Question on electric switch 4x4 operation...

[CodyLX450]

I have a 2008 F-450 4x4 with the electronic 4x4 switch on the dash.

I am pretty confident that 2wd means JUST rear wheel drive.

It has snowed pretty well here in northern AZ, so it was the first time I really got to require my 4x4 mode since buying the truck in January.

I back out of the driveway, and the rear tire starts to spin. I shift into 4x4 HIGH and I still feel spinning. The light locks ON, not flashing like it's not engaged.

I look out my driver's door and blip the gas - driver's front wheel is NOT spinning, but the rears are spinning in the snow. My girlfriend looks out the passenger side, repeat the blip the gas process - and she reports that the passenger wheel is NOT spinning either.

I drop it in neutral - shift to 4 LOW. Repeat - same - front wheels aren't spinning at all.

The front wheels do not have any power to them until I go out and lock in the front hubs.

Is this how this is supposed to work? I was under the impression 4x4 HIGH would give me at least 1 rear wheel and 1 front wheel with power. Same with 4 LOW. Locking the hubs would mean I have a locked front axle.

Does the rear axle lock in 4 High and 4 Low?


I am used to my 97 80 series Land Cruiser which is full time 4wd. It will be one front tire and one rear tire powered at all times. I can lock the center diff which will give me one front and one rear spinning in unison. I have ARB air lockers that will lock the rear or front axle at the flip of a switch which can give me locked rear and open front, vise versa, or all 4 wheels locked together.

[MD05]

Originally Posted by CodyLX450

I have a 2008 F-450 4x4 with the electronic 4x4 switch on the dash.

I am pretty confident that 2wd means JUST rear wheel drive.

It has snowed pretty well here in northern AZ, so it was the first time I really got to require my 4x4 mode since buying the truck in January.

I back out of the driveway, and the rear tire starts to spin. I shift into 4x4 HIGH and I still feel spinning. The light locks ON, not flashing like it's not engaged.

I look out my driver's door and blip the gas - driver's front wheel is NOT spinning, but the rears are spinning in the snow. My girlfriend looks out the passenger side, repeat the blip the gas process - and she reports that the passenger wheel is NOT spinning either.

I drop it in neutral - shift to 4 LOW. Repeat - same - front wheels aren't spinning at all.

The front wheels do not have any power to them until I go out and lock in the front hubs.

Is this how this is supposed to work? I was under the impression 4x4 HIGH would give me at least 1 rear wheel and 1 front wheel with power. Same with 4 LOW. Locking the hubs would mean I have a locked front axle.

Does the rear axle lock in 4 High and 4 Low?


I am used to my 97 80 series Land Cruiser which is full time 4wd. It will be one front tire and one rear tire powered at all times. I can lock the center diff which will give me one front and one rear spinning in unison. I have ARB air lockers that will lock the rear or front axle at the flip of a switch which can give me locked rear and open front, vise versa, or all 4 wheels locked together.

1. Try locking the hubs in.
2. if you have an auto function on the hubs you have to be rolling to get the hubs to automaticly lock in. if they do not lock in than you have an issue with the hub or the actuating system. The little electric switch is a replacement for the chuck of steel coming out of the floor that we used to select 4WD with.

two options:
First option select 4 High before you need it and roll forward a bit 10-20 ft and you should be fine or,
Second option is manually select "lock" on both front hubs and then flip the electronic switch to 4 High.

If the hubs are selected to "Lock" they will be locked in and will require you to select "Auto" on the hub to unlock them.