So I recently picked up a 1998 Mazda B3000 4x4 and I always thought the 4x4 worked. This is my first car and it was formerly a family member's, so I believed them when they said it worked (they probably just didn't know if it didn't). Years ago the hubs were replaced for manual lockers. I always thought that because of this, the 4wd lights didn't work on the dash for that reason. It was snowing, so I put my truck into 4wd and got to the bottom of my driveway. When I started to go, only 1 tire spun (rear) and this surprised me.

I did some reading on the forums earlier, but the similar problems were talking about the 01-05's, and I don't know if the 1998's are the same with modules/setup or what to repair/replace. I'm not sure if it is a shift motor, 4wd module, or me just doing something wrong. Please help!

So, to recap; manual locking hubs, no 4wd lights (not even on startup when all lights are on) & 4wd not working

I wouldn't be doubting a fried module because my it has some electrical issues (the dome and bed lights don't work and the door chime does sometimes & I believe they are on the same circuit)

 

Welcome to the forum

In 1998 with manual hub conversion then no 4WD is most likely the shift motor, the controller is the GEM module behind the radio in a 1998 Ranger and was not a "known" issue
In 1998-2000 there is also a double relay box behind the GEM module, you should "hear" a relay "click" when you move the switch position

But check these fuses FIRST
Fuse 3 in ENGINE BAY fuse box, 20amp this is for the shift motor
Fuses 9, 26 and 27 in CAB fuse box

Swap them or test them, "Looks OK" is great for checking out the ladies, but not for fuses

The 4WD lights should come on with key ON, then go off, that's a BULB TEST, not a system test
If lights do not come on then bulbs may be burned out

You can pull off the shift motor and test it using trucks battery its just a 12volt motor like a power window motor, 12v/grd turn it one way, grd/12v turns it the other way

 

So I checked each fuse, and each fuse did not change anything. After I did the fuses, I listened for the relay behind the GEM and didn't hear any clicking. my guess is that it is that relay that you were talking about and I am going to check the switch, but I don't know how... I'm almost sure that it is the relay that is the issue, but I'm not ruling out the motor or the switch yet, just because my truck is rusty and things don't like to work for me lol.

 

Part number for that dual relay box is : F57B-6912-AA

Hard one to find because they just didn't fail that often so wrecking yards never pulled them out for resale
They were used on 1995-2000 Ranger and Mazda B-series 4x4s

4WD lights should flash when you try to shift to or from 4WD if the relays or shift motor is the problem
When you turn the key on do the 4WD lights come on for 2 seconds?
If not then maybe bulbs are burned out, or GEM issue

The 4WD switch never breaks on these, its just 3 resistors so not much to go wrong

 

I'm sure the bulbs are burned out because they haven't worked since before I got the truck. Like I said before, they dont even come on during the bulb check. I'll have to do some hunting for that relay because I couldn't find anything online (except for ebay which can be hit or miss)

I'll keep this thread updated and we'll find out if this fixes it...

 

After some thinking, I replaced the 4x4 control module. I also went through and checked all of the fuses in the car, not just the ones you suggested, just because. Unfortunately, when I put the new four-wheel drive control module in, I turned the switch on the dash and nothing happened with the module. I also checked the switch and the switch was fine. This led me to believe that I had that light on on my dash, and that the bulbs were just burned out. I learned that this was not the case the other morning when I was going up a hill on my normal commute and the dash lights lit up for a second and then disappeared. They have not returned since. I'm starting to think that this is a GEM issue. Any ideas?

 

On a 1998 Ranger the 4x4 control IS the GEM module????

So not sure what you replaced

There is a dual relay box behind the GEM module but its literally just 2 relays in a box that powers the shift motor when GEM activates it

 

It was the dual relay that I replaced. Sorry for the confusion!