My 2005 ford fx4 pickup will not go into four wheel drive when I switch from 2wd to 4wd. there is no light indicating it has switched and i have checked all fuses but everything looks ok.

On the transfer case
Transfer Case - Electronic Shift
The four-wheel drive electronic shift-on-the-fly feature electrically shifts the vehicle transfer case between 2WD, 4WD HIGH, and 4WD LOW. The system mode is selected by the operator through the mode select switch (MSS) on the instrument panel. The operator is informed which mode the system is in by two instrument cluster indicators: one for 4WD HIGH which appears as 4WD, and one for 4WD LOW, which appears as 4WD LOW. Shifts into 4WD HIGH can be made at any speed. When shifting into 4WD HIGH with the vehicle stationary, tooth blockage may occur preventing shift completion. When the vehicle is driven above 8 km/h (5 mph) the shift will complete. When shifting in or out of 4WD LOW, the four-wheel drive (4WD) control module requires that the vehicle speed be less than 5 km/h (3 mph), the brake pedal be applied, and the transmission be in NEUTRAL (automatic transmission) or the clutch pedal be depressed (manual transmission).
The gearmotor encoder assembly is mounted externally on the transfer case. It drives a rotary cam which moves the mode fork and range fork within the transfer case between the 4WD HIGH, 4WD LOW, and 2WD range positions.
The four-wheel drive (4WD) control module controls the gearmotor encoder assembly that shifts between 4WD HIGH, 4WD LOW, and 2WD modes.

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4x4 not working - Ford F150 Forum - FordF150.net

Operationally vacuum shifts the front axle between 2WD and 4WD mode. The GEM ( Generic Electronics Module ) applies ground to the solenoid needed for the mode selected on the switch ( for ESOF ) or when the transfer case shift lever is moved ( MSOF ).The contact plates in the transfer case signal the GEM that the transfer case is engaged, and the Vacuum solenoids need to be activated ( either 2WD to 4WD or 4WD to 2WD ).

Lift and support the front of the truck so the front wheels are off the ground ( take safety precautions, chock wheels, jack stands, etc )
Key on, engage 4x4 and try to turn the front drive shaft.
- If it turns it is a problem with the transfer case.
- If it doesn't it is a front axle engagement problem ( this is what you seem to have, the transfer case is engaged and will drive the front shaft mine was a key on engine off test ).

- If the front drive shaft does not turn :
•With the truck running ( with front wheel back on the ground ), switch from 2WD to 4WD and back again, the vacuum shift motor should move the lever on the front axle.

-- If the vacuum shift motor does not move:
1.Check for vacuum on the lines while shifting between modes. Pink vacuum line is 2WD mode, Light Blue vacuum line is 4WD.
2.Check the fuses for the 4WD system and the solenoids.
3.Check the vacuum lines from the vacuum shift motor to the solenoids on the firewall.

4.Check the vacuum lines from the solenoids to the vacuum reservoir box behind the battery.
5.Check the vacuum reservoir box for cracks.
6.Typical solution is the vacuum lines ( to the solenoids or to the vacuum shift motor ) are cracked or the vacuum shift motor has a cracked diaphragm and has water in it.
7.Could be the shift plate contacts in the transfer case are corroded / not making good contact, and not activating the solenoids.


Usually the case is cracked vacuum lines from the solenoids, the next common is a cracked vacuum reservoir box, and 1 time I have seen the mount for the vacuum disconnect motor broken ( motor floating free so it could not push against the axle )

Check fuse #48 in the rear fuse panel first. If fuse is good, you may have a bad selector switch or the TCCM (Transfer Case Control Module) has gone bad. A technician with a high end scan tool can diagnose the system.

take the switches 2wd 4wd hi 4wd lo out of the dash and unplug them all then use small wire to jump the 2wd connectors then replace new 4wd button and new 2wd button

if it is a turn knob that puts it in 4x4.then a wire under the truck is touching the exhaust pipe making it do this. I had this happen to mine. It will be 2 wires so they more and likely came loose.

in 4wd low the car will rev its nuts off and go real slow.in 2wd or 4wd auto the front/rear wheels will turn due to the oil flow in the gearboxes.put the car on wet grass in 2wd and see what happens,then try again in 4wd auto,you will NOTICE a difference.(just a little......)another way is to put it in 2wd and put a wood block under all 4 wheels.then lower slowly.......

You probably have a bad encoder motor.It is located on the side of the transfer case on the drivers side.It is black.The other problem they had with these was the switch but you have already replaced this so your next thing is the encoder motor.Hope this helps.Good luck.

if you slide under the truck and try moving the cv with your hands and there is any looseness in joint or noise the joint is indeed worn out, the cv joint if bad should not stop the truck from shifting into 4 wheel drive it could be stuck in 4wd and this would cause cv joints to break, if u have access to lift get all tires in air and try2 vs 4 drive and see if tires turn if not lift front tires off ground tires should turn freelyin 2wd, as u turn tires listen to wheel bearing and shaft noises for grinding clunking indicating bad parts, simple tricks that may help u find problems for cheap good luck!!

the four wheel drive uses vacuum hub locks. there is a vacuum solenoid on the passenger firewall in front of the battery box. sounds like you need a updated solenoid and possibly one or both hub locks. what happens is the old style solenoid vent allows water to get in and the hub locks freeze or stop working because of the water. the new style has a cover over the vent to prevent water from getting in.