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1994 Ranger 4x4 not engaging


cardana24

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2008
Messages
78
Vehicle Year
1990
Transmission
Automatic
Hey guys,
I picked up a 1994, ranger 4x4, manual, 4.0 a few months ago. When I bought the truck the 4x4 was not working, you would push the 4x4 button and nothing would happen. So I searched around and saw a bunch of people have had trouble with the shift motor. So I took that apart and cleaned it. Once I did that and put it back on the t/c the 4x4 would engage. So I was smiling thinking I had fixed it. Well over the weekend I thought I would test it out. I am getting no engagement again. The light does not come on, on the dash and the 4x4 is not engaging. So I started going through this thread http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/4wd_control_module.html

My module blinks when I push the white button on the top of it. All of the tests for the switch check out. I have continuity between the wires from the 4x4 module and the shift motor. But I don't think the 4x4 module is passing the signal to the shift motor. I am not able to get 12v at the connector going to the shift motor and I am not sure why.

I did not do this section of the diagnostic
c. Connect an ohmmeter between terminal 8 (yellow/white) and terminals 4 (violet), 5 (white), 6 (brown/white) and 7 (orange/white), respectively. Refer to the following chart for the appropriate ohmmeter readings in each transfer case position.
OHMMETER READINGS FOR SHIFT MOTOR POSITION SENSOR
Pin 8 Wire Color Y/W To:
TRANSFER CASE MOTOR POSITION
2 High Edge 1 2H-4H Edge 2 4 High Edge 3 4H-4L Edge 4 4 Low
Pin 4 Wire Color P/Y Short Short Short Short Open Open Open Short Short
Pin 5 Wire Color W Open Open Open Open Open Short Short Short Short
Pin 6 Wire Color BR/W Short Short Open Short Short Short Short Short Open
Pin 7 Wire Color O/W Open Short Short Short Short Short Open Open Open

NOTE: Edge positions and Mid-Shift positions are valid motor codes that the module will respond to; however, any motor found in one of these positions should be replaced/torn apart and cleaned/inspected to prevent the overshooting of shift points.
SHORT is a "low" resistance reading on the ohmmeter (zero ohms).
OPEN is a "high" resistance reading on the ohmmeter (infinity).


I was not really sure I was checking it right. Can anyone help me with this problem? When I opened up my shift motor I do not have any sort of bushing around the stop on the shift motor wheel. But mine is also a peg, it does not have a screw head like I have seen in some pictures so I don't think it is missing anything but I am not positive. Let me know what else I need to answer for you all so I can get this thing working again. Thanks.
 
Also I have no clue if this effects anything with the 4x4 stuff but my ABS light is on. Would that stop the 4x4 from engaging?
 
Not sure if this helps or not but I'll comment anyways. I had almost the identical truck. My old ranger would not go into 4x4 until I hit the switch and stop my truck and put it in reverse. Idk what it was but that always worked for me. Sounds like you are pretty far into this so I doubt that's it but I figured I'd try.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
 
Not sure if this helps or not but I'll comment anyways. I had almost the identical truck. My old ranger would not go into 4x4 until I hit the switch and stop my truck and put it in reverse. Idk what it was but that always worked for me. Sounds like you are pretty far into this so I doubt that's it but I figured I'd try.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

That's weird, but I guess it's worth a shot. I tested my clutch pedal and the module is receiving input from that, so I am not sure. When I push the test button on the top of the module I get 4 flashes which according to the instructions say it is okay. My gut feeling is that it is something with the shift motor. Because once I cleaned it and reinstalled it the 4x4 would engage. Now a month later it will not engage. Before I cleaned the shift motor I did not do any of these tests, I just saw so many posts about cleaning it and replacing the stop bushing I figured I would give it a shot and go from there.
 
This could be an option for ya if it turns out to be the shift moter.
http://theshiftster.com/

Wow, I never knew about that. Thanks for the link. I already ordered another shift motor earlier today. I do like the idea of taking the electronics out of the picture. I don't like that I would need to crawl under the truck every time I need to change from 4x4 to 2wd. I may just get one to have just in case. Do you have one installed?
 
Wow, I never knew about that. Thanks for the link. I already ordered another shift motor earlier today. I do like the idea of taking the electronics out of the picture. I don't like that I would need to crawl under the truck every time I need to change from 4x4 to 2wd. I may just get one to have just in case. Do you have one installed?

I found it I think in the tech artical sec.
That's what I didn't care for. Figured i could pull the floor plate if conditions were too nasty.
I'm going manual shift case but planned keeping the E shift with a shiftster for a backup.

Wish I knew about these when I had my 91X.

Good luck getting it going.:beer:
 
A missing bushing caused the e-shift 4x4 on my BII (before I swapped to a manual case) to shut down and become non-responsive just as you said yours is doing. Indeed when the gear travels that slight bit too far, the contacts overshoot their respective traces on the gear wheel, causing the system to become "confused" and shut down. After replacing the bushing, all was well again.

Mine did have the screw though, I don't think I've ever seen one with just a pin or peg there.
 
I put a new shift motor on the truck a week or so ago and now the 4x4 will engage. Thanks for the help guys!
 

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