my 4wd is dead . i have the switch on the dash in a 98 f150. the light isn't even lit up and it dosen't click when i turn it. the lights on the dash do light up when i turn the key on. am i right in assuming that it is probably the turn switch that is broken and is there a way i can jump a wire between the ones that connect to the back of the switch to test if thats it


thanks for any help

 

not sure if your truck is the same as mine? i have an 2001 Screw 4x4. it might be the electric shift motor on your transfer case. i think it's 3 or 4 little bolts that hold it on you can remove it and shift it into 4hi by hand. my t-case had 4low and 4hi marked on it. if everything shifts fine the motor is prob. bad. i have 1 if you need it. the t-case i bought came w/one on it. mine wasn't a $70 fix, had to replace the whole damn thing. good luck!!

 

i have the same problem with my 98, light is on but no ones home,but , i do here the switch tic when i turn the truck back on,,but no 4x4,,and i have herd a bang when i start to drive,,can the shift motor be rebuilt,,and if so,,can anyone show me a link to go to.


bruce

 

Could be the switch, could be the relays, could be the computer, could be the shift motor... I got manuals, so personally haven't had to fool with the ESOF, but unbolting the shift motor from the transfer case and trying the motor, and then trying to turn the transfer case shaft to see what doesn't work. I look around today, but I believe therangerstation.com had a good article on the motor rebuild.

Adrianspeeder

 

thanks man !

 

Before you go tearing into it, start with the basics. Pop the stereo surround off and verify that the switch is plugged in. Check the fuses: Fuse #13 (15A), Fuse #17 (30A), Fuse #23 (10A). Check the resistances at the switch: 3900, 1100, and 360 ohms or there abouts between the two DB wires on the back of the switch.

Start there and let us know what you find. Troubleshooting the system without being able to view the GEM PIDs is sometimes difficult, but we'll see what we can do.

 

thanks, GIJoecam,,i'll try it.

 

O K,,im back,,its not the fuses,,the 4x4 light is on and the front drive shaft is working,,so,,i think its the hubs that are not locking..does this sound right ? a friend of mine said if the light is on and shaft is working,,,it's the hubs.

just for some more info--about 2 months ago i had rotors put on.

 

Search for 'Center-axle disconnect' and you'll find numerous issues on the subject.

The short synopsis is that the GEM grounds the vacuum solenoids on the firewall which control two plastic vacuum lines connected to the vacuum motor on the CAD. Any point in that actuation process can fail... hoses broken/eaten by battery acid, sticky solenoid, and sticky CAD all rank right up at the top of the list of things that go wrong.

-Joe

 

so what should i do next,check solenoid,,if so,,how.



thanks bruce

 

Back again,,O K,,it's the shift motor,,does anyone know how to rebuild a shift motor.

 

If the front drivehaft locks to the rear, then it's not the shift motor. s

 

well,,i had the 98f150 put on a computer and it said,,thats what it is,,we tride to free it up by tapping on it(shift motor),,and i could only get into 4x4 L range and no 4x4 h,,so we got it back into 2wh and now we are getting 2 ft of snow,,and im screwed...thats what the guy said,,let me know what you think

 

if its not the shift motor,,what is it ??



thanks

 

Now wait a second... before, you said that the light wasn't coming on, then it WAS coming on and the driveshaft was locking in... which is it? If the front driveshaft locks to the rear and the light comes on, but there's no power to the front wheels, there's a problem with the CAD or the system that engages it. If the light doesn't come on and/or the front driveshaft does not lock in the t-case, then it's something else.

So what, exactly, is going on?