Hello all,
I am a long time reader, first time poster. Thanks for all the info I have seen so far. I have read the sticky thread, but can't decipher if any of the issues are the same as I am having. So here it goes...

I have a 1997 Ford F150 4x4 4.6L extended cab with 180000 miles. Rusty but trusty. I have had 4x4 engagement issues before with the truck, and ended up having to replace the front axle shifter fork and collar. Thanks to this forum, it was possible for me to do myself. Now I have a different issue. The 4x4 light will not come on at all when in 4 hi or 4 low in with the transmission in nuetral. The things I have done are check every single fuse the truck has, all are in working order. I have replaced the shifter switch with a known working used one, no luck. When I turn the ****, I hear clicking from the relay in the middle of the dash, but the 4x4 light does not come on. The front driveshaft is able to be spun when I have the **** in the 4 hi or 4 lo position. I have pulled the GEM module out to see if I had the dreaded windshield leak issue, and it appears that all connections look great, and there does not appear to be any burn marks on the circuitry. I also tested to see if the vacuum solenoids were getting the correct signals. It only stays on 2 wheel vacuum (by testing the ground connection to the solenoids), it does not switch when I turn the ****. So at this point I am under the belief that I have an issue with the transfer case shift motor or something related, and that when it does not work, it does not give the signal to the vacuum solenoids to switch or allow the 4x4 light to come on. If I am correct, how do I test to see what is the issue at the transfer case?

WOW that was a long post. Hope someone out there can understand what I am saying, as I am not a pro mechanic by any means (as if you couldn't tell by the post) Thanks in advance for any help!!!!!

 

from what you said, I think your possibly right. You turn the **** from LO to HI and get no light........ if you try to drive the truck, has it shifted from LO to HI or is it still stuck in HI......... If it went to LO, top speed would be about 50 MPH so you would definitely know it was in LO gear......... If its not shifting, you should check the voltage at the plug on the motor on the transfer case... another way might be to just unbolt the motor, set it on a bucket ( wires connected) and try to shift it.. maybe its in a bind, maybe you have no voltage, maybe the motor is bad.......... but your in the right area !