Ain't figgered anything out yet. I plan to talk with a mechanic at the garage when I get the recall on the cruise taken care of. I checked the wires at the shift motor and none are hot. The relay on the passenger's side gives me a real weak light with a tester. With the mild winter we're having I'll probably not do anything until spring. I want a CD that works, and may as well do all of that at the same time... meaning checking the switch on the dash when I remove the radio. In a real pinch, I can remove the shift motor and go to 4X4 that way.

 

I had the same problem with my truck. I screwed with it for a long time and finally brought it to the garage. The shift control module had failed. There are no aftermarket parts, so the thing set me back $180 from the dealership. I found out later you can purchase the part online for quite a bit less.

 

Okay. It's a year after I started having 4X4 problems with my Ranger. Too busy to mess with it during the summer, and now winter is suddenly upon me. I took it to a local dealership this morning and they say it's the module under the passenger side kick panel. It boils down to $360 to fix it ($65 to hook it up to a diagnostic computer, $260 for the module, and $35 to put it in). It'll be here this evening and they'll put it in tomorrow morning. The kid who checked it out said that the module has lots of problems 'coz it is mounted on the outside wall of the truck, and it builds condensation when it gets cold and then hot and then cold and then hot again. Only thing that held me back from going to a dealer in the first place was the my irrational fear of the potential cost, but I've convinced myself that I'll save money letting the dealer do it because I was planning to replace that thinga-mabob underneath on my own, and I woulda been upset spending the money when it didn't fix the problem. Psheesh! By the way, I've not replaced the radio/CD or done any of the other nickel and dime crap I want to do. Probably ain't gonna do any of that stuff now. I've decided to waste what extra cash I have on food, heat and electric, if ya knowhutimean.

 

That thingy as you call it is your trucks main computer!! Sorry my link did not help fix your problem.

 

I'd forgotten who had hipped me to that link, but it ain't your fault it didn't work. There's no way you could have given me a definitive answer. Besides, I learned more about my truck from it, and for that I thank you!

 

I've got 4X4 again. $75 to tell me what was wrong with it, $225 for the module, and $34 to put the module in. With tax it came to $363. Dunno how long it actually took to swap the module out (I roamed the lot and looked at other vehicles while I waited), but I was only there for an hour. For me it was well worth the money 'coz it's done and I'm satisfied. And as an added bonus, nobody tried to sell me a new truck!!!

 

Good to hear it's fixed. Keep in mind too that when Ford supplies the part and does the labor you get a one-year warranty on both.

 

Didn't realize about the warranty. It wasn't mentioned and I didn't think to ask. Good to know, though. Thanks!

 

This is really a weak link I think on this trucks. Mine went when the truck was six months old. It was a bad snow storm, I was pulling my trailer with my atv on it. I Thought I was in 4 wheel as it was the first time using it. The truck went into a jack knife and I drove out of it. I would have been so p%%$# off if I had damaged my ride. The dealer fixed it but really shouldnt have happened.