89 Bronco 2 Stuck in 4Low

[jprevat]

Hey all, I have a 1989 Bronco 2 with the push button 4wd and it won't come out of 4 low.
I have never had an issue with the 4x4 on this truck in 23 years so this caught me off guard.
When the button is pressed I can hear the relays click behind me but the indicator light at the button and the 4 low above the column stay lit and it still has the torque of 4low when I put it back in gear.
Does this seem like a transfer case shift motor problem or something bigger? Thanks ahead of time guys.

 

[RonD]

Shift motor could be at its internal limit, so can't move back
Reads like the buttons are working and Controller

You should remove the shift motor from the transfer case, 3 or 4 bolts, seen here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/images/rebuild_transfer_case_shift_motor/rebuilding_a_ford_transfer_case_shift_motor-19.jpg

You will see this behind it: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/images/rebuild_transfer_case_shift_motor/rebuilding_a_ford_transfer_case_shift_motor-2.JPG
In this picture the transfer case's shift rod is pointed at 2WD(2H), so its in 2WD

Yours will be pointed at 4L
The shift rod can't spin all the way around(360deg)
It can only spin from 2H to 4L and then has to spin back to 2H

While the shift motor is off and plugged in, try shifting it to 4H and then 2H
If its not moving then yes, shift motor is most likely bad
The shift motor is powered by a Fusible link in the engine bay on the Starter Relay(solenoid), which these rarely fail, rarely is not never
The switch and controller use a fuse

You can manually turn the transfer case shift rod to 4H or 2H with pliers, but.......................
MAKE SURE tires are BLOCKED
Between 4L and 4H, across from 2H is NEUTRAL!!!
If you are laying under the vehicle and shift to neutral, well..........hope its on a level surface, lol

Shift rod does need to be held in place, it has a spring inside, so vice grips and wire to lock it down

The Orange and Yellow wires can be hooked to battery positive and negative to test motor, its a DC motor like power window motor, so reverse polarity to spin it left and right

 

[jprevat]

Thank you very much! I was a little stuck and really didn't want to start taking everything apart just to make my problems multiply because I wasn't familiar with the mechanics.

 

[RangerReviver1990]

Thank you very much! I was a little stuck and really didn't want to start taking everything apart just to make my problems multiply because I wasn't familiar with the mechanics.

I was like you a couple weeks ago, because I thought my transfer case was also stuck in 4L because my Low Range light is always on, i took my shift motor off and it was in 2wd. Someone told me it is probably a grounding issue or something is ground that should be