4x4 Indicator Light Not Working

Hamdog16 · 11-01-2010, 05:48 AM

I have a manual shift 4x4 and when I put it in 4x4 the indicator light in the dash no longer lights up. I thought it might be the bulb so I replaced all the bulbs in the instrument panel and the light still does not appear. Does anyone else know what it might be? Thanks!\

Also the trucks does go in 4x4 and it works, its just the light does not appear when its in 4x4.

rodknock02 · 11-01-2010, 09:39 AM

i was gonna start a thread and ask why my truck didnt have a 4wd light ,cause i def dont see one when i engauge it. I notice it the other day but i not sure if i comes with one on 04 5.9 auto

***Shibbyutman*** · 11-01-2010, 09:45 AM

there is a position switch on the transfercase that is supposed to tell the cluster when it grabs 4x4. I'd imagine if that switch is out of adjustment or broken it wouldn't turn on.

I have the shift on the fly transfercase in my truck and my light in the dash blinks on and off when it wants too while in 4x4

Hamdog16 · 11-01-2010, 10:10 AM

Do you know where that is located on the transfer case So I can take a look at it?

Thanks!

***Shibbyutman*** · 11-01-2010, 10:25 AM

Look for something with a harness going to it

Shouldn't be many things there since yours is a manual version. I'd expect it to be somewhere in the middle of the case and not near the output shaft.

710Burner · 11-02-2010, 01:14 AM

I'm in the same boat. Got my '05 a week ago. I guess I need to crawl under again and start poking around with the switch on the transfer case.

lackskill · 11-02-2010, 01:26 AM

I think there's only 1 harness on the manual transfer case. I just had mine out last week and that's all it had. It was on the top front driver's side near where the linkage attaches. It's a 2 wire harness.

Hamdog16 · 11-02-2010, 06:37 AM

Is it the two wire harness that plugs into the top of the transmission? I took that off and carefully inspected and cleaned it up but the light still does not turn on. What do I have to do to replace this sensor? thanks!

***Shibbyutman*** · 11-02-2010, 07:44 AM

I don't think a 4 wheel drive indicator light sender would be on the transmission. The transmission wouldn't know if or when the transfer case is in 4x4.

I suspect, though don't know for sure, that it is a position sensor that may be a pin and detent style where something actually pushes on a pin, or it is a magnetic pickup style where something ferrous based runs in front of it when it is in 4x4 and it is supposed to pick that up.

If it is the magnetic style those type of sensors crap out all the time, they are kinda similar to wheel speed sensors that die all the time on our trucks. If they aren't too much you may just want to swap in a new sensor and see what happens.

my04rattler · 11-02-2010, 03:37 PM

My 04 did the same thing. Mine turned out to be the wireing harness at the transher case switch had lost its ground. We installed an external ground and that fixed it.

lackskill · 11-02-2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamdog16

Is it the two wire harness that plugs into the top of the transmission? I took that off and carefully inspected and cleaned it up but the light still does not turn on. What do I have to do to replace this sensor? thanks!

The transfer case bolts to the tail end of the transmission, but yes it is a 2 wire harness as shown in the pic below, right behind the transfer case vent tube.

I stole that pic from one of the 48re R&R threads. I hope the OP doesn't mind.

Starchief_59 · 11-02-2010, 04:09 PM

There's only one on the T case. It's on the driver's side on the top.