How to Put a 1989 Ford Pickup Into 4-Wheel Drive
Ford pickups made in 1989 with 4-wheel drive use an electric switch to automatically perform the switch between 2WD and 4WD. Before the addition of "shift on the fly" technology, switching to 4WD meant pulling over, getting out and manually turning the hubs to the 4WD setting. With "shift on the fly," there is no longer any need to stop the vehicle. By pressing the switch, the driver can put a 1989 Ford pickup into 4-wheel drive with ease.
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Instructions
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Drive the pickup in 2WD to an isolated area of road to practice shifting on the fly into 4WD. School parking lots or back country roads make ideal test test drive locations.
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Bring the truck up to a travel speed of 25 to 35 mph. Shifting into 4WD can be done at higher and lower speeds, but 25 to 35 mph is a good speed to practice shifting at because it is easy to regain control of the vehicle should anything go wrong.
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Shift the truck into 4WD by grabbing the head of the stickshift and pressing and holding in the button located on the front or side of the head. When the hubs on the tires lock into 4WD, the driver will be able to hear and feel the change. The handling of the truck will become slightly stiffer than when it is in 2WD.
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Shift the truck back into 2WD by holding in the button on the shift head until the change is heard and felt.
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Practice shifting between 4WD and 2WD while changing gears. Press and hold in the button while moving the stickshift to the required gear. Listen for the sound of the drive changing. A difference in handling will also be noted.
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Tips & Warnings
Shift into 4WD on a regular basis, even if it is not needed for the terrain, to keep the 4WD in good working order.
Do not shift into 4WD at speeds higher than 60 mph or the shift may not complete, causing a loss of control over the steering of the pickup.
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