1987 Dodge Raider 4 wheel drive system

1987 DODGE RAIDER
187,077 MILES • 2.6L • 4 CYL • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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19882FAST4U
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My 1987 Dodge Raider SAB 4x4 has been extremely taken care of down to the wiring of the vehicle. I have literally replaced just about every part on this vehicle except for the main hard parts like the engine, transmission, transfer case, and front and rear axle. But all parts connecting to them or touching them have more or less been replaced by me or the previous owner.

I have never had an issue with this truck off or on road at all until the other day when 4 wheeling with some friends. I do run this truck hard but replace all parts that break.

After going through several 3 ft. mud holes filled with water, I lost my 4 wheel low drive. I still have 4 wheel high. On the drivers dash, the 4 wheel drive light comes on as well, when in 4 high. But when I shift to 4 low, the 4 wheel drive high light comes on again, instead of my 4 wheel low light like normally.

After this problem accurd, I got stuck, and had to be pulled out. All transmission gears shift just fine while driving just to note. Also when in neutral, if I shift the 4 wheel drive stick/lever to HI or Low, the trucks moves about an 1/8" forward as if it is engaging into HI and or Low gear. But if in 4 wheel low while driving, it still stays in 4 high.

I am a decent back yard mechanic, but due to the rearity of this vehicle, I'm not extremely knowleable in this vehicles 4 wheel drive system, and could use some help with this.

I did not notice any bent linkage at the transfer case or transmission, but it could be there. I do not understand fully how the front wheel drive system is actually ingaged as well. Is it all by linkage. Is it electronic. Is it vacuum. Or all the above.

Any help would be great. Thanks.
PS: nothing sounds broke when driving.
Dec 18, 2014 at 8:32 PM
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HMAC300
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from what I can tell it's manually shifted so pull your shifter off and see if the shift rod is stuck in high. we don't have a lot of info on this other than to rebuild the tcase and it does show an electronic shifter module under dash which i' am including. best bet is to have it physically looked at due to lack of info on our part. the pulse generator is on output shaft of t case.
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Dec 19, 2014 at 6:52 AM
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19882FAST4U
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Thanks for your quick reply. I truly do not blame you or anyone for not having a 100% feed back on this vehicle, its kinda a one off rig.

I will definitely pull the shifter and give it a look.

What is or does a Plus Generator do? Do you have a picture of the Electronic Shift Module under the dash? If not I understand. I only ask because this vehicle has a lot of weird looking parts and relays unlike any other vehicle I've seen before. And so it would help in locating the correct part. If not I guess I could trace it back.

I am wondering if a dirty electronic connection at the transfer case to the Electronic Shift Module is the actual issue/problem here. From what I can see, there are maybe 2 or 3 wires altogether that run at the same spot to the transfer case, and must run to the Shift module?

Thanks for your time.
Dec 19, 2014 at 7:25 AM
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HMAC300
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see if the wires lead to the back of tcase as that is what the pulse generator is. we dont' have a pic of the under dash but look for the color wires leading to it. also im sending a pic of the shifter looks like motors. this car is alsmost 30 yrs oldso we dont' have a lot on it. you might try an auto parts for the other stuff to see what it looks like.
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Dec 19, 2014 at 10:03 AM
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19882FAST4U
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Ok I will take a look and get back to you asap. Thanks again. I will let you know what I find out.
Dec 19, 2014 at 2:04 PM
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HMAC300
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yours is electric shift so probably one of the solenoids isn't working so check that with a volt meter you'll need an assistant to push your button on dash to check.
Dec 19, 2014 at 3:11 PM
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19882FAST4U
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Ok I located the two (what I believe to be the shift solenoid's) on the transfer case. I also believe (1) is Hi and the other to be Low 4 wheel drive.

I will check them as you stated with a Volt's meter. Also there is no button on the dash to push, just the stick/lever and an indication light to let me know if I'm in Hi or Low gear.

I've also called around and these parts are not available so far. I am still looking in to this and other auto parts stores. I've also called junk yards, but there are no Dodge Raiders or Montero's with the 4 cyclinder 2.6L engine's available, only V6's.

Do you think if the Low Solenoid is out, I could swap the Hi solenoid over to the 4 Low side, and the Low to the Hi, to gain the ability to have 4 low again, until I could source this part somewhere. While looking at the solenoids, they seem to be identical?

Also they are not the easiest to get to, and with take some time to get in there with a meter to diagnose. I have several skid plates in the way that I will need to remove.

Are the solenoids screwed into the case, its hard to see and tell from under the truck.

Let me know your thoughts, thanks a lot.
Dec 19, 2014 at 3:36 PM
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HMAC300
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I can't tell you if they are screwed in or not hell that truck is 30 yr sold almost. if one isn't working then if you swap them the other won't work. it may be a switch to letting you know if it's ingear or not. try removing the boot from on top to get to them. Not much else advice I can give you on this.
Dec 19, 2014 at 4:42 PM
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19882FAST4U
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Ok so I got under the truck and disconnected all the wires at there break points. I cleaned with all connection's and then regressed with wire lube. Also my plan on disconnecting and switching solenoids over from each other was no good. They are both wired together in line almost like one circuit (jumpered together).

If I disconnect one of any of the wires going to one or the other shift solenoid's as the truck is running and in either 4 Hi or Low, the truck solenoids unactivate's, as if they ARE WORKING? Also the dash indication light turns off. Kinda strange lol. ( only strange cause if its not working it shouldn't do anything right)

Anyhow, after cleaning the wires at the break points to the solenoids and reconnecting, I now have 4 wheel low again. But strangely, still no 4 low indication light on dash. I guess I will have to figure it out. At least I have 4 HI and LOW again.

Thanks for all the help, this truck can be a real ass sometimes lol

Dec 19, 2014 at 5:17 PM