4X4 high & low Lights Blinking

[asegiel]

Hi everyone, I am new here, and I have a question. Yesterday morning when I drove to work, my 4 Wheel drive high and low light indicators were blinking at the same time. Then after a short time, they stoped, and now they blink occasionally. When I go to change it in to High or low though, none of the lights go on at all. Could this be a sensor? or a serious problem. Please help.
Thanks,
April from Buffalo

 

[Hokie]

Welcome to the site! The search button is your friend! You'll find all sorts of info here (some useful, some useless )

Do your power windows/sunroof and interior lights work? If not, check Fuse #26. Its a 10 A fuse.

if they do work, well... good luck

 

[Ray Lobato]

Hi and welcome to the site.
This used to happen on my truck every once in awhile. It would blink 6 times every 3 minutes.
What I would to to clear it was pull off the side of the road and turn off the engine, then turn it back on and put it into 4hi, then into 4lo. then back to auto.
You could also try and reset the computer by disconnecting the negative battery terminal for about 5 minutes.
The blinking is telling you that the computer thinks something is wrong with you 4 wheel drive.
The ABS sensors can also get dirty and cause this problem. When was the last time you hosed down the undercarriage? Let us know what you fine out.

 

[asegiel]

Thanks, I will try all of the options above. hopefully one will work!

 

[wildstang]

I have the same problem with my wifes 96. Do your power windows work while this happens, my wifes do not till it stops blinking. There is a module call the gem, general electric module, that I am going to replace on the 96 to hopefully fix it. This part is +$250. We also have to be careful about leaving the window down. Sometimes they work and when we start it back up they won't, we never know when it will happen. Good luck with yours.

 

[BenS]

Shift motor might be bad too. I remember my 4x4 light blinking, though I cant remember if both did. See if when you switch to 4x4 if it actually is in 4x4.

 

[TPLYNCH]

6 flashes repeated is the code for a bad speed sensor on the transfer case. Try popping them off and cleaning them (they are little magnets).

 

[asegiel]

I checked all the fuses, and took the battery connections off, and now, they don't blink. when i switch it into 4 high, it lights up but low still doesn't so i think it is time to get under neath and see whats going on there. thanks again, and i will keep posting on the progress.

 

[sunbum]

Probably posted elsewhere, but I had this happen on my '96 and they fixed it by replacing my speed sensor, as noted by tplynch as well.

 

[Ray Lobato]

Originally posted by asegiel
I checked all the fuses, and took the battery connections off, and now, they don't blink. when i switch it into 4 high, it lights up but low still doesn't so i think it is time to get under neath and see whats going on there. thanks again, and i will keep posting on the progress.

Don't take this wrong, but did you make sure that you were in neutral with your foot on the brake when you switched to 4lo?

 

[soldier0829]

I'm currently working this problem myself and have tried to fix it in this order.

1. Disconnect the battery cable for a few minutes then reconnect and see if the problem corrects itself (worked sometimes).

2. Clean off the rear speed sensor (not really dirty, didn't seem to help).

3. Clean off the front speed sensor (may skip this and go right to 4).

4. Replace Gem (275 bucks from Ford, saw a part (Wells?) at Autozone Website for 175 - may be the Ford equivalent, not sure)

5. Drive car off a cliff with me inside

I have the same six flashing lights, no power windows deal. The 4wd engages, it shifts into low well enough, but the lights keep flashing and the windows don't work. Very strange.

If I replace the GEM, is it a simple bolt-on process or does it need to be "programmed" to work?

Having no power windows makes it very embarassing to get on an off of Fort Campbell on a daily basis! I need to fix this ASAP.

95 Explorer Sport
4x4

 

[wildstang]

Soldier0829, so you haven't changed the gem yet? I have also purchased a new gem but haven't had time to install it. If you haven't been told, I believe it is located to the left of the radio. You can remove that whole panel and radio together by taking out the two screws below the heater/ac switches and there should be enough room to disconnect the plug ins behind the panel. If you pull the radio first, you will need to purchase the two U shaped inserts that go into the set of holes on each side of the radio. The problem has been with my wifes 96 explorer but the funny thing is I don't think it has happened for about a month now.

 

[checkedout]

I had the flashing lights on my 96. I tried the speed sensors firt. No help. Then I cleaned the shift motor and it has been working great ever since.
I did not notice if the windows would work or not when they were flashing.

 

[soldier0829]

I have not purchased a new GEM yet. I am still trying to figure out if it is a simple plug in or of there is some programming that needs to be done in order to get it to work.

There seem to be a lot of possible causes for this problem; speed sensors, transfer case motor, GEM, etc. I had Ford diagnose the problem a few weeks back and they wanted 900 bucks to replace the two speed sensors and the transfer case motor. No thanks. The car shifts into 4wd just fine. I would accept dirty contacts as a possible cause, but I do switch into 4wd every now and again and thing works fine.

I am more convinced it is the GEM for two reasons: 1) Sometimes I hear a "click" from behind the 4wd switch (right where the GEM is) then the lights stop flashing and the windows work again. 2) I have had the "phantom wiper" problem on this car too. The one where the wipers have a mind of their own.

If anyone has any other suggestions I'm all ears!

 

[legan]

I am going through the same blinking light problem and took the truck in to the shop today. I was told that the shift motor needed to be replaced ($334 motor only). Thanks to one of the posts above I disconnecetd the battery for 5 min. and the blinking went away and the low and high lights now are working as they should. But now my question to the pro's is...do you think the problem is fixed or is this likley to come back next week and is the 4x4 really engaged?

Thanks for the help!!!

 

[checkedout]

It's going to come back until you clean the shift motor.

 

[Jennifer]

4wd Indicator lights

I have a 1997 XLT that also has the indicator lights flashing. I was told I have a code 1781. Is there an easy way to determine what the problem is? What might be the problem? Sensors? Shift motor? GEM? Lots of expensive parts.

 

[nevr1zenuf]

Hello April, I have the same prob with my 96. I have never noticed if the windows don't work when it happens.The lights work for sure tho,and even tho they blink the four wheel drive still works.Does anyone know exactly where the shift motor is at cause I would love to clean mine. thanks

 

[checkedout]

The shift motor is mounted on the transfercase. It's just about right under your drivers seat, maybe alittle bit further back. Do a search for cleaning the shift motor and you'll get all the info you need.