push button -is it a deal killer

[badmts]

I am looking for a new to me trail rig-I would like a 93-97 swb 4.0 5spd with TTB d35/8.8 -well I found all of that in my price range but it has push button 4x4 -how bad is push button 4x4 or is it no big deal -fyi this will be trail rig and tire hauler (i sell tires and have to transport some across town sometimes) but not DD -plan is to lift truck and put 315/70r16 tires and 5.13 gears and rear locker

 

[canyoncritter]

If its everythign else you want and a good over all truck, I wouldnt call it a deal killer.

there is a guy that has a kit to convert the push button case in to a manual case(you get a lever and everything in cab).right around $300.

also seen a knob you can install in place of the elctric motor.But you have to get out and under the truck to switch gears.

the pushbutton is hit and miss, some never have a problem with them, others have great issues.



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

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

in my opinion push button is ok.. IF you use it often to keep the transfer case motor and switch contacts from seizing up.

but on the other hand.. when i NEED 4wd i also NEED to know its going to work. thats why i will only own manually shifted trucks with live axles or manual hubs

 

[stegomon]

just swap in a 1350 and a front ddrive shaft and call it good

 

[Ranger44]

Push button is a great system as long as it is used with regularity. The most common failure is the dielectric grease hardening inside the shift motor on it's slide contacts. Which can be prevented by simply even shifting it into 4x4 once or twice a week. Most people will go 7-9 months without touching the button to discover it doesn't work or shift back out of 4high. All because this hardend grease breaks the electrical contact .......and if the module doesn't know where the shift motor is positioned, it will fall into a "safe mode" and not shift anywhere.

IMO, Elec shift can be made reliable, auto hubs however a different story. Swap them out ASAP.

In the worst case you can always swap a manual t-case in. Ford did put manual 13-54's in Rangers during that year span, and they aren't that hard to install.


And the shitster....OH I mean shiftster isn't a solution. Who wants to crawl under their truck in mud, snow, etc to shift their truck from position to position? May just be me, but by a safety and convenience standpoint......in cab controls are just the only way to go.

 

[RangerSVT]

Myself (96 ranger), John (railman 96 ranger), Jay (Jay'94 94 ranger), Gregg (97trailrigdd 97 ranger) and Jon (86 slo-vo, 94 ranger-he just switched to manual last month) of the Turkey Bay Crew all run the electric shift Tcases and none of us has ever had a motor fail or not work. When Jon swapped his out, he sold his old case to Jay, and Jay is now using that case and no problems (Jay thought he blew a tcase, turned out it was axleshaft related) So no, as long as you use it as stated above, there will be no problems
SVT

 

[scotts90ranger]

the push button on my explorer didn't function at all, so I ripped the motor off...

my experience is as above, if it works they usually don't have a problem, if they don't work...

if it's what you want, get it, swapping in a manual case isn't all that hard. They aren't everywhere, but are around

 

[88_Eddie]

use the push button til it wont work anymore, keep a small set of sockets in the truck as soon as you start having issues with it (you can always remove the motor and manually put it in 4l,4h, etc.) you can find a manual shift t-case on here almost all the time in the classifieds section. or, you can buy a new electric shift motor, also for around $100.

 

[canyoncritter]

And the shitster....OH I mean shiftster isn't a solution. Who wants to crawl under their truck in mud, snow, etc to shift their truck from position to position? May just be me, but by a safety and convenience standpoint......in cab controls are just the only way to go.

It could be better than nothing.But I do agree,its not a solution.
On two trucks that had the push button I never had a problem.with one explorer I had, that was anouther story.
Heres the manual convert kit, that has in cab controls. ie a lever.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=273757

 

[ashleyroachclip]

I converted mine from E to manual in less than 3 hours and for less than 200 bucks including the beer .
Transfer case came from a dismantler 100.00 with a 6 month warranty,
Factory warn hubs 50.00
M5 specific T/C shifter 25.00
I think I drank a 6 pack during the swap .

 

[racsan]

mine still has the oringinal electric shift transfer case, never had a problem with it. i did change out my auto hubs for manual ones, for a couple of reasons, 1 i wanted them to without a doubt work when i needed them to, 2 i wanted them to withou a doubt be unlocked when they needed to be. and 3, theres times i wanted the lower gearing of low range, but didnt need or want 4wd, like backing a trailer. having manual hubs lets me have 2L. i only wish i could split-shift the transfer case wti ha heavy trailer and go from low range 4th to high range 2nd on the go. but its not possible so i just use low range until im on level or dowwngrade pavement, then stop and go to high range.

 

[feellnfroggy]

I have a 93 4.0 and I use the pushbutton, after I cleaned the shift motor, like the writeup in hte tech library say, I havent had any problems outta my electronic system. DO I like it? No I would rather have the manual. But it works.

 

[gribly]

The shift stop bushing is the big issue - if that breaks the shift motor will wedge itself seized. I fixed mine with a zip-tie, cleaned the contacts, and sealed it back up.