so i got my ford exploder stuck tonight and i thought my dodge to the rescue........ but only my 4x4 wouldn't engage this is all on my property by the way, i finally got it back to my house with the help of my friends only to check that my linkage from the shiftre the the case seem to be working fine.... but i might as so add... that i am intoxicated at the moment... but whats the next step what do i or should i look at next anyone else have this problem before????? This is the first time it has ever let me down like this!!!!!

 

I'm 99% positive it's the vacuum lines going to your front axle that's causing it to not lock in. Happens to everyone at some point lol.

 

where do these line come from and go to

 

Vacuum source at pass. side of the intake, goes to switch on t-case, from there, two lines go to the front axle. (there is a fourth line, that is just a vent, goes up behind the motor.)

 

how do i test these lines if there is no visable damage

 

Start engine, trans in park, t-case in 2wd, check vacuum at cad lines, should be vacuum at the outboard port. Shift t-case into 4wd, should be vacuum on inboard port. If you don't get one or the other, start following the lines around. If the lines are indeed all good, replace switch on t-case. (after verifying you do get vacuum TO the switch.)

 

this is what i found after getting home from work with some tools, the blurry part is the cat and those are the lines they do have wholes in them, and they go to the second picture they are the black and red lines

 

I think the connector at the cad is on backwards as well...... I think the red line goes to the inboard port.

 

well if they are backwards they have been for a very long time, i havent ever touched them, i have been the only person to work on this truck for the last 7 years, or since i got it, and it just recently stopped working like a month ago.

 

Well, ya never know what all has happened to it in the past.... unless you bought it new... but, fix the steel lines, and see if it wants to work right. If it does, smile, and be happy.