4x4 not engaging

[Earl Gardner]

I bought a 2003 recently, couldn't pass on the price and condition, but I am having problems with the 4wd. When I switch it into a4wd or 4wdh the light flashes, but when I switch it to 4edl it seems to engage. I have also noticed that when I start the vehicle I DO NOT get the ABS and brake lights illuminated. I am assuming that I have a ABS computer problem but wanted to verify before I pull it and either send it for repair or get one from the bone yard. Any thoughts?

 

[Bedrck47]

Welcome to the forum

Its possible that the bulbs are burnt out or missing Which would require you to remove the Inst cluster.

I would get the codes read to see if you get any ABS codes

If you do your own work I would also suggest you get the Ford Service Manual on DVD
Don't waste your money on a Haynes or Clymer etc manual Get the ford manual which will be specific to your year and model

http://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/factory-service-manuals.25089/

 

[docraymund]

Get the truck on a lift and check if all wheels turn on 4wd mode. It just might be a bulb problem.

 

[Earl Gardner]

Thanks,

I do already have the factory manuals for it. Fuses are good, lights flash but it does not engage. Abs code I get is module no power, I forget which code it actually was but that's the definition.

 

[Bedrck47]

Thanks,

I do already have the factory manuals for it. Fuses are good, lights flash but it does not engage. Abs code I get is module no power, I forget which code it actually was but that's the definition.

Being you have the factory manuals I would suggest that you get the code and look it up and use the manual to trouble shoot the problem

If you don't have power to the ABS module then the wiring diagrams should point you in the right direction to find the problem. \

How did you test the fuses??

 

[Earl Gardner]

With a meter and removing them. I did look it up and while it has a few varying symptoms and points that way I was hoping I could hear from someone who may have had the same experience. Given the code I got, the fuses good, the symptoms and power to the abs I am certain that is bad, I'm just hoping that's all it is. In the mid 90's I was a Ford dealership mechanic, who went through the asset program, and found that being an industrial electrician pays more. So It's more an issue that they didn't use this system when I was actually at the garage.

 

[Bedrck47]

"With a meter and removing them"??

was that an ohm meter or volt meter??

 

[Earl Gardner]

It was a VOM, to be precise a fluke 87, set to ohms while the fuses were removed from the circuit. You're kidding right

 

[Bedrck47]

Not really Since your an electrician, answer me this. How could you tell if you had voltage flowing thru the fuse if you pulled it and check it with a ohm meter

If you didn't check for voltage then you wasted your time

There is no need to pull a fuse to check it, if you use a volt meter you just place one lead on ground and the other lead to the test point on the fuse.

Also it would be nice to know what code you had If I knew the code it would be helpful so I can look it up and see what is says and any test procedures.

 

[Bedrck47]

Earl I am not trying to insult you but you came on this forum looking for a quick fix and hoping someone that had the same problem would offer suggestions. So far its been just me and some idiot that suggested you put the expy on a lift and rotate the wheels.

Since you worked at a ford dealership I would bet that you had many customers come in with the same problem but it wasn't always the same cure.

And you saying about being an industrial electrician tells me that you bend conduit and pull wires I could be wrong. Now an Industrial maintenance electrician is different He's the one that does the troubleshooting and makes the repairs.

I don't kid when it comes to helping others with problems I have no idea what you know or don't know and until I know I will try and start at the beginning of a problem. There are only two members on this forum that will take the time to troubleshoot the problem with you. But if your looking for a quick fix then I would suggest you look elsewhere.

In the same respect You have no idea what I know or don't know But you can bet on one thing and that is the willingness to help

 

[Earl Gardner]

No conduit for me. Plc, freq drives, instrumentation, and communications. Voltage testing is anot her valid way to check most fuses but you will find fuses that pass voltage but not current. When you pull them from the circuit, which you should do for resistance readings, you may not see them open with an ohmeter either. These are called semiconductor fuses and you probably will not find them in a automotive application. For a car fuse pulling the fuse give you both a visual check and ohm. I have never seen a car fuse pass an ohm check and not a volts check. I have seen a car fuse pass with voltage but not ohms and it was open and the cause of the issue. The blade was cracked off just inter where the test point was. Visual check found it after it failed to ohm out.

And no, I wasn't looking for a quick fix, just surveying what others have experienced with similar problems. When researching all the symptoms I see the common answer is the abs computer but wanted to hear others thoughts.

 

[Bedrck47]

You are correct about them passing voltage when they pass and ohm check The purpose of checking the for input and output voltage is to make sure voltage is present You stated you had a code that showed no voltage to the ABS So why check for ohms when you need volts. A lot of wasted effort pulling automotive fuses when a simple check for voltage would produce the same results. And also I am still waiting for you to post the code(s) that you had

Did you test all 6 of the fuses for the ABS module?

 

[Earl Gardner]

Ohms checks the fuses integrity, yes I checked for voltage. Even at the modules connector. Top of my head, because it has been a few months since I started working on it...busy summer and now looking to winter...I do not remember how many fuses it was besides the word alot. I haven't run it again to pull the code again to post its. A voltage may not produce the sake results. As stated before I have seen fuses pads a vlot age check and not the ohms, depends on what broke.

 

[Bedrck47]

It would be nice had you stated you checked for voltage from the get go. Because in all of your posts you don't mention anything about checking for voltage either at the fuse or the modules. The information that you will receive on this forum will be based on the information you provide. And since I or anyone else wasn't there when you ran any test we have no idea what you may have done or not done.