Welp, once again, my t-case indicator switch seems to be broken. Haven't used 4x in a few weeks, so the other day I found some dirt and pulled the handle to make sure everything still works. It's been 3-5k since I last had this truck to a Ford dealer, so I figured something just had to be broken. Sure enough, I was right.

It seems to be doing exactly what happened before: The indicator says I am in 4Hi when I am in 2Hi, Neutral, and 4Lo. Playing around I did manage to get the light to go out momentarily while in Neutral (actually shifting from 4Lo to 4Hi). But now it seems permanantly stuck in 4Hi (the indicator that is).

Unlike last time, it does not seem to 'cure itself' as I drive. Previously I had this problem in the late fall/winter and once the vehicle got warmed up (usually ~10-15 miles into a long drive) the indicator would be fixed and everything would work properly. My dealer of course is a good 30 min drive from me, so I had a hard time proving the issue to them. They finally 'found' the problem when they had the truck overnight for a clutch replacement and I specifically asked them to test the t-case in the morning.

At any rate, at least I'm pretty sure I know what the problem is. Time to call mr dealer-man and schedule a warranty inspection.

<Sigh>

 

After they fix it again, you might want to crawl underneath, open the connectors and fill them with dielectric compound. That sometimes keeps the gremlims at bay a little longer.

 

Well that sucks.. at least you have that nifty lever and not the switch that likes to crap out when the lights act up...

 

Yeah.. at least.

I'm just fustrated. Seriously: I have yet to be more than like 3-5k miles on this thing w/o a dealer visit.. and that's been continious for almost 30k miles! It's enough to drive a man away from Ford.. or at least the Ranger! Right now I'm feeling as if my Ranger ownership experience has been pretty friggin' lousy!

Bob.. I'd take a shot at that.. I presume you mean pull the connector, smear both ends and re-connect, right? But to be honest I've never even seen this switch. One of you guys (Jared?!) posted a photo last time. I crawled under to see how bad it would be to just replace the effing thing myself. (The dealer was giving me a lot of static as I couldn't reproduce it for them.) Unfortunately even then I couldn't locate this sucker..

To be honest it 'feels' like an issue w/ the switch mounting. It's like the linkage, or the switches connection to the linkage is out of adjustment (or just outright disconnected) somehow.

While we're on the subject.. how do you usually ensure that you are out of 4x when you switch to 2Hi? I have always felt some grab in the steering, which would indicate to me that it's still in 4x.. Hard to tell how much of that is my mind and how much is reality. The leverl 'pops' into the 4Hi and 4Lo positions pretty confidently.. but there's always been some play when the lever is in 2Hi. Like it could go forward further.. but won't.

 

Uh-oh! Get it fixed soon so I can buy your truck

 

There is a very different feel when in 4WD especially on pavement, with a strong resistance to turning. It's very obvious that it's in 4WD when you actually do attempt to turn. The truck slows noticeably and the tires break traction because the fronts describe a larger circle and must either travel farther or slip.

The 4x4 switch is on the top front of the transfer case, # 7E440 in this picture:

 

I know the feel, w/ the wheel being tight. But my truck does not loose traction whatsoever in 4x. I always attributed it to the weight of the truck combined w/ the tires. 31x10.5's seem to lay down quite a footprint on flat surfaces. I've never gotten the inside front to hop, like my buddy's w/ their import pickups can.

Frequently when I go to 2Hi, the steering still has some substantial resistance to it. This causes me to lean on the t-case lever and question if it really is in 2x or not. Having a broken indicator doesn't help this. Nothing like the feeling of confidence.

Once I get this thing fixed, I'll take another swing at finding this switch.. Clearly it's something that needs attention.

Had a bed full of firewood in the bed of the truck most of this week.. (which leveled the truck nicely btw! ) and I got some minor clutch/throwout bearing squeal again. Last night we unloaded the truck.. unloaded it doesn't seem to squeek, even giving it hell on an incline. Still.. only 6k miles left on the warranty. I'll have to keep an eye on that one too.

 

ah yes, i do love that lever. its a shame its still not an option for all trucks like lock out hubs :(

 

And just like that, this morning on the way to work the light went off! I didn't have time to pull over and try 4WD. I'm sure the indicator still doesn't work as it's supposed to.. but at least the damned light is off..

 

Ok.. I'm thinking you shouldn't take your truck to Ford again.. its time for a Priest! Get those deamons or gremlines or whatever is posesing your truck exercised!

 

Sigh.. I keep reminding myself it's just a dumbass idiot light, and that it doesn't really effect the way the truck performs. But yeah, pretty fustrating..

 

My favorite is when you go to 4L and the light stays on there when you are in 4H or 2H. The computer thinks you are still in 2L, syour the spedo is all messed up and so is the odometer. I have had the exact problem many times. The dielectic grease didn't do much to help. I just cross my fingers each time I put it in 4 the the light doesn't even go on anymore....

 

Yeah, seems the switch has entirely given up the ghost now. The indicator does not change at all, regardless of the t-case position now. It always thinks it's in 2Hi.. Which I suppose is better than it could be.

Still haven't brought it into Mr Dealer-man. Wish this coulda happened in the summer, where at least I could use the bike to get around in a pinch..