NO 4 wheel drive

[92MiniMonster]

OK, so its winter and it will soon be nasty out. But my truck has no 4wd. Its a 92 ranger 2.9l automatic with electric transfer case and auto hubs, it also has the push button 4 wd. My issue is this:

truck will not engage in 4 hi or 4 low

neither the 4 hi or 4 low light comes on, flashes, nothing.

the shift module behind the seat, when i press the white button, the red light comes on and stays on, but it does this with my brothers explorer too, so i assume this is good.

I hear nothing clicking when i hit the 4wd buttons, at all.

The fuse in the power distribution box is good.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Jspafford]

Welcome to TRS.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/TCaseshiftmotor.htm

 

[92MiniMonster]

Ok heres an update. i swapped the module just incase this was an issue, no dice, so i left it in there just because, and i put in a new transfer case shift motor, it worked. Im happy so far, i press the button and i here the relay click inside of the module for 4 hi, and the light comes on next to the button and inside the dash cluster. But with 4 low, i here one click in the module, and nothing else, no shift in the t-case, and no light next to the button. I know when i bought this truck the guy said he didnt have 4 low, so im pretty much back to where i was when i bought it. Im happy with any kind of 4wd. Im just boggled as to why i have no 4 low.
Thanks

 

[Jspafford]

If it is an automatic you need to have the truck in Neutral with your foot on the brake to shift into 4-LO.

If it is a manual you need to have the transmission in Neutral with your foot on the brake to shift into 4-LO

You must also be at a stop.

Hope this helps.

 

[eli]

There is second fuse in the panel that puts power to the 4 low check that one, i had the same problem and it ended up being a fuse, its in the panel that if you open the drivers door its on the side of the dash, if you look in your owners Manuel it will say xxxx,Gem, Check that one. If not you might need a gem module

 

[surffishin07]

if you really wanna test your 4wd/t-case to see if it is working correctly with out the electrical demons take the shift motor back off. using a pair of pliers and a buddy lay under the truck and turn the triangle shaped shifter shaft on the transfer case to the 4-lo position. it really helps if your on a slight incline so the buddy can let the truck roll a little to make it shift easier. once in the 4wd position crank it up and give it some gas to see if you can tell the difference have the buddy on the out side lookin for front wheel spin if there is no difference the problem may lie in the t-case or drive line.

ps i had about the same problem so instead of puttin money into the pos electronics i removed the motor smashed the head and got the ring gear that turns the sift shaft and when i needed 4wd i rolled under and in a pinch had 4wd worked great and saved money

 

[metalmacguyver]

using a pair of pliers and a buddy lay under the truck and turn the triangle shaped shifter shaft on the transfer case to the 4-lo position. it really helps if your on a slight incline so the buddy can let the truck roll a little to make it shift easier.

make sure you really trust this buddy too!

 

[Ranger44]

With a Manual Tranny you must have the clutch pushed in and brake held at a stop, the tranny in N isn't needed with a manual.

 

[92MiniMonster]

ok i went to go give this a shot to test the 4 lo, but my truck wont start, ive replaced the cap, rotor, plugs, wires, the coil is good, and i still have nothing. I have to take the cap back off and make sure it spins when i try to start, im hoping my distributor didnt go bad.

 

[92MiniMonster]

Well i got the truck running, it was originally cap and rotor needed replaced, and the cap i bought was already faulty, so i replaced it again and it worked, so i still dont have 4 lo, where is this gem module?

 

[92MiniMonster]

bump. GEM Module?

 

[92MiniMonster]

BUMP. Any location on the GEM Module for the 4 LO?? Thanks

 

[Donnie strickland]

Your '92 doesn't have a GEM. You have the shift module behind the seat, which you say you have already checked.

 

[92MiniMonster]

Ok,
I wasnt sure, just going off of what i was told, so, whats the reason i have no 4LO, ive already swapped the module back and forth with another, and checked them both, and replaced the shift motor. Any ideas?

 

[RangerCamp]

I have the same problem on my 96. Last time I had the truck at Ford (a year ago, to replace some front end stuff) I asked them to look into it. Their solution? They scanned the GEM for codes but didn't do any other electrical troubleshooting...then they suggested replacing the GEM "special special order from USA $340" shown on the invoice...i decided to hold off...since there was no guarantee that would fix it.

eli, what makes you say no 4-Low is caused by a bad GEM? Wouldnt there be other symptoms /issues with my electrical system if the GEM was faulty? Because apart from the no 4-Low, everything is fine.

I was thinking that the GEM & 4wd module (tried swapping that too, no change) aren't allowing the shift to 4-Low because they don't agree that the "conditions" are met (ie. stopped, foot on brake, in neutral). Could a problem in something like the BOO (brake on-off) switch, speed sensor (VSS or OSS?) cause that? Also the tranny range sensor/neutral safety switch. It contains the neutral sense circuit that tells the GEM and 4wd module that the truck is in N. Maybe there is a problem there. But I am no electrical wizard and can't test those on my own so I would have to take it to Ford = $$$.

I have seen alot of posts from people with this no 4-low issue. Someone must know the common problem and how to fix.