How to Replace IWE Solenoid in 2004-2006 F-150 4x4's

ProZach

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Edit: for those of you who don't know this fix is to prevent water leakage from entering the vacuum lines and causing a grinding noise that is very loud and is the sound of your entire 4x4 system being torn to shreds internally. here's a link to the tsb info http://www.ford-trucks.com/tsb/fulltext/show_article.php?tsb=06-8-15
Got the part today for $32.41 including tax and decided to install it. Thought I would do a write up for those curious about what the part looks like. The part number for those having a hard time conveying to the dealers what you need is as follows, this is everything listed on the bottom of my box:
“ONE
CX-2117
6L3Z-9E441-A
Valve”
Here’s the box it came in.
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Here’s the old part
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Here’s the new part
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Here’s what you’ll need to do this
8mm socket
10mm long socket
Optional flat head screw driver
10 minutes if you have an extended 10mm socket otherwise you’ll run around for 30 min like I did trying to find one and end up working with what you got.
First thing to do is pop the hood,
Next look to your battery, you’ll want to remove it for this operation so that you can reach nuts that need to be unscrewed. This is done by unbolting the 8mm nut on the negative cable, then the positive cable, and then the retainer nut at the base of the baterry. After all three have been unbolted slide the battery cover off and remove the battery as well, it could be a little more convenient to unbolt the pan but that’s up to you, I personally chose not to.
Here’s what the pan looks like with the battery and cover gone.
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Next you’re going to want to locate the solenoid which is right next to the battery against the passenger side firewall. Use your flathead or girlish fingernails to unclip this.
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Now firmly grasp the vacuum lines and slide them off. Both lines come off together.
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Next remove the two 10mm nuts that are holding the assembly in, it should look like this.
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Now to install do exactly as done earlier but in reverse. Tighten the two nuts.
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Plug in the vacuum line
Plug in the electrical connector
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Install the battery
Congratulations you have now installed a $32.41 part that can save you $1000s in 4x4 repairs down the road but should have been installed when it came from the factory.
 
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Bigredmariner

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4WD control on the Fords, common problem much like the GM encoder sensor and or switch.
 
R

Riggs

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well i can tell the new one has a cover over the plug, and being against the firewall, were there problems with water leaking in them?
 

ProZach

Its a fucTMCTMCTMCTMC BRONCO! not a Jeep!
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Sorry guys probably should have addressed that.
The former solenoid was prone to having water drip on it where it runs off below the windshield and into the engine bay when being washed or rained on.
Common symptoms are random grinding noises when driving in any mode (4hi 4lo and 2hi).
The new cover simply prevents water from flowing onto the solenoid
 

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