Got some snow yesterday and used 4 wheel drive for the first time.

I'm noticing what I guess you'd call a dull howl when 4x4 hi is engaged. Not sure about low because I didn't try it. Speed doesn't seem to matter.

I figure it's not the tires themselves because I'd hear it all the time.

Just wondering if this is normal because I couldn't hear a thing in the F150. What do you guys think? Should I get it checked out or is that just the way it is?

 

Mine sounds louder than the old 08 to.

 

It makes some noise. I haven't used it much, but can definitely hear it.

 

Hi guys! Not a 6.2L owner, but my 2011 does make this howl you describe.

I don't remember if my '08 did the same, as I didn't have the ESOF in my last truck. I believe the light whine is normal.

 

Thanks for the replies guys! It's good to know that I'm not alone.

 

My rear end had a slight whine when in 4x4, and on very slight deceleration in 4x2. Changed the fluid out to Mobil 1, it's been gone for 25K+ miles.

But a "howl", well, I KINDA have had that since brand-new.

If your tires are not 100% exact front-to-back, like you've run some tread off the backs (like me), that can account for some wind-up in the drivetrain front-to-back.

The key is, if it gets louder over time. If it stays the same and never changes, I wouldn't worry about it. These trucks have such big running gear and SOMEthing is going to make noise in 4x4

 

I got one better than the Howl I engaged my 4X4 for the first time this morning(7 degrees outside) and got a wrench sign in dash and a clunkI turned off the 4 wheel drive and engaged again samething.I tried it the third time and the wrench sign went awayI think it might have been cold weather doing weird stuff.I am headed to my dealer monday just to be safe.coobie

 

Be sure to let us know what the dealer says. Though they might not know much about what's normal if they haven't seen too many '11's.

 

Good to have it checked out but I think your right about the cold having an affect on the computer maybe.

 

UPDATE,it warmed up to 24 whopping degrees today and light came back on

 

Crap guys, we have had tons of snow, use the 4x4 every time I drive it, and no howl can be heard. Of course, this could be from the excessively loud exhaust.....hahaha! I do notice however a very heavy clunk when it engages. But it works well!

 

UPDATE,took the truck in monday could not get the wrench sign to come on in 4 wheel drive.Dealer tried to pull a code but could not do so.I did get the tranny flash done thoughcoobie

 

Well I must have jinxed myself. It was colder than...well...it was cold. Like 4 degrees the other day, and the truck sat for 4 days without driving it. I had the same issue when engaging 4wd. Clunk, then wrench symbol and Check 4x4. Tried 3 times, no success....then I said the hell with it and put it in drive, guess what, the 4wd was engaged! Then it went away after a bit of driving. I think it is what happens when a hub up front is not fully engaged. I have my hubs in auto still, so they lock when they are told to, and my guess is that one of the hubs wasn't in far enough to tell the pcm it was.

 

Actually, the hubs don't have ANY feedback to the dash.

The only way anything would be reported is if the servo didn't engage fully, and the switch on the transfer case tells the 4x4 module/GEM that it hasn't shifted.

Are you moving when you turn the ****? If not, the transfer case might not engage which is perfectly normal. It's called "shift on the FLY" for a reason

 

^^^That was my other thought, so I tried it while moving(the first time it was parked still) at about 15mph down the road and it still had the same results. After the transmission temp gauge started rising I tried it again and it worked.