02 ST 4x4 HELP NEEDED PLEASE !!!!!!!!

[Ballistik]

2002 ST 4x4 with 4.0L engine. Bought last year with 218 thousand miles. 4wd didnt work. I got it home and unplugged the 4x4 control module located at the passenger side kick panel under the glove box. I plugged it back in and all seemed to be fixed. Winter came and it would work intermittently as long as the interior was given time to warm up. Would always come out of 4x4 but the trouble would be going into 4x4. I could hear the relay clicking and then stop, try again and so on until it engaged. Ok move on to this fall and I went to go pull the boat out of the water and it would not work at all, I could not even get the relay to click. Then out of no where it engaged one day when I tried it. Well that was the last time I got it to work and I am starting to panic with winter here. I went and bought a used 4x4 control module thinking that was the issue and I just got in from hooking it up and still no 4x4 engagement or relay clicking. I checked all fuses and even double check the plug on the transfer case motor.
This is where I need help at. What should I go and try next? is there a switch anywhere else to check or anything else I should be doing to trouble shoot? Please help and thanks in advance for your time.

 

[koda2000]

Have you tried swapping the relay? Have you checked your body ground straps?

 

[Ballistik]

Have you tried swapping the relay? Have you checked your body ground straps?

Yes I have tried a completely different module. And no I have not tired to ground straps. Where are they located?

 

[koda2000]

There's one on each side of the frame, between the frame and body. There's probably one under the hood in the area of the firewall too.

If you have a set of battery jumper cables, connect one from the NEG battery terminal to the body temporarily and see if that makes any difference.

 

[Markek]

I'm going to guess the relay module is bad or the wiring is bad from the transfer case motor.

 

[stonecoldsteele2018]

I know this is an old post but I hope you can answer this question because I am having the same problem and even though I posted a thread no one seems to even care or want to answer. Where is the crap is the module behind the glove box. I have an 03 ST and when I switch it to 4WD it doesn't engage but you hear clicking noises from behind the glove box area. I switched out the transfer switch motor because a lot have said that was the problem but still no 4wd. I found the box behind the radio but don't see anything behind the glove box. Do I have to remove something to get to it? Thanks if you are still on here and can help.

 

[410Fortune]

the controller box is behind the passenger side kick panel not under the glove box
It says motorolla on it
Have you checked your 4x4 electronic shift fuse(s)
Have you tried with the truck in N (not park) and your foot on the brake to get LOW RANGE?

Flashing lights usually means the t case shift motor is stuck between gears.....and until you clear the memory it will not try to shift the new motor either
Before buying anymore parts it is time to do some testing

 

[stonecoldsteele2018]

Thank you for letting me know where it is at. I have went through about the entire forum and never could find a clear answer. The only time the 4wd high/low lights come on is when you first crank it and the lights on the dash come on like they are supposed to . There are no flashing lights on the 4wd high or low other than when they come one when you crank it then go off. All of the fuses are good ( that was the first thing I checked before and after putting the new shift motor on). I hear a clicking sound behind the glove box when I switch it to 4wd high and back to 2wd but it will not engage. That is what most of the posts led me to was the transfer shift motor. Most said if you hear that then that is what it was. I have a lot of work, time and money invested in it because the one who had it apparently didn't give a crap because it was his girlfriend's vehicle and basically drove it like he stole it. Will I have to take it to the dealership to clear the memory? I can and have done most of the stuff myself which wasn't too hard. I just am trying to avoid taking it to the dealership and getting robbed for something simple. This is driving me nuts as you can tell. I know what to look for now

 

[410Fortune]

disco the battery for a minute see if that helps
No flashing lights is good! Still not shifting is bad...but we can sort that out
You do not need a dealer to clear memory, no flashing lights usually means the system checks out or at least its not stuck between gears
I have a few of the motorolla boxes if you need to replace it I can ship one cheap

Did the new motor plug right in or did you have to do some wiring?
Was the t case in 2wd when you installed the new motor?
Any check engine light or flashing OD light?

 

[stonecoldsteele2018]

It fit right in and was in 2wd when I put the new motor on. No lights whatsoever. I'll try the disco the way Ford does it to clear the memory to see if that works. I'll let you know about the box. Thank you a lot.

 

[410Fortune]

After battery reset Try getting low range
Stop truck
foot on brake
Put in N (not park)
Shift to low range, see if you can hear t case click and move low range light come on?
If so drive forward a few feet, stop, foot on brake, truck in N and put back in 4hi, does it shift to 4hi?

 

[stonecoldsteele2018]

I tried everything you suggested, still nothing. Just that clicking noise behind the glove box. Do you have a picture of that module behind the kick panel because I looked everywhere back there and seen nothing that looked like a module. I am currently trying to sell the ST but if I can't then I would at least like to get the 4WD working again if I have to keep it. Thanks for all your advice and help.

 

[410Fortune]

Have you tried removing the shift motor from the transfer case
Turn the switch between 2wd and 4wd high and see if the motor moves? If it does then try with truck in NEUTRAL to get low range, see if it moves.
If it does not move then you likely have a bad transfer case shift motor.

The motorolla box looks like this:

 

[stonecoldsteele2018]

Have you tried removing the shift motor from the transfer case
Turn the switch between 2wd and 4wd high and see if the motor moves? If it does then try with truck in NEUTRAL to get low range, see if it moves.
If it does not move then you likely have a bad transfer case shift motor.

The motorolla box looks like this:

That looks like the box behind the radio. I will try to motor again and see if that does anything. I just know that there is a clicking sound that comes from behind the glove box but can't figure out where it is coming from when I flip the switch for 4wd. Thanks for all your help...I hope I can get this fixed myself without having to spend more money just to have someone track it down.