Newbie 4WD Light Indicator

[CrimsonTide]

Hey Group ~

Awesome forum ~ lot of nice people here that are willing to help. I recently posted about adding fog/running lights and got an immediate response that really helped me.

I recently purchased a 2004 Quad Cab 4WD (about 110k miles, 5.7 liter) - my first Dodge truck and I love it so far - I'll try to attach a photo to this post.

I was in the backyard today and I wanted to run it in 4WD just to work the system periodically. I noticed that the 4WD indicator light on the dash did not come on but I could tell it was in 4WD. BTW, I have a manual 4WD shifter - felt it lock in when I shifted. I'm about 99.9% the indicator light came on when I test drove the truck about 2 months ago. This is not my daily driver - usually just drive it on the weekends.

Any ideas/suggestions/what to check on the indicator light? Again, I'm new to Dodge trucks so photos with descriptions would really help me!!

Anyway, nice to be on the Board and thanks in advance for your help~!

CrimsonTide

 

[SilverStreak88]

Hey Group ~

Awesome forum ~ lot of nice people here that are willing to help. I recently posted about adding fog/running lights and got an immediate response that really helped me.

I recently purchased a 2004 Quad Cab 4WD (about 110k miles, 5.7 liter) - my first Dodge truck and I love it so far - I'll try to attach a photo to this post.

I was in the backyard today and I wanted to run it in 4WD just to work the system periodically. I noticed that the 4WD indicator light on the dash did not come on but I could tell it was in 4WD. BTW, I have a manual 4WD shifter - felt it lock in when I shifted. I'm about 99.9% the indicator light came on when I test drove the truck about 2 months ago. This is not my daily driver - usually just drive it on the weekends.

Any ideas/suggestions/what to check on the indicator light? Again, I'm new to Dodge trucks so photos with descriptions would really help me!!

Anyway, nice to be on the Board and thanks in advance for your help~!

CrimsonTide

Do a guage and light check... hold down the (trip reset) button near the odometer and turn the key to the "ON" position (do not start). Everything will light up and the gauges will do their thing.

Can't get a video uploaded, but it's pretty rare that the light would go out. I would think that the shifter switch is faulty.

 

[CrimsonTide]

That's great information SS~!

I did the test and the 4wd letters did not light up...
Bad bulbs or fuse? Should I check the fuse box or do I need to figure out how to change a bulb?

Thanks for all responses~!
CT

 

[CrimsonTide]

Anyone?

 

[RedFalcon]

Well, why wouldn't you check the fuse box first rather than changing out the bulb. That would be an easy fix if that were the problem.
But I highly doubt there's a fuse for a specific light on your cluster. Now if none of the lights on your cluster lit up, then maybe. Odds are, it's just that bulb.

 

[JPT]

If you know it is in 4wd (and you have a manual shifter), why even worry about it? I lost mine in my old jeep and never cared to replace the sensor (it was just a sensor that screwed into the transfer case).

 

[SilverStreak88]

Sorry, I just saw this. Sadly, if IIRC there is no "bulb" for the (indication lights), they are integrated into the PCB in the cluster. I've heard of them going out before, but it's rare. The only way to know is to pull it out and look at it.

 

[CrimsonTide]

Thanks for all of the replies... Guess I'm SOL, ha ha!!

 

[SilverStreak88]

Thanks for all of the replies... Guess I'm SOL, ha ha!!

Not really... if you can find a scrapped Ram in a salvage yard you could snag it out of there.

 

[Guido2112]

I had the same issue, it was the Switch on the transfer case. Took about 10 minutes to fix:
Dodge Ram 4X4 Truck Transfer Case Switch 5134375AA Mopar NVG 271

 

[CrimsonTide]

Guido2112 ~

Did you run the gauge and bulb test and the light was not working?

Just wondering if you did this and the switch replacement fixed it...

Thanks man~!

 

[Guido2112]

Crimson:
I did run the bulb test and mine did not light up either. Figured I would give it a shot as the switch was only like $30. Still working fine after 2 years.

 

[CrimsonTide]

Thanks for responding *****...

I'm going to get a switch and give it a shot...

Thanks brother..

CrimsonTide

 

[CrimsonTide]

Guido2112 ~

Or anyone else, can you tell me where the transfer case switch is located? I crawled under the truck and looked. I'm assuming it is on top of the transfer case? If so, how in the heck do you get to it to take it out?

Thanks again for the replies~!
CT

 

[CrimsonTide]

Anyone? Someone get in the Christmas spirit and post a pic for a brother....

Thanks~!!

CT

 

[chedched]

I can't recall it's location but I'm pretty sure it was easiest to get to it from the rear. I think there was a crossmember or something I had to reach over.

And I can't find a good pic for the life of me.

 

[CrimsonTide]

Closing the loop...

I finally got around to this. I replaced the transfer case switch and all is good to go now~! I wanted to post this in case anyone else is having a problem with this.

Pretty easy to do once you find the switch~!! I had to position the 4wd in 4hi to access the switch..

Good luck to anyone else having this issue!

CT

 

[unicorncomputer]

I finally got around to this. I replaced the transfer case switch and all is good to go now~! I wanted to post this in case anyone else is having a problem with this.

Pretty easy to do once you find the switch~!! I had to position the 4wd in 4hi to access the switch..

Good luck to anyone else having this issue!

CT

I am having the same issue with my 04 2500. Where is the switch located?

Thank you,

Steve

 

[CrimsonTide]

Steve,

See link - this is the only place on the net where I found this..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oguop1zJAA

Couple of tricks to replace it - you have to put the lever in 4Lo to access the switch... Not bad, once you find it!!

I had to watch video to find it. Not a bad job, pretty tight to get your 7/8" wrench in there to break it loose..

Good luck - post back if this fixes it..

CT

 

[unicorncomputer]

Thank you for the video link, very helpful. I will post back once I get it replaced.