push button 4x4 not working 1990 ford ranger

[BobbyLeeMFFR]

I have a 1990 Ford Ranger 4x4 stx 2.9L. It had a froze up transmission when I got it, I got a transmission from a 2000 Ford Ranger 4x4 with a 4.0, bolted right in works great and after the swap before I put in the front driveline I pushed the 4x4 button just to check, light came on and seemed to engage, tried 4low light flashed never engaged, tried a couple times then lights stopped flashing. It engaged 4high and low before the tranny swap now there is power at 30 amp fuse under the hood, power at the 15 amp fuse under the dash (maybe 10 not sure) power at the plug and i can hear something working when I push the button but no lights and no engagement, there is power to the motor on the transmission. I think that the switch just randomly quit and it looks like my only option for replacement is ebay or junk yard (inheriting someone elses problems) I was wondering if that is indeed my problem and or if I can or if anyone has wired in toggle switches for the 4x4 and 4low?

 

[bobbywalter]

check all of the connections. make sure the neutral and clutch switches are working.

 

[BobbyLeeMFFR]

so the new transmission does not have the same neutral switch mounting on the top of the transmission, actually I cant find a spot for one at all so can i bypass the neutral switch somehow? does it need to be grounded?

 

[BobbyLeeMFFR]

can i put the top of my old transmission onto the top of my new transmission?

 

[SenorNoob]

Not likely. There a couple different versions of that top plate. Even the shifter is different. Might be worth looking at though.

My harness (91 Explorer + 88 Ranger combo) uses the clutch pedal switch as the same input.

 

[BobbyLeeMFFR]

I have tried grounding and holding in the neutral switch manually and still nothing again still power everywhere but still getting absolutely nothing from the dash switch, no lights no indication of doing anything but definitely confirmed power to dash switch going to try to replace that I can only find on ebay used but idk

 

[fstokley1973]

Please check out this video: https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=1990+ford+ranger+4x4+repair&qs=n&sp=-1&lq=0&pq=1990+ford+ranger+4x4+repair&sc=15-27&sk=&cvid=BE74AB99076F48DFB452F73C3941BB91&ajaxnorecss=1&sid=1166E5B205436BD500A0F045046E6A7D&jsoncbid=0&ajaxsydconv=1&ru=/search?q=1990 ford ranger 4x4 repair&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&lq=0&pq=1990 ford ranger 4x4 repair&sc=15-27&sk=&cvid=BE74AB99076F48DFB452F73C3941BB91&ajaxnorecss=1&sid=1166E5B205436BD500A0F045046E6A7D&format=snrjson&jsoncbid=0&ajaxsydconv=1&mmscn=vwrc&mid=F5B319F4B80F76F4F269F5B319F4B80F76F4F269&FORM=WRVORC&ntb=1&msockid=2b4731d739cb11f0a8f40d4dc1e62a0c
It is a lot to copy and paste, but it is well worth the seven minutes to watch the video and find a common problem with the 4x4 system on the electronic shift models. Or you could just google, 4x4 ranger electronic shift not working. It comes down to a bushing disintegrating over time and allowing the gear to over spin an 1/8 of an inch in which case the system will do nothing, no lights on the dash, no whirring, and no clicking in the module behind the seat. I ran the electrical diagnostic that I found on another thread, and everything checked out up until step six which found no power at the orange wire on the motor side of the plug. For some reason, unknown to me, when the gear is allowed to turn an extra 1/8 inch, contact is lost and the system, I assume, senses a fault and does nothing. For me, I did not take the shift motor off the truck, just took the three T20 tamper proof nuts out, used a magnet to pull the gear out, and replaced the bushing with a 3/8 O.D. piece of tubing. After putting back together, it works like a charm. Good Luck to you all if you are having issues, but this is definitely the cheap and easy starting point.