Based upon your latest response, there must be some reason that the solenoid is not allowing you to shift into low. Like the neutral safety switch or whatever they call it is not functioning properly. (Not sensing the tranny is in N) or possibly the solenoid itself is not activating as it should. Could also be a wiring issue. Removing the solenoid will get rid of your problem, it just doesn't address the cause.

 

True the cause must be one of those three things. Even if I knew which of the three was the cause, I'd still remove the solenoid to simplify the system. I don't want any of those three to fail in the future on a trail. Maybe I should have got a series 1

 

Should I be able to shift into low with the truck off and in park with the solenoid removed? I removed it and buttoned it back up but I still can't shift into low. The linkage all moves but it just wont go into neutral or low.

 

MY OH MY, Guess it was not the solenoid after all huh?

Of course if it all works, you merely put tranny in N, the short shifter should now freely move forward into N and further forward into LOW. So even with no solenoid installed you are unable to shift it forward at all? Is it not physiacally moving or what?

I guess you need to look at theat RN exploded view, read the RAVE, analyze what else is in that circuit (the mechanical shifting pieces ) and start from there.

i am very familar with the side to side lock/unlock aspects but not knowledgeable about the fore/aft HI/LOW portion except they share the same lever but different internal mechanism transmitting motion.

Say What MF?

 

Another hidden problem from PO? Has it been like that the entire time you have owned it or is this a new problem?

 

Yeah I've never been able to shift into low. The arm the linkage turns moves a few mm but won't budge beyond that, so I figured it HAD to be the solenoid. Maybe I can't shift into low when it's off in park?

 

False alarm. Once I got it out for a short drive it shifted into low just fine. I did have to apply quite a bit more force than it takes to push into locked, but who knows, that might have been the first time ever.

 

I can't believe you have been wheeling this thing without ever trying/needing 'low'! :-) That's awesome.

I just tried mine (also sans solenoid) with the engine off and in park and it shifted easily into nuetral but felt a bit spongy going into low. It wouldn't even do that before removing the solenoid (P or N). Works great now though.

Seems you found the solenoid to be the problem after-all. Now on to roll-up windows...

 

1st gear was my low

It has to be rolling, pushing into low, wait and then clunks into low. Maybe yours is just worn in.

 

I doubt mine has seen much more time in low than yours...when I bought it the guy didn't even know what or how to get the CDL light to extinguish! Who knows how long it was run on the street that way?

What did you end up doing with your wires for the solenoid?