2001 Ranger 4x4 Problem Please Help

[kngelv]

I have a 2001 Ranger 4x4 and need some guidance please. I put in a new battery on thursday night and friday morning my four wheel drive no longer worked. All the fuses were fine but there was no clicking sound when I turned the dash switch. I checked and had no power at the dash switch and the 4x4 lights on the dash no longer came on at start-up. After doing a search I read about the issues with the control module going bad after a battery change. I took my module over a friend's who has a 2002 Ranger. My module did not work in his Ranger so I figured I needed a new one. Picked one up and installed it today. I now get the 4x4 lights on the dash at start-up and 5 volts at the dash switch but it still does not work. I still don't hear the relay click. I checked the cable on the transfer motor and everything looked good. 13.8 volts at the motor cable. I had a friend move the switch while I tapped on the transfer case motor with a mallet. No change in condition. I next tried shifting between drive and reverse a few times and then tried depressing the brake while in neutral. I did all this with the switch in 4Hi. While in neutral I felt the case transfer but it went to 4Lo even though the switch indicates 4Hi the dash light says 4Lo. I drove around three miles and am definitely in 4Lo. I have tried everything but cannot get it out of 4Lo. Turning the switch does nothing and there is no relay clicking sound. In fact when it worked the clicking sounded like it was coming from the dash and not the kick panel where the module is. Is there some sort of relay between the switch and the module. BTW the switch does not light up. Bad bulb? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

James

 

[dgndngrngr]

when you drive does it feel like its in 4low?
it sounds like the transfer case isnt recognizing the signal that you've taken it out of 4low if thats the case. I would try taking the motor off the transfer case and manually moving the case out of four low with the tranny in neutral. the positions of which way to turn it are labeled on the transfer case. The motor may be getting power but the gears are messed up inside.

if it feels like its in 2wd but the 4low light is still on then it might be a loose connection maybe between the switch and the control module like you said.
check this out: http://www.autozone.com/shopping/repairGuide.htm?pageId=0900c152801f0a6d

looks like theres 2 ground points between the PCM and the 4wd control module but thats about it.

 

[kngelv]

Well it turned out to be the switch. Evidently the battery swap not only blew the module but the switch too. I opened up the switch and checked the three resistors inside. Two were blown. The only good one was the the 360 ohm which is the one used for 4Lo. Yesterday I took a switch out of my friend's 1999 F-150 and was able to get it into two wheel again. Picked up a switch at the dealer today and everything is good to go.

James

 

[dgndngrngr]

cool glad ya found it. thats crazy that all that happened from just the battery swap