Expert: Skip Bollinger - 5/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: Replaced the belt in my sons 2002 Ford F150 truck today...that's not the problem. What we discovered is the question, it was a broken harness of what looks like vacuum lines, Red, black and blue.          We have an idea of what may have caused them to brittle and break, but what we don’t know is what they are for. The only thing that doesn’t work is the 4 wheel drive, so naturally we suspect this.
One end, only 2 lines the red and blue  goes down to the pumpkin , the top end (red, black and blue) of the broken lines plugs into some box located behind the battery against the firewall...any idea?          We hope that replacing these lines would be a lot less than the $600.00 quote to fix the front differential.  If so, do they sell these lines or is this a much more expensive kit?


ANSWER: Tammie,
  This question is WAY out of my expertise. As stated in my Profile, I'm a Parts Professional, NOT a Tech. I will offer some thoughts for your consideration, however..
  Think about this: did you take the truck to a Ford Dealership? If not, does the Tech KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING??? Most of late model 4 wheel drive units are vacuum actuated. IF you loose vacuum, (which, if you have broken vacuum hoses, you will) the unit will not work.
  Not being a Tech, I'd replace the vacuum lines, one at a time and color code them with tape you can get at any parts store. It will be in the electrical and lighting section. Make sure you get as close to factory as you can with the coloring. This way if you ever need to take the truck to a real Tech, they have the coloring to follow.
  Tammie, this is the best thoughts I can offer. Please remember, I'm a Parts Professional, NOT a Tech. Good luck..
Skip

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: You did indeed answer my question... the 4x4 is vacuum actuated. So now I go to the store and look up the schematic. Get the hoses and put er back in the mud. We have no tech just me. I spent a lot of  my younger years with old junk cars, now I am a Grandma of 5 and my boy's still call me with there car trouble. I love getting the smell of car grease under my nails.
These small hoses...i can just buy those at the parts store or are these special order, or perhaps a U pull the parts salvage yard?

Answer
Tammie,
  I feel if you go to a "pull a part" salvage yard, you will just end up with rotted hoses just like you have. As I suggested earlier, I'd take the hoses, one at a time to keep from getting them mixed up, to a parts store. Buy the hose and look in the Electrical section for a "multi pack" of tape of different colors to identify the hoses.
  This reminds me of customers I have had that come into my store and have a distributor cap AND wires attached. They tell me they want a new cap, rotor and wires. I ask them if they know which wire is number 1 and if they know the firing order and they freak. DO THIS ONE HOSE AT A TIME!!!!
  I don't know if any store will have a vacuum diagram for this and that it why I'm telling you to do it one hose at a time and COLOR CODE THEM!!!!!
  Good luck, Tammie.
Skip