4WD lights flashing

[Joe Fast]

I have a new issue. While diving the car today on the highway both 4WD high and 4WD low lights began to flash. After parking and restarting the car this stopped; however, I did not take out on the road until the afternoon. In the afternoon, it began again after about 5 minutes of city driving. It is happening every 2 minutes and they flash for 6 times. While they are flashing, the 4WD will not engage; however, if I shut the car off and attempt to engage, there is no problem. I checked the fluid in the tranny and it is fine and at good levels. I have noticed some hard down shifts since this occured. Any help would be appreciated.....The car has only 4,000 miles but is no longer under warranty. because it is an 1999


Joe

 

[Blee1099]

Clean the xfer case shift motor..

 

[Joe Fast]

Please explain further..... Have you had this same problem??? and how do I get to this motor?

 

[Crazy5711]

I had that problem for a while in my 98 sport, so I know how you feel, but mine just "went away" and hasn't done it in a long time, I don't know what the deal was. Sorry. If you do find the problem, I would like to hear about it, just incase mine comes back

 

[Joe Fast]

I would not mind my problem going away..... Not that it is a problem... the lights are just anoying.



JOe

 

[Joe Fast]

I'm wondering if this could be an electrical problem with the AUTO 4WD?

 

[Joe Fast]

I'm gonna try to get to a tranny shop with a scanner today. I hope this problem is as simple as a relay. I have an other car/rolled over that I can probably salvage parts from.... The thing is knowing what parts to swap.


Joe

 

[Joe Fast]

Went to the tranny guy and we hooked up the Snap-On Computer to find no error codes or any in memory. He told me to disconect all electrical conections to the tranny and transfer case and clean and lube them. Did that..... Same issue.... Very Confused now.... HELP


JOe

 

[Joe Fast]

Hello...Me a again venting and hoping for some help. I'm gonna try to take off the shift motor tomorow. I drove the car today and am begining to think that it is stuck in 4WD... Perhaps unable to disengage after the AUTO function kicked in in the rain. I was told that these motors should not be submerged and this one has been. All you off-roaders....have you ever heard anything like this?


JOe

 

[sk1er17]

mine went on my 98 sport
my friends went on his 97 sport.

i think its just a general rule that nothing on our trucks should be "submerged".. but it happens.

I do heavy off-roading and havent had a problem since mine was replaced over 40K miles ago. BTW: Dont go to the dealer for the motor! They'll rip you a new one.

When mine went i had the dealer do the motor (oh i was so young and helpless).. well it cost $800 and i didnt know any better. Just this past year (ive been working as a technician at a shop now) my buddy brought his to my shop and we did his starter/shift motor/ and something else for like $650.

 

[cjbarron5]

ok here is what you need you need a "star" tester this tester is made for ford and covers the transmission control side by showing real time stats amazingly enough the pcm only stores certain transmission codes and from experiance if you want to find the problem you need to "see" the problem as it is happening some transmission shops have these testers some dont the shop i used to work in did good luck

 

[Joe Fast]

First of all Thank You for responding. I would like to know how you guys knew it was the motor.... Did you have similar problems??? Also... Can I get the motor out without dropping the transfer case.... I have a parts car but do not want to do the work myself if I have to drop the whole assembly out of the car.


Joe

 

[Texplorer]

No you dont, the shift motor is held on by 3 bolts. I took mine off a couple times yesturday cause I have no 4low.

Where are you in Brooklyn? If your not to far I could give you a hand if you need it.

 

[Joe Fast]

Tomorow afternoon I will be at my freinds yard (where the parts car is) in East New York right off Atlantic Avenue..... I'm from down town but do most of my work up at my friends place. Give me a call if you like.. (917) 723-4549.


Other question.... Does this sound like the right place to start? And do I have to drain the fluid to do this?



JOe

 

[Texplorer]

You dont have to do anything but take the three bolts off, no draining or anything. I took mine off and it was clean. You can also try to engage the TC by hand. If that works it is most likely your motor that is shot.

 

[TPLYNCH]

Hate to tell you this, but the sequence of the flashing of lights is the code. Your flash sequence is indicating a problem with the Speed Sensors. There are two of them, one on the front of the t/f case, one on the back. They are just little magnets. Might just have to pop them off and clean them. If the truck shifts into 4x4 hi and low before the lights start flashing, then it's probably not the motor. Search for Speed Sensors for more info on these parts!

 

[Joe Fast]

Hi guys and thanks for your help... Here is the update. I droped the motor and was not able to get the three other conections of the Transfer case it self. I was able to unplug the main harness but the two sensor-looking plugs held in with the single bolts would not pop out and I did not want to force the issue. The third single wire would not pop out either and it did not lokk like it was made to do that. Any way. while the motor was dangling, I was able to free it from the gear assembly by removing the three screws. There was some water but very little and some surface rust on the bottom side of the motor, but it was minimal. We cleaned all rust off and repacked the motor with lube and put it all back in......SAME PROBLEM. Does anyone know how to get the entire motor assembly off, wires and all? HELP ME.


Also want to tell you that I put the car up on jacks and ran it. All 4 wheel are pulling. I think it is stuck in 4WD. But I was also told that it could be kicking into AUTO.

Another question..... While the pump was off I tryed to move the shaft on the transfer case but it would make about an 1/8 turn and spring back.


HELP ME Please. I have an entire parts car but need to know how to get this stuff off and on without damaging it.



JOe

PS

Please excuse any type-o's

 

[Joe Fast]

Are the speed sensors the two that are connected to the motor harness? If so.. How can I remove them.


Joe

 

[TPLYNCH]

You should be able to just pop them out I believe. Search for speed sensors for definitive answer.