So for just shy of 3 years now the 4x4 on my '96 ranger hasn't worked. Itried fixing the issue myself by working on the transfer case shift motor to no avail. I finally took my truck into a reputable transmission shop in my area. I dropped it off almost 2 weeks ago almost to the hour. They finally called me to tell me the problem is fixed.

Now here was the unexpected cause.

The dome light in my truck has been broken since I bought it. That broken dome light caused a short in it's wires that go behind the dash and that intern damaged the wires for the shift motor and friend the motor. So they are replacing dome light and shift motor and repairing the wiring. The total labor time when done should be about 15 hours. The cost to me is just under $720.

I think the cost is more than fair, the shift motors alone cost a couple hundred. So if anyone in the portland area needs drivetrain work done I highly suggest reliable transmission.

Just thought I would share.

 

That's sounds crazy, but I'm not surprised. Electrical shorts have been know to cause havoc.

 

i had a short on the fuelrail on my golf. almost set my whole car ablaze. mech. couldn't find why it was bucking. found the problem with the burnt wires. anyways cost me 550 for him to rebuild some of my wiring harness. i think it worked out to 5 labour hours and he didn't charge me for the little parts he used. if the price seems justified, then it does. labour is anywhere from $75 -$90. so, 7x $85 = $595 plus taxes and parts. sounds fair to me.

 

i put too long of a screw in my domelight, shorted on the roof and blew the gem module fuse which wiped out the 4x4, replaced bolt and fuse and fixed

 

that's why I hate electrical stuff. Tried to install my rockford-fosgate headunit, made a small wiring error in the harness adapter, and ended up with no parking, fog, or tail lights. Cost me $18 for a new headlight switch (didn't solve the problem), then $150 for the dealer to find the open circuit.

 

Having a dome light would be nice, but for that price I'd just switch to a manual transfer case.

 

That was plan A for the past 2 years it has been broken. It is easier said than done.

 

I feel your pain on the 4x4 not working. Funny thing is I think I had a similar occurence.

My dome light was busted as in just hanging there by one corner, the light switch doesn't work, in my 4x4 and one day my 4x4 would not work. I tried all the things and it just flashed both lights at me 3 times and went off. No 4x4.

My truck I already know has an electrical gremlin. The door ajar light will come on and stay on for no apparent reason and in turn cause my dome light to stay on. I guess it eventually had enough and my 4x4 probably stopped working because of a similar problem. But unlike yours my mechanic returned it and it has worked ever since. I don't even know what the problem was.

I have since replaced my dome light with a mustang dome and no longer have a catankerous pain in my rear.

I just found it interesting that you've had electrical problems and it reminded me of my possessed truck.