Transfercase Shift Motor
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Transfercase Shift Motor
My 98 ranger wont stay in 4wd if you shift from drive to reverse, or vice versa. I took the shift motor off the case and verified that its not shifting the t-case all the way into 4wd allowing it to pop out when you switch from drive to reverse. It stays in if you go only in one direction. Is switching the motor the only option or can I take it apart and adjust it to turn the extra few degrees I need to keep the 4wd engaged. If I have to get a new one where is the best place to get it from and how much will it cost.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,237
Likes: 3
From: Belleville, Ontario
This was pulled from the "Technical Information" sticky at the top of this board:
http://www.glue.umd.edu/~singletn/web/pages/tcase.html
You may just need to clean the shift motor assy.
http://www.glue.umd.edu/~singletn/web/pages/tcase.html
You may just need to clean the shift motor assy.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: St. Peter
when you say nuts do you mean the torx screws, they are shaped kinda like stars with a metal stud in the middle of them? if they are, you can do one of two things, get a regular torx bit, and break off the metal stud in the middle of the screw, or (recommended version) go and buy a "security" torx bit, they might also be called "tamper proof" torx bits, they are basically a torx bit with a hole in the middle of them to allow for the metal stud in the middle of the screw you can usually get them at your local hardware store. If they are actually nuts, could you describe what they look like?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,748
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From: Connecticut
How did you test the transfer case motor while it was off the T-case? I'm not following you on how you verified that the motor is not operating properly.
Also, FWIW, Ford uses those security star torx-head screws (bolts, actually) to secure the MAF sensor to the MAF housing. On some years (my '98 for example) they even put a drop of hard epoxy-like substance inside one or both of the MAF bolt heads so you couldn't use the proper torx bit even if you had it in your toolbox. Talk about a PITA. My way around that baloney was to cut a slit in bolt heads with a dremel tool, thereby making them easily removable with a regular screwdriver. I used new philips-head bolts with lock washers when I put it back together, and I can now remove and clean the MAF sensor any time I want with simply a philips head screwdriver.
Best 35 cent mod I ever did.
Also, FWIW, Ford uses those security star torx-head screws (bolts, actually) to secure the MAF sensor to the MAF housing. On some years (my '98 for example) they even put a drop of hard epoxy-like substance inside one or both of the MAF bolt heads so you couldn't use the proper torx bit even if you had it in your toolbox. Talk about a PITA. My way around that baloney was to cut a slit in bolt heads with a dremel tool, thereby making them easily removable with a regular screwdriver. I used new philips-head bolts with lock washers when I put it back together, and I can now remove and clean the MAF sensor any time I want with simply a philips head screwdriver.
Best 35 cent mod I ever did.
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: St. Peter
Yeah, no kidding, those security bolts are a total pain. We had someone call down to ace looking for "an allen wrench with a hole in the middle". And when someone describes somthing like that over the phone its like, "we have this screw, and theres a metal thingy sticking out of it, and we need a allen wrench for it, but the allen wrench has to have a hole in it for the metal thingy to fit into". I wonder why they put those bolts on the MAF, its not like someones going to pop your hood and steal yours if those security bolts arent on there.
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From: stevens point
unfortunately, it's probably just a nother way the ppl at the top of ford motor company, they do that stuff so you "have" to take it in to get it off, but then theres the smarter people like us that do it on there own and save lots of $$
quack
quack
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Upper Peninsula of Michigan
If you take the entire shift actuator off the t-case, you can still turn the key on, then turn the 4wd switch and watch the motor turn. There is a mark cast into the housing showing where the actuator should index to properly engage 4wd. My hubs are locked in all the time I took them apart and did it manually.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Upper Peninsula of Michigan
It does reduce gas mileage, but my vaccum system doesnt work so I did it to get through winter. Now its time to unlock the hubs or fix the vaccum system. I was hoping for the AVM hubs to hit the market. Has any one taken the T-case shift actuator apart on a 98 ranger?
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: stevens point
ahhhhhhhhh that works too lol
well if u have manual hubs, your transfer case "actuator" ( what is that by the way) if i am correct, your thinking of the eltronic shift motor, and for the manual hubs, that wouldnt be used, so you shouldnt really have to take your t case apart, but i will go look for some hubs for you
but i dont know what the "avm" hubs are either??i will look that up
hope i helped out
quack
well if u have manual hubs, your transfer case "actuator" ( what is that by the way) if i am correct, your thinking of the eltronic shift motor, and for the manual hubs, that wouldnt be used, so you shouldnt really have to take your t case apart, but i will go look for some hubs for you
but i dont know what the "avm" hubs are either??i will look that up
hope i helped out
quack
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Upper Peninsula of Michigan
When I bought the truck the 4wd didnt work. It was the vaccum system, so I locked the hubs in manually. That worked fine but it would pop out of 4wd when you shifted from fwd to reverse. I knew it wasnt the hubs because I locked them in manually. I take the electronic do-dad off the t-case(trust me I know what Im doing) and find that it isnt turning the t-case shaft all the way into 4hi. So im wondering if there is anything I can do exept change the t-case motor.