All time/Symmetrical AWD

[Gray Goose]

The actuator or motor that engages the PTU in my FX4 broke down and triggered an AWD alarm. So it was running basically on front wheel drive only. My car had only 6k miles when this broke down. Luckily it was replaced under warranty but it’s a 1.3k job. Wondering what could have caused this motor in the PTU to break down with so few miles on the clock?

Sounds like a manufacturing defect. If that becomes a common problem Ford will have a lot of warranty repairs or another recall.

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[NoVaJimmy]

The actuator or motor that engages the PTU in my FX4 broke down and triggered an AWD alarm. So it was running basically on front wheel drive only. My car had only 6k miles when this broke down. Luckily it was replaced under warranty but it’s a 1.3k job. Wondering what could have caused this motor in the PTU to break down with so few miles on the clock?

Ford has a very long history of these things failing. At first they were non serviceable but now at least they have the ability to change the fluid. I would change it more frequently than the service manual calls for especially if you engage the AWD regularly. Also remember that it sits just below the turbo so on top of being delicate to begin with they are subjected to very high temps due to heat from the turbo. Using a Maverick for off roading will also subject it to advanced wear and tear and gear oil degradation since it's air cooled and low speed engagement will cause elevated temps due to a lack of airflow to cool the PTU. That's the reason the tremor uses the water cooled PTU from the bronco sport badlands. Glad yours was covered by warranty but I suggest over maintaining the PTU if you want it to last.

 

[MaverickPR]

Ford has a very long history of these things failing. At first they were non serviceable but now at least they have the ability to change the fluid. I would change it more frequently than the service manual calls for especially if you engage the AWD regularly. Also remember that it sits just below the turbo so on top of being delicate to begin with they are subjected to very high temps due to heat from the turbo. Using a Maverick for off roading will also subject it to advanced wear and tear and gear oil degradation since it's air cooled and low speed engagement will cause elevated temps due to a lack of airflow to cool the PTU. That's the reason the tremor uses the water cooled PTU from the bronco sport badlands. Glad yours was covered by warranty but I suggest over maintaining the PTU if you want it to last.

Thank you! How do you suggest I maintain the PTU to change the fluids? If the transfer case is below the turbo I would need a lift and special tools to service it?

 

[MaverickPR]

Sounds like a manufacturing defect. If that becomes a common problem Ford will have a lot of warranty repairs or another recall.

This is exactly my concern. Is this intelligent all wheel drive PTU used across all fx4 models? Is Ford using a new PTU design for the new mavericks or the tremor?

 

[NoVaJimmy]

Thank you! How do you suggest I maintain the PTU to change the fluids? If the transfer case is below the turbo I would need a lift and special tools to service it?

This is exactly my concern. Is this intelligent all wheel drive PTU used across all fx4 models? Is Ford using a new PTU design for the new mavericks or the tremor?

All AWD Mavericks have the same PTU except the Tremor which has a liquid cooled PTU from the Bronco Sport Badlands. The Tremor and BS Badlands use a liquid cooled PTU so it can still maintain temp if you're doing some light offroading and constantly engaging the PTU at low speeds. With the air cooled PTU that the normal and FX4 AWD models have you're not going to get enough air flowing to the PTU at slow speeds. So basically the AWD XL has the same PTU as the FX4. It's not a big deal, it's pretty easy to change the fluid, doesn't require special tools, not much different from an oil change just a little more difficult to get to once you pull the engine tray/skid plate down.

 

[Montana]

This is exactly my concern. Is this intelligent all wheel drive PTU used across all fx4 models? Is Ford using a new PTU design for the new mavericks or the tremor?

It's not a new design. It not a good design though, mostly due to the small amount of fluid and location which causes such high heat near the exhaust and transmission. The best thing to do, as @NoVaJimmy mentioned, is change the fluid often. Fordtechmakuloco and many others on YT with reliable records on service information have covered them in great detail. Their placement on the Maverick has improved as far as airflow and service ability goes, but the rest is still the same and always will be due to proximity to high heat parts.

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