Longtime Lurker Here

[chipotle]

Longtime forum lurker from the PNW here. Just wanted to say thank you for all the support and great posts over the years. I decided to register because I need some help keeping my 2000 on the road for many years to come - while I do a lot of my own work on my truck, I seem to be hung up on the 4x4 and will be seeking advice shortly. Long live the Ford Ranger!

 

[SenorNoob]

Welcome to TRS!

What kind of problem are you having with your 4x4 system?

 

[chipotle]

Welcome to TRS!

What kind of problem are you having with your 4x4 system?

I'm working on a post, but in short I have a 2000 3.0 with live axles up front and the module behind the radio. 4x4 system went dark a couple years back and I'm getting around to fixing it now.

A buddy used his diagonstic tool to pick up code P1867, implying a contact plate issue with the tcase motor. Since then, I have replaced the tcase motor, the 4x4 cm and the switch to no avail. I visually verified that the motor turns when the switch is set to 4HI and I can hear movement in the case as well as the relay click, but I am getting no 4x4 lights on the dash and the motor moves back to 2WD immediately.

I replaced the tcase motor first, then the CM after it didn't solve the problem. The CM/GEM replacement did fix my tachometer (lol), but didn't affect the 4x4 system. It seems like most folks on here get at least some light activity when actuating the 4x4 switch, but I am only seeing them come on at engine startup. What else could be going on here?

 

[SenorNoob]

The only thing I can think of is a broken wire or maybe a blown fuse causing the signal from the contact plate to not make it back to the CM.

 

[chipotle]

The only thing I can think of is a broken wire or maybe a blown fuse causing the signal from the contact plate to not make it back to the CM.

Yeah. I am going to pull the fuses again and check to make sure I didn't miss one. The wiring behind the radio and under the truck look to be in pretty decent shape. Really hoping I didn't get a dud motor from RockAuto

 

[SenorNoob]

I notice the diagram has a pulse hub solenoid. Any change you truck was converted from auto hubs and without that solenoid wired in the GEM/CM won't work?

 

[chipotle]

A conversion is always a possibility with a used truck, but in this case I doubt it. My truck started life as a sort of "dealer special" piece with the matching stepside Leer canopy and a tow-behind package. A buddy of mine had it over a decade after picking it up off the street on sale in Olympia, WA in the OG configuration. If anything, having unlocked hubs might be an advantage in that scenario-nevertheless, I don't believe mine was a conversion.

Posts on this forum indicate that 2000 was a transition year, so what you actually end up with front hub/4x4 wise is a bit of a crap shoot. If there are other indicators that a conversion was made which I could spot on my truck (like a vestigal vacuum assembly under the hood?), i suppose I could look for that. I'd be curious how that would affect the path forward-I do know that I had 4x4 for years after I bought it and took the truck to Mt. Hood a few times without issue (or chains!).

 

[SenorNoob]

Sounds like typical Ford. Takes em 3 years to use up all the old parts in the factory after the new stuff came out. LOL

Have you tried checking for codes after changing the shift motor? Bad new parts are a serious problem lately.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Welcome!

 

[chipotle]

Welcome!

Thanks, Chief!

 

[chipotle]

Sounds like typical Ford. Takes em 3 years to use up all the old parts in the factory after the new stuff came out. LOL

Have you tried checking for codes after changing the shift motor? Bad new parts are a serious problem lately.

I'll have to see if my local auto store can pick anything up off of their reader. I'll report back if they come up with anything different.