4 A - 4H - 4L wont engage? Lights says its on.....never locks in while on the ground when needed

[Baldguy01]

Morning, not sure but think I have a post cam phaser separator problem. Back in July had my 24Braptor split in two for cam phaser replacement. (see pics in my thread) It's been 6 six months since, and now have a problem I would have never found if it wouldnt have snowed.

On a snow cover road, hit the 4h button, go 50-60 yards, hit throttle only back tires grip and start to spin.... have had it back to the shop, where they put it up on a lift and it looks fine, all 4 wheels and both shaft seemed to spin. So they sent me a video of to prove and sent me packing. Here we are a week later in 3 inch of packed snow, same issue same way, 4 by nothing. 2 wheel drive 6 figure paperweight!!! and again, after a bit of trying and driving a mile or so, the dash pings and displays a screen saying 4 wheel disengaging, try again later! I think the dealer thinks I'm nuts, offered to come pick them up and try it a snow covered lot a mile away.. no takers.... scheduled to head back Thursday am when the have a 4x4 rental available... I've had 4x4's one if not 2 my whole driving life.

 

[Baldguy01]

If anyone else has had this problem, would appreciate the feedback. The dealer, nor I could find any bulletin on the issue so I think they assumed there isn't a problem. To have a bulletin, there has to be a first report! updates to follow!

 

[TurboS]

Sounds easy enough to duplicate so the dealer should be able to find the root cause. Guessing you were selecting 4A or 4H from the goat mode dial, try selecting "Slippery" goat mode if on road or "Off Road" goat mode if your not on pavement to see if the that works. May help dealer technician to diagnose. I also like that you have taken back to the dealer that performed the CAM phase replacement since it sounds like something didn't get properly reconnected during re-assembly.

 

[Baldguy01]

spot on, and would hope the second time they dig a little deeper. I tried every mode H-L, all the goat modes with various combinations of 4H,L,A. Turned off the abs in various combinations, tried locking front end in 4L/rear end etc. Just trying to find a combination that works...

Its easy to find out if things are working or not in 5 degree weather, 50 mile an hr winds and snow covered roads! I just hope its not a temp related problem where when the dealer looks at it Thursday, and its back to 45 degrees, they cant find the problem......

 

[Baldguy01]

SO results are in on. I got my Braptor back Friday afternoon after the dealer that I bought the vehicle from sent me another video of "there's nothing wrong" . I'
m going to try and attached a link to or download it for prosperity's sake. Anyway, when I picked it up, talked to the Service manager, I asked him if he looked up the screen that I mentioned or looked elswhere as the vehicle was slpit in two from the cam phaser problem in July of 25 and for all I know, the 4 wheel had been broke since then? He got very aggresive with me, said there's no codes anywhere in the system there for there's nothing I can do. I responded back with when did being a Ford mechanic mean you can't fix something that doesnt have a code. I left telling him that I'm leaving for the snow coverd lot and if it doesnt work, expect another call. Long story short, it still didnt work and I got the code again " I attached it below. So if you see it, it doesnt get recorded in any of the codes Ford saves. After having to be pulled out of that lot with soft straps, which was 6-8 inches of packed snow I was at my wits end. DId I really want to go back to this dealer that I bought the vehicle from and purchased a maintenace plan, tire and wheel etc? They dont want to listen look at anything more than the codes and just had a nasty attitude, telloing me nothing was wrong? I was thinking, if I only had a 4 wheel dino, they could put load on the front end, that resistance ssems to be whats triggering the code? I drove immediately to another Ford dealer I had bought my 22 Wildtrak from to see if they could offer an assistance. See next page

 

[Baldguy01]

Part 2, I pull into the next Ford dealership I mentioned. I drove around the back to get to their service area hoping I could get an appointment. As I was making the turn, a few of the mechanics walked out on a smoke break. I slowed down and hit my window as I noticed my old service manager from the place I just left had landed there. I said, boy aren’t you a sight for sore eyes, he says how you been and how'd the Raptor been seen the cam phasers last July? I told him the problems I was having, and the resistance from the his old dealer to fix it and why he left after 14 years. He says, give me ring with the vin in the am and I'll look at it. I then shared the videos and the pics of the displays I was getting, which was more than the previous dealer would ever do. So, after another sleepless night, I was up at first light, and I drove the vehicle over versus calling him with the vin. He laughed when I showed up as he was opening the door. He said give me a minute and I'll give it a look. I left him my key and sat in the waiting room. After about 30 minutes, he comes back and says, I pulled your bronco up on a snow bank out back and was able to recreate the problem, saw the same screen and something is wrong with the front end. I’m having my lead tech look at it when he gets freed up. Finally, someone was finally listening to me. After wondering about the inside show room for another 30-40 minutes or so, he comes back out, says there’s no vacuum or pressure at the outer hubs, we’re digging deeper. I reminded him that the vehicle was split in two and he says he thinks that it has something to do with it. After another hour passes, he comes back out, says he is buttoning things up. What they found was that the two vacuum lines to the front hubs were crisscrossed, no longer pinched and now have good pressure at the front wheel hubs. You should be on your way in 20 minutes or so. What a sigh of relief, finally, I got my Braptor back so it can do what it was meant for! We both then went for a ride, dropped it into 4H and drove to the top of the snow bank out back. It was all working again!

 

[Baldguy01]

On the way home from Saturday, I pulled the Braptor into that snow coverd lot I had to get pulled out from and did 4-5 high speed donuts in baja mode. I wanted a reason to wash it again! That said, what do I about my original dealer SM and their lack of just about everything? They don't listen, care to see what your problem is and did not want to try and recreate the problem. I'm looking for input as much as I'd like to rub it in, am thinking of cancelling out my extended service plan and taking that remaining money to a dealer that cares. I have to wonder that I'm even getting the proper maintenace anymore when I take it in. So let it be a lesson, if you get the 4x4 disenged screen on your bronco display and there are no codes stored, check the front hub assemblies for the proper pressures ensuring that the hubs lock in correctly. There are no bulletins on this and probably should be as it could save folks fromgoing through what I did. With all the cam phaser replacements on these Ecoboost motors, it's only a matter of time. Key words _ Cam Phaser Replacement, 4x4 Temporarily Disabled. Sorry for the long winded details on and can only hope this thread can save someone alot of stress and anxiety!

 

[Baldguy01]

PS, should anyone want the dealer vid's or my examples of things not working hit me off line. thanks for listening

 

[JohnGalt]

Glad this worked out….eventually. Since (almost) everything is electronic on the Broncos you kind of forget vacuum is a thing anymore. I was thinking wheel speed sensor, but that would’ve thrown a code.

Thanks for posting your issue, it’ll be helpful when I’m troubleshooting in the future remembering not everything is electronic