problems with electronic 4x4

[lilrogue78]

I just bought a 1990 4x4 extended cab ranger with a 4.0 it has the automatic trans with electronic 4x4 and warn lockout hubs but when i hit my 4x4 button or low range button neither will light up and the dash lights wont light up i already checked all the fuses and the underhood fuses and took the little button dohikky apart and all looks fine (nothing burned/broke) so any clues wtf is wrong with it? i am getting really agervated with it not being able to go wheelin thanks for any suggestions

[lilrogue78]

well i have been told its possibly a reset switch... anybody know anything about those?

[jsweeter]

Its probably the vacuum motor that engages the 4x4. Mine would go into 4x4 high but not low and this was the problem. $100 part.

[CoCacher]

I would love to know the answer also. I have a 94 that the 4wheel has never worked, and was thinking of putting manual hubs up front since some people do. Where can we find out more information about the "motor switch" $100.00 part? Any pictures available? I would love to know more baout this system, and how it works. Thank you.

[TeamExploder]

Yes it's often the shift motor on these transfercases will go bad if you don't engage it everyonce in awhile, before you buy parts if you haven't already, try hammering on both the t-case and shift motor then try to engage it. This can be a money saver. once you do that if you don't use your 4X4 for a month engage it at least once a month in 4high and drive shortly just to be on the safe side to keep it working. The auto hubs up to like 95 were built junky. After a good bit of use from them they will go bad they won't engage properly which could leave you stuck or when your going down the road in either 2hi or 4hi you could hear a noise coming from the front end from it not engaging or disengaging properly. It maynot be necessary to replace yours now Cocacher but....I probably would if I were you to save yourself from encountering that problem that "when you need it you don't have it" I think the kit for lockout's with the conversion kit is about 2-3hundred bucks. One of your best bets is to go with WARN. another option if you really felt like it is to interchange the front end with one out of a 96-01 explorer/96 up ranger. Then you would still have auto hubs and wouldn't have to get out and lock the hubs in everytime you wanna 4wheel or if your driving down the road and you see ahead your going to need the extra traction you dont have to stop to lock hubs in.

[butch h]

Some places to look..... module behind drivers seat(under jump seat in ext.cab) the connectors go bad.The connectors on the shift motor also can be problematic.The replacement hubs from Ford are better than the originals.Getting a shop manual makes it relatively easy to troubleshoot/repair this system