Finally getting around to replace this.

Got the old one off, went to install the new one and it wouldn't fit. Read the manual and it says it's in 2 hi, well my truck says it was stuck in 4 hi when it was actually in 2 hi. I looked at the position of the I guess gear inside the motor and I can see that it was shifted to the right which is why it wouldn't fit, put the old one back on just to confirm and it went right on. While trying to get the old one back of I could feel it moving, the gear on the transfer case where the encoder bolts onto to engage the 4 wheel, now I can't get the old one back on.

What is the trick to getting this on?

I plugged the new one in and then started the truck to see if it would rotate as I have seen in other videos and it doesn't. Why is that? The indicator switch now shows the truck is in 2 hi, I assume that's because that's how they shipped me the encoder motor which they tell me that in the manual. I put the old one back on and it shows up as in 4 wheel.

How can I get either one rotated so the encoder motor will go back on?

Thanks

 

The indicator will only show you what the encoder is telling it. So if the old encoder was in 4HI, then that is what it would show on the dash. Same for the new one if it was in 2HI; 2HI on the dash. Nothing wrong here.

As far as getting the new encoder onto the transfer case, you will need to rotate the shift sector shaft on the side of the transfer case (what the encoder rotates to change mode/range) until it lines up. This can be done with a wrench.

You should not attempt to rotate the encoder motor without it being mounted to the transfer case. While it should rotate to whichever position is requested, it can over travel without the resistance it gets from the transfer case which could lead to damage being done to the encoder portion of the encoder motor.

 

ok, I didn't use a wrench yet, tried to use a screw driver to see if it would turn easily but it didn't. Just wasn't sure if it would have been ok to use a wrench with force. I read on here after some digging that some guy did this and got the encoder on but his gears were grinding, etc. I will give this a try tomorrow and report back.

One question thou, why didn't the encoder motor turn on when I switched the 2hi to 4 hi? I saw this video of a guy doing it so I thought something may still be wrong, but maybe it's not?

 

Just to be clear, do not try to turn anything inside the encoder motor. You need to try to turn the shaft that is on the side of the transfer case. It has two flats and the open end of a 5/8" wrench should fit it nicely.

As far as why the encoder motor didn't turn, could be a number of things. But as I said, moving the encoder like that can cause damage to the electrical portion of the encoder motor assembly.

If it refuses to shift once you get the encoder motor installed, please let us know along with the rest of your vehicle information and the number of 4wd shift buttons.

 

No luck, the shaft only move one of two ways and not even close to where I need it to be. It's in the 12 and 6 o clock position and the other position is 1 and 7 o clock. The encoder is almost 3 and 9.

I have the three button system.

I am about to just put the shaft back on and when I need the 4 wheel just open the valve to the vacuum under the hood like I did last year and be done with it.