92 X, lights don't come on for 4x4 buttons

[unpredictable1]

Might have a chance at a 92 Limited Explorer, but the lights for the 4x4 buttons don't come on.

The owner said he's not sure what the problem is, and I'm here to find out what are the possible problems:

The price I can get this X for is worth the repairs I'd do myself after...just want to know what I could be getting into.

It has 120k miles on it.

Thanks,

lbrowne

 

[MrShorty]

1st resource for a no 4x4 problem: www.glue.umd.edu/~singletn/exp.html

 

[Blown&Injected]

When I had that problem I just used the ford wrench to fix the problem.

I got under the truck and hit the motor that switched the transfer case while another pressed the 4X4 button. I could hear the motor start to move a bit. Kept doing this (smaking the motor whilw it was attempting to switch) for a dozen times and the electric motor loosened up such that the transfer case would make the switch - the lights then came on.

BTW, I could hear the relays clicking as I was pressing the 4x4 button. Once it went into 4wd, I would hit the low range button and kept working the motor/switching mechanism - it then worked fine - it was just tight from lack of use.

 

[DeRocha]

Related shift motor thread
In a worse case scenario you would need a new shift motor which is just around $180 new Shift motor part and price

 

[unpredictable1]

If the hubs have failed, will the lights come on? I would think they would, maybe blink or something.

But apprently the 4x4 has not been used in a long LONG while, this vehicle was primarily a highway vehicle.

In the last 6 months, the owner has put all but 500 clicks on the vehicle.

 

[tcndeb]

just went through this on my 91. go inside the storage comp. in the rear drivers side The shift module is in there. take the two different connectors off, and push the white button on the bottom. if the red light flashes, then the prob is the shift motor. probably just need to pull it and clean the contacts.

 

[unpredictable1]

good stuff thanks!

don't have the truck yet but all this advice and things to check is greatly appreciated

 

[DeRocha]

If the hubs have failed, will the lights come on? I would think they would, maybe blink or something.

But apprently the 4x4 has not been used in a long LONG while, this vehicle was primarily a highway vehicle.

In the last 6 months, the owner has put all but 500 clicks on the vehicle.

The hubs have nothing to do with the lights. The 4x4 button sends a signal to the controller in the trunk which will activate the shift motor. When the shift motor rotates the Transfer case from 2H to 4H the position sensor (attached to the shift motor) will send a signal to light up the 4x4 lights...