2008 El Limited issues with 4x4 ( Have 4L but not 4H or 4x4 auto)

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jj86gn

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Hi all,

I'm hoping for some advice. My 4x4 stopped working and I don't know why. I checked the fuses under the hood;
#35 20A mini fuse 4x4 Module
#43 20A cartridge fuse 4x4 Module motor
#75 5A mini 4x4 IWE solenoid

and all are fine.

I do hear a clicking noise coming from the pass side when I engage 4L. And I do get the light on the dash saying its engaged. But when turning to 4H and 4x4 Auto, no clicking from pass side and no lights. It does say, "4x4 Shift in progress" but then goes away and no tell tale message saying it's engaged.

I do have 220,000 mile on her and outside of patching the rockers and some paint peeling from the hood/ tailgate, it runs and looks like a new vehicle. Can someone please help?
 

JExpedition07

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Hi all,

I'm hoping for some advice. My 4x4 stopped working and I don't know why. I checked the fuses under the hood;
#35 20A mini fuse 4x4 Module
#43 20A cartridge fuse 4x4 Module motor
#75 5A mini 4x4 IWE solenoid

and all are fine.

I do hear a clicking noise coming from the pass side when I engage 4L. And I do get the light on the dash saying its engaged. But when turning to 4H and 4x4 Auto, no clicking from pass side and no lights. It does say, "4x4 Shift in progress" but then goes away and no tell tale message saying it's engaged.

I do have 220,000 mile on her and outside of patching the rockers and some paint peeling from the hood/ tailgate, it runs and looks like a new vehicle. Can someone please help?

Hey there so i experienced the same exact issue you are having. 4LO engaged perfectly but i got no 4A or 4H when i experienced the issue. No indication on the dash. So originally the switch was suspected on mine and did that, but the problem came back a month back. So i pulled my radio and center trim on the dash out and pushed in on the connector behind the switch, i then got under the truck and went over all the connections on the the transfer case. Got in and walla all the functions have been working properly again, it was a loose connection somewhere.
 
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JExpedition07

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My issues came back, looks like I’m having the dealer put in a new transfer case..... not good news.
 
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jj86gn

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Well,

I think I narrowed it down to either the switch on the dash or the transfer case motor. Since I used 4L last night, I ruled out bad fuses and IWE. Hoping it's the cheaper of the two.
 

JExpedition07

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Well,

I think I narrowed it down to either the switch on the dash or the transfer case motor. Since I used 4L last night, I ruled out bad fuses and IWE. Hoping it's the cheaper of the two.

After DAYS at the dealer they went over and cleaned every connection and said a “diverter valve” was bad. I’m thinking that’s the vacuum solonoids but not sure, but I’m bringing it back Tuesday to get that replaced, they said they have it so the 4WD will work temporary but this weekend the dash stopped displaying it and I lost it again so I’m not convinced that’s the issue, let me know if you get your resolved first because we’ve got the same symptoms. Since I’ve lost mine again I still get 4Low like before, but no auto or high yet again.
 
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jj86gn

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Hey all. Well I know this is an old thread but I still got this issue. I haven’t done anything in a year because I was deployed for OIR in Jordan and Syria. I left on Jan 2nd 2018 and just go back in the good old USA. With winter already here in PA, I started, again, to looking into this problem.

I found the IWE solenoid but it does look like anything I have seen on this or any other board. Mine isn’t attached to the firewall but is attached to the radiator shield and it looks like it has a vacuum container attached to it. Photos included. Has anybody seen this before?

And has anybody found a solution to this issue? No AWD or 4H but I can get into 4L. I can hear the solenoid in the passenger kick well click on when switching into 4L. But not AWD or 4H. Any advice on where to go from here?

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IMG_5475.JPG

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JExpedition07

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Hi there jj86gn, I ended up getting the problem resolved. The dealer level mechanics ended up being no help to me long story short. When I brought it back in to service they replaced the passenger side hub actuator instead after I told them bypassing the solonoid didnt work. Turns out the solonoid cant be bypassed anyway! If it’s shorted out or the computer can’t communicate to it the vehicle will not shift into 4x4. Yes that little part that says made in USA on the cap is the solonoid. That’s where they mount on the Expedition. I ended up replacing that which solved the problem with lack of dash lights and engagement. More recently I also replaced both hub actuators and the check valve for maintenance items as I was getting some grinding. System operates properly now.
 
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