PLEASE HELP NOW! 4x4 button not working!

[Blake D]

Please help me ASAP!!!
Like I said 4x4 not working it was working about 3 weeks ago just fine. I push the button no light, no nothing. Haven't done any off roading lately and last year had the auto hubs replaced. We got a Big snowstorm last night and now no 4x4. 2 ideas
1 when I first bought it little over a year ago the button didn't work so the guy said it wa just the button, wire came off the switch, can I get to this real quick to check it?
2 When I push the button no light on 4x4 panel and no light on dash, etc nothing... but slight ckicking from rear washer fluid area when button is pushed. I put some stuff back in that space behing the resovr could it just be a wire back there? If so where and what am I looking fore?

Please help I have to go and can't hardly get around
Blake
:frustrate :frustrate :frustrate :frustrate :frustrate

 

[spiper]

Check the solonid on the back of the transfer case. It may be a little dirty, tap on it very lightly. Or the shift motor may need cleaning.

 

[Blake D]

Where is that on the back of the T-case? The front one? This was working fine like 3-4 weeks ago no problems, I am hoping for a little wire loose or something, I have put a new alt 130 amp on and replaced the tensioner pully, also put some stuff behind teh rear washer fluid container, haven't done any 4x4 since either of theese but everything has been peachy keen till we get the big snow and I have to use it with people tapping their watch in my face as I type! Please some quick help if you can I'll owe ya!
:frustrate

 

[Blake D]

well over and hour late now going at it w/ no 4x4. Thanks to those of you who looked and tried to help. If anyone know p[lease still post, just looks like it may not have been a quick "I know the answer " kind of problem.
Blake

:exp: :fire:

 

[mattadams]

I know that has happened to some people on our runs before. The reasons for it can relaly vary, thats why I wish they had the option of "four on the floor" shifter instead of push-button.
One possible thing it could be is the fuse for the 4x4 itself. Find your manual and see which one is for the 4x4 motor, check to see if its blown.
Also sometimes this is the motor itself could use cleaning or is just bad. I remember that happened to Perry about a year ago and ford stocks up on those motors certain times of the year because they expect them to go bad. I also know someone gave instructions here on how to clean that, may want to do a search on it.

 

[Blake D]

I'll do a search for that thanks Matt. Does anyone know if the wires behind the rear washer fluid tank could have anything to do with it. Every time I push the button I hear a click from the black box thing with all the wires going into it. That is why I think the dash button MAY be working? I say this b/c I put my tow strap in that "hole" a few days ago and I know the wires got pushed around.
Got around "ok" but I felt bad, all these little front wheel drives driving like nothing but I 'm driving like a Caprice Classic. Oh well, almost got stuch on a couple of back streets too. It will be nice when I can figure this out, wife is talking about getting rid of the ex and trying to get a newer more "reliable" 4x4 car???????? I am just getting ready to get the Manik and fab some sliders mabye I can talk her out of it. Any other suggestions would be helpful, is it hard to get behind the button to see if it is still connected or not?

 

[X24]

Definately sounds like the motor. My 93 used to do that, clicking in the rear but no light. If I kept trying over and over it would eventually go in. For some reason it seemed to work better when I was in reverse... dont ask me why.

 

[TSTONE]

try this link
Dead Link Removed

 

[Blake D]

Thanks that is a great link! Couple questions though, I can't get undre there to look right now, How big is the motor and where exactly is it located? If I take it off and run into a problem is it drivable (only to someone to work on it.) ? Not sure what the harmonic balancer is to taake off or leave on and do I have to do the ohms check on the 10 pin harness?

Oh yeah where do I bang on it with a rubbermallet to see if I can urge it before I take everything apart?

Thanks
Blake

PS the top picture on that site was a little confusing, was that the t case motor that had been taken apart?

 

[TSTONE]

sorry i can't be of more help, i didn't actually do it myself - a friend did it while i watched, but it didn't look that hard - really all he did was remove the motor and opened the casing to clean the contact plate & contacts, then he hooked up the power and i pushed the button to see if it worked - it did - bolted it back up and off i went - less than 1 hr total


q-How big is the motor and where exactly is it located?
a-kinda looks like a wiper motor only alittle longer, mine was on the driver side i think?

q-If I take it off and run into a problem is it drivable (only to someone to work on it.) ?
a-i don't know

q-Not sure what the harmonic balancer is to take off or leave on and do I have to do the ohms check on the 10 pin harness?
a-i don't know

q-Oh yeah where do I bang on it with a rubbermallet to see if I can urge it before I take everything apart?
a-anywhere you can reach w/ a mallet

 

[Blake D]

Thanks for the info. I have a little more courage to try it myself if it took about and hour. That means even if I go real slow I should be able to get it done in one evening. I will try to do it this weekend and let everyone know what happens!

 

[Blake D]

YEEEEEEE HAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH

Woopeeeeee!!!!!!
Its working again! I just want to say thanks to everyone on this board. If only there was one of these for every vehicle out there (course most of those questions could be answered here too!)
I was going to take off the motor tomarrow but thought I'd give teh ol wack with a rubbermallet a try. I disconnected the neg battery cable for about 30 minutes and smacked the popcan looking thing, the round thing beside it on the passenger side (don't know what that is?) and the thing below the can. Well after I got done on my lunch break I hooked the baterry up and BINGO it worked. I would still like to know what those things are that I described above incase I have to work on it sometime but especially for others that are having the same problem and don't know how to identify what they are looking at. If I can ever get a dig camera I would take some pics and mark the items in question, sometimes a pic helps a LOT.
Anyway instead of messing with that tomarrow I'll drop in the K&N filter and drill the air box, might change the diff fluid too, and also attempt to use the cold weld stuff from Oriley on my interior roof cracks. Then ordering the Manik guard on Mon.
Thanks again!
Blake