Truck won't shift into 4Lo electronically

[USAFJack]

Hey y'all,

Got a 2004 Ranger XLT automatic and I can't get it to shift into 4Lo. YES, I have been doing it the correct way. Foot on brake in neutral but the solenoid never clicks over. The lights turn on normally for Lo and Hi when starting the truck and no issues with switching into 4Hi. I've swapped known good parts from a donor truck: 4x4 control module, shift motor, and a new transmission speed sensor. Checked all 4x4 related fuses and no breaks in fuses. Checked voltage on switch and that seems good. I've manually turned the keyway in the transfer case with the shift motor off and it engages in 4Lo that way so transfer case is good. What am I missing!?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Youre 100% positive your parts truck had a good shift motor?

 

[bobbywalter]

The connection to see clutch in or neutral

 

[Josh B]

The connection to see clutch in or neutral

Say what?

 

[bobbywalter]

The wiring ... the clutch has to be pushed in or the trans in neutral.

If that connection is not being made...it will not want to go to 4 low.

Sometimes it's just corrosion.

 

[USAFJack]

Youre 100% positive your parts truck had a good shift motor?

Yes, the donor truck still runs and drives and the parts from my bad truck i swapped into the donor WORK on the donor truck so they weren't bad in the first place.

 

[USAFJack]

The wiring ... the clutch has to be pushed in or the trans in neutral.

If that connection is not being made...it will not want to go to 4 low.

Sometimes it's just corrosion.

You happen to know where I could track down this wiring? Seems like all that is left to check.

 

[bobbywalter]

2006?

somewhere 04-07 there is a change with gems and the 4x4 systems....i dont remember if the ranger has that change....

i know after 01 or so they went to the passenger kick panel...has a black and grey plug....lil different then the style i have.

 

[bobbywalter]

Ford Ranger 4x4 | PDF | Four Wheel Drive | Manual Transmission

FORD RANGER 4X4

www.scribd.com

 

[00t444e]

Put a manual shift transfer case in it.

 

[USAFJack]

SOLVED! With the help of the service manual troubleshooting tree and using the Forscan software I determined it was an open circuit in the neutral safety switch. Saved me a lot of time!

 

[Josh B]

That don't look like mine that I can tell, it's also 13 years newer than mine (which still works perfectly)
I went through the woods in mine just a couple days ago and there was a lot of dead limbs and brush down.
Picked up something in my driveshaft but went on into the back pasture, hoping it would throw it loose.
After a bit I stopped and looked under there, it was wedged into the shaft cavity. I took a battery chainsaw in there and cut it close as I could and the big piece dropped out and the little one still left I reached in there and grabbed it out
I took photos going over there but haven't had the chance to even look at them yet
Don't worry about what they say long as you like what you have. I've had mine 17 years with no more than minor repairs, none of which ever made me have to get out of the truck in the mud and muk or snow and ice to switch it on

 

[bobbywalter]

yeah....needs to know its in neutral.


good work

 

[Josh B]

That error cost me a lot of work Bobby, just in many attempted installations alone, and I had no clue what was wrong. My rebuilder should have set it back to neutral I suppose