It just isn’t fair, LOL

Submitted: Thursday, Jul 13, 2006 at 20:41
ThreadID: 35814 Views:3469 Replies:2 FollowUps:16
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I was out 4Wding 2 weeks ago when I went to engage Low range but it wouldn’t, oh Bugger, not about to turn back after driving 170K’s to get there just used Hi range, didn’t get Bogged Yay, but my mate in his patrol did LOL (He was just unlucky but could have been me just as easy)

I am not getting any error codes flashing at me, So I figure the Shift motor Just need s a bit of Love LOL, Sunday climb under the truck and hit it with a hammer (Tuff love that is LOL) and hit the connections with some contact cleaner, but it still didn’t work.

So that Friday I spent a few hours laying on my back dismantling the thing and long behold it still looks new inside, the shift motors reduction gears were in good nick and the Electric motor looked like it had just been pulled out of a sealed Box. Switched the T/Case into 4WD Low by turning the socket with my hand so all good in that department.

Figure it’s a electrical problem So out of my league so duct into ford after admitting defeat, and $230 later they tell me there is a contact fault in the Shift motor Position sensor or something and it’s not repairable new motor $880 LMAO.

Now way mate I can get one for half that price easy, but this is a new Motor he says< yep so is the one I will get. LOL had a bit of a puzzled look on his face after that. He,He,He

When I was speaking to the Advisor when they were working on it, I asked what is stuffed in the motor Do you know?. Was told that the motors can’t actually be pulled apart so it’s hard to say for sure, oh, ok I say, But… I pulled it apart on the weekend. Now it’s I will need to wait for the report from the technician to know, shouldn’t be long mate.

So what isn’t fair about this?, Well I have the Cooper ST’s going on in a little over a week, it’s been wet hear in Perth, Got a 4WDing weekend trip planed for the end of the Month and I Got know low range Arrrrrrrrrrr…

Oh and I also have a stuffed Left hand Crash sensor and possible wiring Fault for the Airbags, so that’s way that annoying light has been flashing at me.

Well Electronics are fantastic until they get water Mud, dust and every thing else 4Wding chucks at them for 8-9 years and they decide to call it a day. I think the owners of the D3’s are going to get some surprises in a few years when all that 4WD Electronics on those starts to play up.

Humm.. Maybe I can just attach a Bar to the shift socket on the T/case and every time I what low range I can just reach under the truck and lock it in, Now I am beginning to think, and that when things get dangerous LOL

Cheers..




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Reply By: Bilbo - Thursday, Jul 13, 2006 at 20:49

Thursday, Jul 13, 2006 at 20:49
Exploder,

That's a big prob with 4Wd's these days. They're too "soft" with too many 'gizmos' attached to 'em.

Bilbo
AnswerID: 183402

Follow Up By: Exploder - Thursday, Jul 13, 2006 at 21:18

Thursday, Jul 13, 2006 at 21:18
Yes I know what you mean, Not like those Chevy Diesels, I like being able to sit in the cab and select the 4WD Range with the turn of a switch and not have to get out to lock hubs and stuff, but once the stuff gets a bit old and has had some abuse off road it starts to have a few little thing go wrong., and the stuff is never replicable you need to replace the hole unit.

Like My shift motor everything is in perfect condition in it, except for a blue Moulded Plastic Cover plate that sits on the Reduction gear housing and in it is a sensor that tells the 4WD computer what position the shift motor is in.

So because this one Little sensor that’s probably worth $5 is not sending a signal to the 4WD computer The Computer doesn’t Know what Position the T/Case shift motor is in so it wont allow it to move and ford what $880 for a unit that is worth $200 at the most.

4WD High and the TOD system still work as they use Speed sensors in the T/case and off the ABS system for the TOD and a Big electromagnet in the T/Case to lock it in High range.

Currently trying to source a new one from the U.S

Cheers.

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FollowupID: 439996

Follow Up By: Member - Brian (Gold Coast) - Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 06:41

Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 06:41
Exploder,

"I like being able to sit in the cab and select the 4WD Range with the turn of a switch and not have to get out to lock hubs and stuff,"

I do that with my truck...... it's called "Never-Unlock-The-Hubs".... LOL.....

Then it's a simple task of wiggling the little stick into 4LOW.......

;-))

Cheers

Brian
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FollowupID: 440042

Follow Up By: japmel - Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 09:17

Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 09:17
This might be stateing the obvious, But have you checked the fuse.

Regards
John
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FollowupID: 440069

Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 12:47

Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 12:47
If you get water in your transfer case - 8 or 9 years later your going to have problems, electrics or no electrics...

This is what I don't get about people's anti with electronics.

Why do we have snorkels? Because if you get water into the mechanics your screwed. It's not the electronics fault if they get wet, it's poor design.

If youre building a 4wd and you are installing and electronics gizzmo that will corrode and die if it get's wet, then you water proof it!

If an electric motor dies on you that is only 5 years old, it needed to be a bigger motor. If a sensor dies, it should have been a made of heavier duty components.

If a diff breaks on a new vehicle doing light work (he hmm, toyota) it should have been designed better with more heavy duty parts. I can't see the difference between electronics and mechanicals in these departments.

I think the fear of electronics is not that they are weaker or less reliable than any other parts, I think it's a fobier of them from people who have no understanding of them.

Me I am comfortable working with electornics and (touch wood) havn't had any fail on the 11 year old surf (which is full as a goog with them).

For me, I'd prefer to change a crank angle sensor than a clutch any day of the week...
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Follow Up By: Exploder - Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 15:59

Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 15:59
Jeff mate I may of explained it wrong or you may be talking in general, The electronics are all working it's just one seald sensor that's faulty, but it's not replacable

Hear are some photos I Got linked Fist try seeing if they work LOL

That blue cap with the metal sticking out of it is has the sensor in it and that’s what’s stuffed.





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FollowupID: 440106

Follow Up By: Member - Brian (Gold Coast) - Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 16:50

Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 16:50
Jeff,

For me it's not the electronics themselves that is the hassle, it's just that sooner or later it "might" break and knowing the sort of luck that I encounter, it won't be at the mechanics or in my shed..... LOL... and it usually costs half a sqillion and one of my first borns arms to repair.

So personally I like to take the electronic "gizmos" out of the equation...... at least until I HAVE to buy a truck that is full of 'em...

I'm not surprised your 11 year old Surf electronics are still going..... Toyota's build quality shines through again!

Cheers

Brian
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FollowupID: 440114

Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 18:17

Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 18:17
Yeah Brian I know what you mean, but you never know when a cam's going to bleep itself or a bearings going to go, I spose it's all swings and round abouts... I try to ensure my mechanics are up to date, I also spray silicone spray and Balistol or CRC on connections etc before going to wet wet wet places, so I guess some of it comes down to preventative maintenance too.

Don't get me wrong, I love simple, but I gotta say now that I have gadgets, I love them too! ;-)
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Reply By: Rigor - Thursday, Jul 13, 2006 at 21:02

Thursday, Jul 13, 2006 at 21:02
Give me a lever and manual hubs any day.

Dave L
AnswerID: 183403

Follow Up By: Exploder - Thursday, Jul 13, 2006 at 21:22

Thursday, Jul 13, 2006 at 21:22
Beginning to think the same way mate.
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Follow Up By: Redback - Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 09:46

Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 09:46
WHY
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Follow Up By: Member - Bware (Tweed Valley) - Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 11:51

Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 11:51
Redback, less 'gizmos' for things to go wrong with especially electrical. The problem of replacing whole units when you have a minor electrical fault etc; points that have already been made in this thread which I'm sure you read :-)))))
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Follow Up By: cowpat - Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 13:56

Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 13:56
Not being able to justify the cost of a new LC100 and replacing it every four years I bought the std diesel poverty-pack model for exactly that reason. Casper
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Follow Up By: cowpat - Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 13:58

Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 13:58
LC100 GXL is what I meant to say. Casper
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Follow Up By: Redback - Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 15:05

Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 15:05
80 Series cruiser and Landies are constant 4wd with no probs engaging 4wd, and that old myth about better economy going to free wheeling hubs, is just that a myth.

Techknolegy is good, embrace it don't fear it.

Baz.
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FollowupID: 440101

Follow Up By: Exploder - Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 15:21

Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 15:21
Redback> I think if I was in the U.S it wouldn’t be such a problem as I could get hold of a new unit for considerably less but because I am in AUS I now need to stuff around trying to source one from the states.

I have managed to track a aftermarket Shift Motor for $130 U.S, the genuine Ford unit’s are worth about $300 US I think, now that’s a fair cry from $880 AUS.

I think that is what has gotten under my skin, the stupidly over inflated prices that are charged, for something so simple.

If I took their shift Motor from ford the coast would have been something like this

$230 Diagnose 4WD problem and Airbag Fault (hell I practically walked in a told them what it was when I dropped it off)
$880 new 4WD shift motor
Say $60 labour to install it
=$1170

Saying that I haven’t had much go wrong with it not bad considering the reputation they have, It’s just when it does it’s always expensive LOL.

Cheers.
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FollowupID: 440103

Follow Up By: Redback - Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 18:15

Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 18:15
Actually i found dealing with the parts express guys in the states better and easier than dealing with Frord Australia, WHO ARE A BUNCH A HOLES.

Yes i owned an Explorer

Baz.
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FollowupID: 440135

Follow Up By: Exploder - Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 18:44

Friday, Jul 14, 2006 at 18:44
I know you did, I remember you put me onto a grate website that has given me a heap of advise and a few laughs like this one.

My latest additions are aftermarket Control arms and ball joints> All direct from the U.S of corse at a fraction of the price of the OEM stuff from Ford in Aus

You could tell the difference too, It was all a lot more heavy duty than the stuff I pulled off.

Agree with you there, I hate going into the dealership to get stuff diagnosed, I think it’s just the service advisors I don’t like, well that and the price they charge. I like to talk directly with the guy who looked or worked on the car.

Being in the Mechanical/ engineering industry myself If I can talk to the Technician, I can go one on one with them and get a better run down on the problem, but the Advisors treat you like a idiot and only tell you a little bit and leave out the details then dance around the edge of any follow up questions, they just want your money!!

A Friend knows a mechanic at Ford and he hates the Service Advisors and salesmen about as much as we do. LOL


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FollowupID: 440144

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