4wd lights blinking, disable 4wd controller?

[joecool85]

4low stopped working on my truck. I took off the electric tcase motor to clean it up and broke 2 screws that hold the motor to the casing. Anyway, long story short, I'm ordering a Shiftster and will be putting an access panel in the cab to reach it from inside (I'll do a thread about it when I'm done).

The problem, my 4wd high and low lights blink 5-6 times every few minutes. I'm thinking it's because I removed the shift motor and then (because I was curious what it would do) moved the knob from 2wd to 4wd. All it did was blink the damn lights, now they won't stop. To get them to stop can I just disconnect the 4wd controller or something? Maybe pull a fuse somewhere? I can't see why I'd need it in there if I'm not using the electric tcase motor anymore.

 

[AngryLepercon]

Had a problem like this. I installed my sat radio and ended mounting the receiver near the 4x4 modular. Ended up putting a screw through a wire to the mod. Both Lights blinked and no 4x4. Shorted out the 4x4 computer had to get a new one. Problem solved.

 

[joecool85]

Had a problem like this. I installed my sat radio and ended mounting the receiver near the 4x4 modular. Ended up putting a screw through a wire to the mod. Both Lights blinked and no 4x4. Shorted out the 4x4 computer had to get a new one. Problem solved.

My problem is kind of the opposite. I want no lights and no electronic 4x4. The shiftster will take care of my tcase shifting, so I want the computer to stock blinking the lights. From what I understand I think if I disconnect the 4wd controller completely it should shut up and shouldn't effect anything else in the truck.

 

[AngryLepercon]

Ohhh sorry mis-read. Of you unplug the controller it would flash the lights I would think. Pulling the fuse would also throw the light. Because the computer is saying its there but is not responding correctly.


Maybe to do it right you would need your computer to be reprogrammed to eliminate it.

 

[Kevery]

I just got done putting a doubler in mine with manual shifters and my lights where doing the same thing. They blinked 3 or 4 times every minute or so. What I did was take the cluster out and remove the light bulbs. problem solved. I also removed my check engine light and my abs light bulb. let us now if the fuse thing works. That might be a better way to go. I think ^^^ is probably right about the computer though and getting the code erased is the best thing to do. hope this helps you.

 

[joecool85]

I'll let you guys know what happens when I try unplugging the 4wd controller. If it doesn't do the trick for me, I'll be doing what Kevery did and pull the bulbs!

 

[Snoranger]

Your 4wd is controlled by the GEM, along with a lot of other things. (power windows, locks, wipers, interior lights, etc.) None of these will function with the GEM disconnected. Get a 2wd GEM or pull the bulbs.

 

[joecool85]

Your 4wd is controlled by the GEM, along with a lot of other things. (power windows, locks, wipers, interior lights, etc.) None of these will function with the GEM disconnected. Get a 2wd GEM or pull the bulbs.

I thought the 4wd controller located next to the radio is different than the GEM, are you telling me it is one in the same?

 

[Snoranger]

I thought the 4wd controller located next to the radio is different than the GEM, are you telling me it is one in the same?

Yes, I am.

 

[joecool85]

Yes, I am.

Well, I will need a new solution then. I'm scheming something up now, I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[joecool85]

Your 4wd is controlled by the GEM, along with a lot of other things. (power windows, locks, wipers, interior lights, etc.) None of these will function with the GEM disconnected. Get a 2wd GEM or pull the bulbs.

I'm gonna call bull on this. I just disconnected my 4wd controller and it got rid of my stupid blinking 4wd lights and my interior lights still work fine as well as my wipers. I don't have power windows or power locks to worry about.

 

[joecool85]

Took a test drive last night, then drove the truck to work this morning. All is well with the 4wd controller unplugged.

 

[fixizin]

... long story short, I'm ordering a Shiftster and will be putting an access panel in the cab to reach it from inside...

I think I speak for scores of Ranger fan-atics when I say: CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THIS! Friggin' EPIC Hall-of-Fame aftermarket mod!

I've been under my 99' ext. cab a LOT lately--t-case shift motor and suspension (and rust remediation) issues--but I keep forgetting to "index" just where in the cab is directly above the (virtual) Shiftster location... so... WHERE, exactly, will the proverbial porthole be??

My latest half-baked scheme involves a spiral leaf-type (clock) spring that holds the selector shaft (shift rail?) tightly in 2HI, and then a (ratcheting?) cable which can PULL it around into 4HI-N-4LO... eliminates PUSH-pull linkage issue... tiny hole in floor vs. fist-size hatch. Just spit-ballin' some thaaangz on the back of a napkin, lulz...

PS: Good to know about disco'ing the GEM... I too have manual windows and locks, but when I had her lofted on 4 stands, all wheels off the ground, testing 4HI and 4LO, I noticed the dome light stopped working when the DRIVER's door was open--passenger door still normal... now there's some solid elec. engineering--NOT.

 

[joecool85]

I think I speak for scores of Ranger fan-atics when I say: CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THIS! Friggin' EPIC Hall-of-Fame aftermarket mod!

I've been under my 99' ext. cab a LOT lately--t-case shift motor and suspension (and rust remediation) issues--but I keep forgetting to "index" just where in the cab is directly above the (virtual) Shiftster location... so... WHERE, exactly, will the proverbial porthole be??

My latest half-baked scheme involves a spiral leaf-type (clock) spring that holds the selector shaft (shift rail?) tightly in 2HI, and then a (ratcheting?) cable which can PULL it around into 4HI-N-4LO... eliminates PUSH-pull linkage issue... tiny hole in floor vs. fist-size hatch. Just spit-ballin' some thaaangz on the back of a napkin, lulz...

PS: Good to know about disco'ing the GEM... I too have manual windows and locks, but when I had her lofted on 4 stands, all wheels off the ground, testing 4HI and 4LO, I noticed the dome light stopped working when the DRIVER's door was open--passenger door still normal... now there's some solid elec. engineering--NOT.

Here you go: http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131561

Also, my dome light works properly with the GEM disconnected. I'd say it's less an engineering issue with your truck and more a "your truck is broken" type of thing.

 

[fixizin]

... my dome light works properly with the GEM disconnected. I'd say it's less an engineering issue with your truck and more a "your truck is broken" type of thing.

Nope, guess I omitted too many details. When my selector knob is in 2WD, dome light works normally, in either 4HI or 4LO, 4WD indicator lights set to error-blinking, and dome light is flaky. Maybe it's Ford's way of motivating me to stop reading manuals under the dome light, and "get out thar" and just fix the dang thing, LOL!

Seriously, like so much of 4WD infrastructure on Rangers (esp. 3.0L Rangers), much of Duh GEM is a quick n' dirty AFTERTHOUGHT. Can we talk about oil filter location, or steering shaft contortions?

PS: Just saw your Shiftster Access Hatch--LOVE IT! HARDCORE!