I drive a 1995 Ranger 3.0 XLT 5 speed

 

Welcome to the forum

Unhook the battery for 5 min then reconnect if you haven't already

That resets everything

The 4WD lights are flashing because 4x4 controller(GEM in 1995) doesn't know what gear the transfer case is in, 2WD, 4high or 4low
Or it has lost connection to the shift control relay box, should be across from GEM behind radio

The GEM is connected to the dash 4wd switch and the dash lights, and also the shift control module(2 relays in a box)
And its also connected to the 4 contacts in the shift motor

The way it works
When you select 4high, the GEM sees the resistance change in the 4wd switch, it then "sees" where shift motor is at now, 2WD or 4low, by looking at the contact wheel connections on the shift motor.
It then activates ONE of the relays in the shift control module, this either turns the shift motor counter clockwise from 2wd to 4high, or clockwise from 4low to 4high
As the motor turns GEM watches if contacts are opening and closing which means motor is turning, if contacts don't immediately change then GEM will flash 4WD light, not your problem, just an FYI

When contacts are in correct position for 4high GEM opens that one relay to stop motor from turning and THEN it turns on the 4high light on the dash, so there should always be a delay from selection to light coming on, lights are not simply connected to the switch, shift motor must be in correct position before light comes on

Pictures of shift motor here: https://www.explorerforum.com/forums...-motor.123542/
4th picture shows transfer case shift rod in 2WD position
5th and 6th picture show contact wheel and contacts

Best guess from your description is that the Shift control module(2 relays) is unplugged/loose connector, its not that big, 1/2 the size of GEM or less, and I think it has a 10wire connector but only uses 7 wires

Fuse #16(20amp) in engine fuse box powers the shift motor, and GEM monitors that full time 12volt wire, if that fuse is bad then lights would flash

 

So I should just unplug the battery for 5 minutes to reset it? I kind of thought something like that was the issue. I'll make sure the connections are good and unplug my battery and see what the result it.

I did forget about 2 things that occured while I was wiring my dome light. When the glove box light randomly came on when I was putting everything back together, there was also a weird buzzing sound for a few seconds and then went away and haven't heard it again after that

Secondly, sometimes when I start my truck, I can hear what sounds like relays clicking for a few seconds but then stops. There isn't any consistecy to it either, just sometimes I can hear it, and sometimes I don't.

Would it be a good idea just to replace the 4 relays just in case one of them got fried some how?

 

The Battery Saver relay in Relay Box 1, the one under the dash to the right of steering column
The GEM controls that relay, it power several things, including glove box light
This relay stays on for about 20-30min after you exit the vehicle, GEM has a timer, when GEM "goes to sleep" it opens that relay in case lights were left on

It could also be the 4x4 relays clicking, on start up the GEM checks 4x4 system as to what position transfer case is in, if contacts were not readable it may move motor back and forth to check position

 

Okay, thank you for the information. I just now disconnected my battery. Haven't checked the connections yet. But once I do, I'll post again with the outcome. Hopefully this will do the trick. I appreciate the information!

 

Update:
i left battery disconnected for around 10 minutes, this didn't fix the issue.
I looked behind my radio but the only thing behind it is the gem Module itself. Nothing on the right side of it.
im not sure if I'm psyching myself out, but I'm almost certain my truck is operating a bit different ever since those lights started flashing. I feel like if I apply a steady amount of gas I can feel it surge or like loss of acceleration for like a split second and it feels like that throughout my drive. It's weird.

 

My mistake, on a 1995/1996 Ranger the 4x4 module is between GEM and firewall, so behind it in terms of looking in the radio cavity
Description here:
" It's more of a cube, maybe 3 inches on a side. As he recalls, the GEM was mounted just to the left of the radio location, and the 4WD control module was at the same height and within about 6 or 8 inches of the GEM. It only has a few wires running to it.

 

ive verified that all my connections are secure to the 4x4 module, I've replaced the 4x4 module, all fuses are good. All relays are good, disconnecting the battery for 5 minutes didn't work either. I still hear the same ickint noise coming from the 4x4 module relay even after installing a new one. Lights still flash.

Any other ideas??

 

"ran new wiring from my dome light to a switch I installed and tapped into the 12v ACC"
Does undoing this change anything?

 

No it doesn't change anything.
I feel like the issue has to do with the 4x4 shift module, I can hear it clicking upon startup, same thing even after I replaced it. But if I remove the module completely and start up, no 4wd lights flash. I haven't gotten around to checking continuity or resistance between the gem Module and the 4x4 module yet, I plan to do that sometime today. It's just weird that everything else that is connected to the gem Module is working just fine.

I did read some posts about there being an LED indicator and a test button on a 4x4 module. But can't seem to find out where this could be at? I'd like to test my gem Module to but don't know how to go about it. Any info about this would be helpful as well.
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The test button is on the 1994 and older 4x4 shift modules, so doesn't apply to 1995 to 2000 models which used the GEM as the controller

 

I see. Thanks for the info.

Do you have any other suggestions on what I should do to resolve this? I'm not sure how to test the gem Module. And also, if it turns out to be my gem, is this something I can get from a junk yard or something?

 

There is no way to test a GEM module

Yes you can use a 1995-1997 GEM from a wrecking yard, needs to be from 4x4 of course, and should match your options, i.e. power windows and door locks if so equipped
Engine size doesn't matter, GEM just deals with Body Electrics
Mazda B-series 1995 to 1997 would also work

I would check the connector on the shift motor if you haven't, when you turn on the key the GEM checks position of shift motor, if it can't "see" it because of bad or corroded connections it will flash dash lights.
So make sure wires on both sides of connector are OK and pins in the connector look good