Hello all, I am new here . I searched the threads first and haven't found anything specific to my issue or issues. I will list them as 2 issues.

1. 4x4 - sometimes it works sometimes not. I first noticed last year when it was cold and rainy the 4x4 wouldn't shift , no 4x4 engagement and no lights on in dash. The next dry day system worked fine. This year the last time I had an issue was I had shifted the truck to 4x4 Hi parked it and when I went to drive it it wouldn't shift out of 4x4 Hi. Eventually though I did get it into 2 wheel drive so in short the 4 x 4 works when it wants to. I suspect the shift motor or should I say I am willing to try a new shift motor mine is obviously original and very rusty.
2.- ABS light comes on, speedometer cuts to zero, and the transmission hunts for gears has code P0500 and C 1752 in GEM. I had already replaced the rear VSS. The truck first acted up leaving work and it was hunting gears, I was on the highway and pulled off and unplugged then plugged back in the rear VSS sensor connector. The truck got me home without any issues then I replaced the rear diff VSS. It was ok for a bit but then acted up again the last time I drove it. I am getting to where I AM WORRIED ABOUT DEPENDABILITY i DONT NEED TO BE 3 OR 4 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME AND HAVE THE TRUCK ACT UP, i DONT THINK ANY AVERAGE SHOP ON THE ROAD WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT FIXING IT. SORRY HIT CAP LOCK :)
Any ideas? I am going to troubleshoot I will post what I find out here...

 

Welcome to the forum

Yes, most likely issue is the shift motor or its connector


On 1998-2000 Rangers the GEM module(behind radio) uses the Rear Axle ABS sensor for Speed, and the ABS module uses it for ABS
So if there is a speedometer issue(P0500) AND the ABS light comes on then that rear axle ABS sensors or its 2 wires would be where to start

Just speed issue(P0500) and no ABS light would possibly be GEM issue, and GEM is also the 4x4 controller, so its possible the 4X4 issue and speed issue could be related if it wasn't for the ABS light

What did the old ABS sensor look like?
Did you OHM test it?

The 2 wires have no voltage to test, the ABS sensor generates its own AC voltage when rear wheels are turning, but one of the wires will test as a Ground
The 2 wires run directly to the ABS module, in 1998-2000 each wire was spliced and run to GEM, to share the signal

Yes, the transmission shifting issue is lack of a speed signal(P0500)

 

I did not ohm test it I replaced the rear diff VSS sensor. I am going to test the wiring next I believe and also replace the shift motor as it is a common failure item. Mine does appear to be original. I also had the GEM code C 1752 which is VSS short to ground. I have been looking at a wiring diagram that I found on the forum,and the grey/black wire runs to the instrument cluster / cruise control, I do have messed up cruise control buttons I wonder if that has anything to do with the C 1752 code.

 

No, the cruise would not work with no speed signal but a failed cruise system wouldn't cause ABS light to come on as well as no speed signal

The ABS axle sensor has 2 wires, only one should test as a Ground, 0 ohms to frame/axle
If both show under 10 ohms then one of the wires is shorted, either to a ground or to the other wire, so test OHMS between the two wires
The VSS is actually the GEM, although most call the ABS sensor a VSS

The GEM gets the raw ABS sensor pulse of 25,000PPM, pulses per mile, it then converts it to 8,000PPM which is the Ford standard PPM for speedo, cruise and computer
It then sends out that converted signal on ONE grey/black wire to all 3 devices, only 1 wire is needed because the 3 devices already have a Ground

C1752 in this case means the non-ground wire from the ABS sensor is shorted to ground, you know this because ABS light is on as well as no speedometer, if the grey/black wire was shorted then just no speedo, ABS would be fine

There are 2 wires on the GEM that come from ABS sensor, should match the wire colors at the sensor, green/black and red/pink
These same wires are also on the ABS module
Since ABS module is usually easier to access unplug it and retest the sensor wires, if ground is gone then ABS module was/is the short
Next stop would be GEM so have to pull the radio

This is all assuming you have inspected the 2 wires as much as you can on their journey from ABS sensor to the cab area, and no obvious issues

 

RonD Thanks. I do have to get under the truck and toubleshoot. I will check the wires at the abs module I will report back when I find out more.

 

I am checking in just to update. I let the truck sit after it acted up for about 9 days. I needed to use it to pick something large up so i took the chance with it it was around 12 miles round trip. The truck ran good no issues so right now I am thinking it is intermittent. I did order somne parts for it a transfer case shift motor was installed, and seems to be working fine. My old shift motor appeared to be original said "Borg Warner" on the blue plastic cover so that was money well spent. I also clened and checked the connectors that go into the cab that are right near the shift motor area. They dont appear to be the later connector that gets mentioned alot, and they didnt look bad, I did spray CRC electronic cleaner in them ,blew them out and reconnected with a little dielectric. I suppose all this is inconclusive with the ABS P0500 and the C 1752 GEM code but I am thinking it is intermittent, all I can do is drive it till it happens again. The rear speed sensor was also replaced recently ,less than 6 months ago when the abs light and trans gear hunting happened the first time. any way I shall l see and will post what I find out

 

I put about 130 miles on it this past weekend, so far no ABS light and gear hunting... so far so good but still not sure what the problem is or was.