Wiring a 88 electric transfer case

[midget]

I have a problem with my electric tcase in my 88 ranger Ive checked through the site and cant find the answer. 4wd and 2wd work fine but when I try 4low the light blinks for a few seconds and nothing. Since its my trail only vehicle and I'm pretty sure its a wiring problem so how can I wire it up to lock in 4lo? If its possible I would like to be able to just throw a toggle switch on it and be done with b/c when in 4hi it works great.

 

[baddis]

have you checked for codes? it is possable that the vehicle speed sensor is bad or the shift motor is bad.

 

[LittleHorse]

go through the diagnostic sequence described in the transfer case troubleshooting page in the technical library. It will lead you through step by step how to figure out what's wrong.

 

[midget]

I checked through there and it didnt help any. idk if its shootin a code though. Can I just pull the motor off and turn the rod with Vice grips to lock it in 4lo? its weird its shifts fine from 2wd to 4 hi just wont go to 4lo

 

[Jspafford]

Sounds like one of the safety switches is holding it up. If it's a manual you have to be stopped foot on clutch and brake, and auto needs to be in neutral with foot on brake.

 

[midget]

O **** nvm then thats my problem didnt know the clutch had shit to do with it Ive been just tryin on neutral I'll give it a try tomorrow. Anyway my question still stands about the shift rod incase the motor lets go on the trail...

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

yes. remove the 3 bolts that hold the shift motor to the t-case, remove the motor and you can shift the case by hand with a pair of vice grips.

 

[LittleHorse]

There are a set of four contacts inside the motor that register different combinations of open/closed with the module to tell the module what position it is in, and therefore when to stop spinning the motor. Just isntalling a toggle switch isn't going to work because you won't know when to stop for 4hi and neutral.The only way to do it without the module would be to design a system of about a half dozen relays to power a light that indicates what gear you're in so you can let go of the switch. And you'd have to have a switch to go in the 2hi-4lo direction as well as the 4lo-2hi direction. It could be done, but the wiring would be a hell of a project.

My motor contacts were reporting an invalid combination so the module didn't know wtf was going on and just wouldn't shift. I removed all doubt by buying a manual shift transfer case. I still have all the electric shift parts if you need anything, the module is fine but I need to take apart the motor and clean up the contacts before it would be usable.

 

[midget]

Got it in 4lo thanks sorry I had to make a post about all this so as long as it doesnt kick out I'll be fine and no more stupid questions.

 

[Jspafford]

So what did the solution turn out to be?