electrical issues

[AKBroncoII]

Alright, I've only owned this 91 explorer for a couple months It has had a couple wierd electrical quirks. One is that when it warms up, the left turn light will quit working in the dash. Still works outside, just not inside. Also, has electric tcase. Sometimes even when in 2wd the 4wd light will be partially lit. Not fully, maybe half power. When I push it, it definitely gets brighter but no 4wd. Are those lights on a grounded switch at the tcase? Just trying to figure out if my switch is grounding out improperly or it's the tcase motor. All connections at the tcase feel tight.

 

[Earl43P]

Turn signal problem is most likely the Multifunction switch. They are a very common failure item.

Your 4wd issue may be the shift motor or the Shift module. I suggest you try this: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123542

 

[4x4junkie]

Pretty sure an issue with the MF switch would be apparent outside as well.

I would say check the electrical connections behind the instrument cluster for that one. I've had times where the backlighting would be intermittent like that. After removing the bulbs and cleaning the contacts on the little twist-in plugs, it was fine afterward (the copper foil contacts seem to oxidize over time).

On the 4WD, the lights are controlled by the 4WD controller. I would start with some diagnostic work on it and see where you get (I.E., is the front driveshaft engaging OK (meaning bad auto hubs)? Does the controller pass the self-test (described in one of the stickys above)?).
Also check that the little stopper on the gear inside the motor has the bushing around it still. This can cause the system to become "confused" and shut down when the sensor overshoots it's position.

 

[Earl43P]

The signal light in the dash uses a seperate set of contacts in the MFS.
"Pretty sure" isn't the same as looking at the schematic, lol.

 

[AKBroncoII]

I probably won't be messing with the motor at all but just replacing it. The truck has manual hubs, electric tcase. Hubs lock, transfer case does not. Light comes on in the dash I'm thinking bad motor but I will swap out the switch just to be sure.

 

[4x4junkie]

The signal light in the dash uses a seperate set of contacts in the MFS.
"Pretty sure" isn't the same as looking at the schematic, lol.

'k, I'm now looking at the schematic... the same wires that trace out to each exterior light also go into the instrument cluster (if the interior lights used an independent circuit like you say, they'd need an independent flasher too... something there's not).

 

[AKBroncoII]

Okay, tried swapping in a new switch today. New switch did not work, no lights or anything. Put the old switch back in and tried again. 4wd light on dash no longer works but the tcase locked in. I tried it a few times and it locked in every time. Light on switch still dimly lit when in 2wd.

 

[ak96]

my moms old '94 had the dim 4x4 light when in 2wd also for the last 6 years...still does it infact but has never failed to work.

 

[AKBroncoII]

Have another 4wd switch on the way in the next few minutes. Will try that. I get no 4x4 at all now.

 

[AKBroncoII]

Okay, swapped out switch and 4wd control. 4wd control freaks out, closing and opening the relay. Swapping out both did nothing. I guess it's time to change out the motor and/or clean.

 

[AKBroncoII]

motor changed out, works fine. Light still dimly lit. Probably the 4wd module causing that as when I swapped a different module in, the light went out.