4wd not disengaging when switching driving modes

[weeeeeeeeee]

I have a 24 f150 xlt powerboost. When driving in the snow previously I haven’t had any trouble switching back and forth from slippery to normal mode. Today I switched back to normal mode and the 4wd didn’t disengage. I tried it a few more times but it stayed in 4H. After pushing the 2wd button it switched back fine. I’m hoping it just glitched and I don’t have a transfer case issue. Wanted to see if anybody else has had this happen.

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[Cobraman428]

I would check to see if you have any DTS codes - Do you have forscan?

 

[roadPilot]

I have a 24 f150 xlt powerboost. When driving in the snow previously I haven’t had any trouble switching back and forth from slippery to normal mode. Today I switched back to normal mode and the 4wd didn’t disengage. I tried it a few more times but it stayed in 4H. After pushing the 2wd button it switched back fine. I’m hoping it just glitched and I don’t have a transfer case issue. Wanted to see if anybody else has had this happen.

Did you cycle the ignition in between being in slippery mode and trying to switch back to normal mode?

When I switch into slippery mode and switch back to normal without cycling the ignition, it goes to normal and goes back to 2H. But if I switch to slippery, shut the truck off, start it later, THEN turn the knob back to normal, it will NOT go back to 2H. I have to either switch modes BACK to slippery and then back to normal after the subsequent start OR just press 2H.

That's the way it's always worked for me, not only for slippery mode, but whenever switching between any modes that involve changing from 2H to 4H or vice versa.

I do not recall if shifting out of drive into park and back into drive had any effect.

 

[Gros Ventre]

When going from 4WD to 2WD, the gears can bind up. Let off the gas & maybe shift to N for 50 yards or so. After the 2WD light comes on give it 10 or 20 yards or so before you come back on the gas.

 

[weeeeeeeeee]

Did you cycle the ignition in between being in slippery mode and trying to switch back to normal mode?

When I switch into slippery mode and switch back to normal without cycling the ignition, it goes to normal and goes back to 2H. But if I switch to slippery, shut the truck off, start it later, THEN turn the knob back to normal, it will NOT go back to 2H. I have to either switch modes BACK to slippery and then back to normal after the subsequent start OR just press 2H.

That's the way it's always worked for me, not only for slippery mode, but whenever switching between any modes that involve changing from 2H to 4H or vice versa.

I do not recall if shifting out of drive into park and back into drive had any effect.

Good call. Normally I switch out of 4wd before I shut it off. This time I parked and left it in 4wd knowing I would need it when I started it back up.

 

[roadPilot]

Good call. Normally I switch out of 4wd before I shut it off. This time I parked and left it in 4wd knowing I would need it when I started it back up.

I forget sometimes myself. In any case, that's the way it's always worked for me.

Question: When you restarted, did it ask you if you wanted to stay in 'Slippery' mode? If you ignore it, it will stay in 'Normal' mode, but it will NOT switch back to 2H (if you had left it in 4H/4A when you shut it off). It will simply change the mode to Normal while leaving it in 4H/4A. You could then just stab the 2H button.

Had you answered "Yes" (return to Slippery) upon restart, I don't know if a subsequent spin of the mode dial back to normal (after you started moving again) would have moved it back to 2H or not. I'll have to try to remember to test that situation out.

 

[Mosey]

I noted this same behavior, staying in 4H after a restart without saying yes to keep slippery mode. From the responses I received, it is normal. Do I agree with this - no.

 

[roadPilot]

I noted this same behavior. From the responses I received it is normal. Do I agree with this - no.

He shut the truck off when the front diff was in 4A/4H.

When he restarted, he likely did not answer "Yes" when it asked if he wanted to return to 'Slippery' mode.

When he did that, the truck set the mode to the default (Normal), but it can't very well make the front diff change back to 2H because ... you're not moving at that point. So that it all makes logical sense.

 

[ak49rzrs]

I forget sometimes myself. In any case, that's the way it's always worked for me.

Question: When you restarted, did it ask you if you wanted to stay in 'Slippery' mode? If you ignore it, it will stay in 'Normal' mode, but it will NOT switch back to 2H (if you had left it in 4H/4A when you shut it off). It will simply change the mode to Normal while leaving it in 4H/4A. You could then just stab the 2H button.

Had you answered "Yes" (return to Slippery) upon restart, I don't know if a subsequent spin of the mode dial back to normal (after you started moving again) would have moved it back to 2H or not. I'll have to try to remember to test that situation out.

I'm curious on that also as I haven't messed with it much as I work remote. or if you only engage it into 4H or 4A if it'll stay there upon restart. The one thing I do know, is if you are in slippery mode, park and shut the truck off and ignore the truck asking if you want to stay in slippery mode it will go to normal mode but 4A will stay active.

 

[roadPilot]

I'm curious on that also as I haven't messed with it much as I work remote. or if you only engage it into 4H or 4A if it'll stay there upon restart.

If you shut the truck off when it's in 4A/4H, then restart it later, it will most certainly still be in 4A/4H (no matter if you did it via the 'mode' button and ignoring the message upon restart or just pressing the 4A or 4H button). The vehicle needs to be in motion to engage/disengage.

 

[Mosey]

If you shut the truck off when it's in 4A/4H, then restart it later, it will most certainly still be in 4A/4H (no matter if you did it via the 'mode' button and ignoring the message upon restart or just pressing the 4A or 4H button). The vehicle needs to be in motion to engage/disengage.

I respectfully disagree. I just tested engagement/disengagement while in park. No problem switching 2H-4H-2H.

 

[roadPilot]

I respectfully disagree. I just tested engagement/disengagement while in park. No problem switching 2H-4H-2H.

I didn't say the button would not respond or change the graphic. But if there's pressure on the gearing, the vehicle needs to move for the change to actually occur inside the differential.

 

[ak49rzrs]

If you shut the truck off when it's in 4A/4H, then restart it later, it will most certainly still be in 4A/4H (no matter if you did it via the 'mode' button and ignoring the message upon restart or just pressing the 4A or 4H button). The vehicle needs to be in motion to engage/disengage.

Thanks. Just curious as still figuring what nuances these trucks have on top of all the other ones I've come across so far. other than initial ownership of running through all the drive options with 4A/4H/4L and rear locker, the driving mode is the only one I've routinely utilized. Which I will say it was nice to know it would at least stay in the 4A setting upon restart so I've pretty much just left that alone since winter hit.

 

[Gros Ventre]

Unless you're in 4A... if you go onto a dry hard surface road you can get gear windup. No matter how hard you try the tires will be slightly different circumferences. This leads to the transfer case gears interfering with each other. Your truck will give you an alert on the screen if that is developing. If you get that warning pull over, put it in Reverse and back up 50 or 100 yards. Should finish disengaging then. Except in 4A, the gear windup issue if ignored will eventually eat thru your gears as they grind against each other.

 

[roadPilot]

Thanks. Just curious as still figuring what nuances these trucks have on top of all the other ones I've come across so far. other than initial ownership of running through all the drive options with 4A/4H/4L and rear locker, the driving mode is the only one I've routinely utilized. Which I will say it was nice to know it would at least stay in the 4A setting upon restart so I've pretty much just left that alone since winter hit.

Even when it stays in 4A, you should put it back in the correct mode. Sport is far different than Slippery, even though they both use 4A.

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