4x4 will not engage. ????

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Feb 26, 2004 | 11:03 AM

broncoman1988

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4x4 will not engage. ????

Hello. I am happy to say that I am a brand new owner of a 1988 Bronco II. It snowed today in NC and wouldnt you know it, my 4x4 wont engage. Its the push button type with little picture of a SUV on it. Anyone have an idea what could be wrong? Any help would be appreciated!

-Brian

Feb 26, 2004 | 11:18 AM

broncoman1988

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Sorry, Ive been reading around on these forums and I think Ive got something to work with. Still any help would be apreciated!

Feb 26, 2004 | 05:32 PM

mrshorty

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From: UT

It won't engage the transfer case or the hubs aren't engaging?
If it appears to be at the transfer case, try cleaning the shift motor.
If it appears to be at the hubs, do you have auto or manual hubs?

Feb 27, 2004 | 07:00 PM

broncoman1988

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To me it seems that its an electronic problem. I havent had any trouble with the feature before. When I push the 4x4 button however, nothing at all happens. Thats all I know.

Mar 28, 2004 | 07:26 PM

Waterguy

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From: Central NJ

Check out the tech info section on this problem. Theres alot of good info there on repairing the shift motor, I have an 88 and had the same problem. I went through all of the repairs to the shift motor but still nothing. I did the tests and narrowed it down to the computer under the dash. Fortunately I bought a parts car and swapped out the computer in mine and all works fine. The tech section gives you all the info on checking the computer. I took my old computer (bad one) apart just for sport. It turned out it was a victim of a power surge or something. there was a ribbon of solder cooked off the PC board and a cooked Varistor. At least thats what I"m told it was by my electronics guy at work. I replaced the Varistor and soldered a jumper wire where the solder was burned off and the unit works fine now so I have a spare. These things cost about 500$ from ford so take a shot and see if anything is visibly wrong inside.
If you can fix it or have someone else do it you"ll save alot.

Mar 29, 2004 | 05:58 PM

ncranchero

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From: E.Lincoln County, NC

Brian, do you hear a click,click,click and shift lights blink???? Bad shift motor. Where are you in NC?

Apr 3, 2004 | 04:24 PM

Quackhead94ranger

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From: stevens point

i dont know if u got this problem fixed, but if u didnt there's another post on the first page (well it's on the first page right now) aobut hte same problem, he had a bad switch on the console, the guy who started the post was bbrowning i believe
quack