time you need 4 low gear you must stop trk, shift to neutral and select 4 low. The same procedure is done to change from 4 low to 4 hi or 2 hi. if not done this way internal trans, transfer case or driveline failure will occure. At any time you may shift 4x4 selector from (auto) or 2 hi to 4 hi, and 4 hi to 2 hi or( auto).****** But note, do not make shifts while tires are spinning or under power (acceleration)******* While driving you can make shifts at any speed between 2 hi (auto) and 4 hi and back to 2 hi. release throttle a little and select. you do not have to take foot off throttle all the way! just enough that truck is not under a power, load acceleration. If tires are spinning or you are on the gas and you select gears from 2 & 4 high the posibilities of severe damage can result. Also note that 4x4 is not recommended on dry pavement. When 4x4 is being used also take care as to the handling and the steering characteristics change, On tight turns the front wheels will bind and possibly **** a little. If you have never had a 4x4 before, obey what i have told you untill you get the experiance and you will be fine. HAPPY TRAILS.... AND A LITTLE 4X4 FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Be sure to put the truck in neutral, while engine is running, while you disengage from 4 wheel drive (low) to 4 wheel drive (high) and then finally to 2 wheel drive. It is critical to shift transmission into neutral when switching out of 4WD Low, as indicated in your owner's manual. Hopefully, this will help to FixYa problem!

have truck running,,put shifter in neutral,,shift into high lock 4x4,then put truck into gear,,u can shift from high lock to high gear,,from two wheel to four wheel,,in high only,,if u want to shift transfer case in low,,u have to put truck in ,,neutral,,first,,

Electronic Shift On the Fly (ESOF) Operation
The ESOF system is an electronic shift 4x4 system that allows the operator to choose between two different 4x4 modes as well as 2-wheel drive. The operator can switch between 2WD and 4WD HIGH mode at speed. To engage or disengage LOW Range, the vehicle speed must be less than 5 kph, the brake depressed, and the transmission must be in NEUTRAL.

The transfer case is equipped with an electromagnetic clutch which is located inside the case. This clutch is used to spin up the front drive-line when shifting from 2WD to 4x4 High mode at speed. When the control switch on the instrument panel is turned, the generic electronic module (GEM) recognizes that a shift has been requested and activates the electromagnetic clutch and the relays which power the transfer case shift motor. When the shift motor reaches the desired position as determined by the contact plate position inputs to the GEM, power to the shift relays and motors will be removed. When the transfer case front and rear output shafts are synchronized, the spring loaded lockup collar mechanically engages the main-shaft hub to the drive sprocket. Finally, the front axle collar is engaged and the electromagnetic clutch is deactivated.

Shift Between 2WD and 4x4 HIGH:
Shifts between 2WD and 4x4 HIGH can be made at speed. Listed below are the inputs and outputs needed by the GEM to execute a change between any of these modes.

Feature Inputs:
*4WD Mode Switch (Various resistances).
*Contact Plate Position Inputs A, B, C, D (grounded when closed, open circuit when open).

Feature Outputs:
*4x4 Shift Motor Relay Outputs
*Transfer Case Clutch Relay (grounded when relay is on, open circuit when relay is off).
*4x2/4x4 Vacuum Solenoid (grounded when activated, open circuit when deactivated).
*Cluster Indicators (ground when activated, open circuit when deactivated).

Shifting Into/Out of 4WD LOW:
When shifting into or out of 4WD LOW, the GEM requires that the vehicle speed be less than 5 kph, the brake is applied, and the transmission is in NEUTRAL.

Feature Inputs:
*4WD Mode Switch (Various resistances).
*Contact Plate Position Inputs A, B, C, D (grounded when closed, open circuit when open).
*VSS Sensor (Sinusoid Signal: 0.7V-20V, 2.2 Hz/mph).
Brake Input (battery voltage when brake is depress, open circuit when not activated).
*Transmission Range Sensor (grounded when transmission is in NEUTRAL, open circuit otherwise).
8Start/Clutch Depressed Input

Feature Outputs:
*4x4 Shift Motor Relay Outputs
*4x2/4x4 Vacuum Solenoid (grounded when activated, open circuit when deactivated).
*Cluster Indicators (grounded when activated, open circuit when deactivated).

4WD Mode Switch
A rotary switch allows the vehicle operator to choose between 2WD, 4WD HIGH, and 4WD LOW modes of 4x4 operation.

GEM Module
The Generic Electronic Module (GEM) controls the operation of the 4x4 system

Vehicle Speed Sensor
The vehicle speed sensor (VSS), mounted in the rear of the transfer case, informs the GEM of the vehicle speed.

Transfer Case Shift Motor Sense Plates

The shift motor sense plate, an integral part of the electric shift motor, informs the GEM to the positions of the transfer case

Transmission Range Sensor
Located on the left side of the transmission, this sensor informs the GEM when the transmission is in the NEUTRAL position.

Electric Shift Motor
The electric shift motor, mounted externally at the rear of the transfer case, drives a rotary cam which moves the mode fork and range fork within the transfer case to select between the 2WD, 4WD HIGH, and 4WD LOW positions.

4x4/4x2 Vacuum Solenoids
These two solenoids are attached to the upper RH side of the engine compartment dash, and alternately route vacuum to the vacuum motor which engages/disengages the center axle disconnect collar in the front axle assembly.

4x4 Shift Motor Relay
A module containing two relays which under the control of the GEM, shift the transfer case shift motor between the 2WD, 4WD HIGH, and 4WD LOW modes.

Transfer Case Clutch Relay
An electromechanical relay is used to activate the transfer case clutch within the transfer case.

Good luck and hope this helps,but start with the simple and check the fuses and wire harness. Both white/light blue stripe wires should have 12V in run. The GEM will ground the left side (closest to engine) solenoid to disengage the front axle. It will ground the the right side solenoid (closest to fender) to engage the front axle. If the GEM doesn't see Neutral it will not let the truck come out of 4Lo. If the GEM had water leaking on it it may well be the root of the problem. The shift motor only has power when the GEM sends it a signal to move the shift lever. Once the shift is completed the motor shuts off. There are 2 wires that control the shift motor. A yellow and an orange. The GEM alternates between 12v and Ground to these wires to control which way the motor turns. The GEM uses the transfer case shift relay module to control the power to the motor. There are contact plates inside the shift motor assembly that indicate the position that the shift lever is in. This is what the GEM used to know what the T-case is doing. Any one of these components can fail.

have you tried a rolling shift? leave trans in drive and try moving 4x4 lever. it works on mine!

My wife just recently had a similar problem. She got stuck in the mud and put our 2004 F150 in 4x4 Low to get out. She didn't. Had to have AAA pull her out. She then left a bit later and the truck was still in 4x4 Low even after switching to 2WD. She even tried going backwards to get it to switch. So she called me frantically because the car would not go over 10 mph w/o the RPMs getting way too high. I said I'd call her back. So I called our local Ford Repair shop and he gave me these instructions (loosely based on what the owner's manual says to do) 1. Start Vehicle 2. Switch to 4x4 Low 3. Put in Neutral 4. Switch to 4x4 High 5. Go in Reverse for a bit and then Forward a bit again (You should now be in 4x4 High) 6. Put in Neutral 7. Switch to 2WD You should now be good. If that didn't work, then try repeating step 5 after step 7. Which reminds me. I really should call her back :) (It worked)

Ok let me be frank cshoxie I had actually owned a 1998 Nissan Pathfinder SE. The 4x4 lever is to the left of the gear shift. It looks like a manual tranmission gear shift. I could have engaged my even in DRIVE at LOW speeds.But wans't recommended by manual. However on the shift has 4-low and 4 HIGH but this vehicle would only go in 2-wheel and 4H.

likely needs a shift motor on the transfer case.