Question about transfer case switch

Speedbyu

New Member
Original poster
Joined
Sep 8, 2025
Messages
18
Location
Cantrall, IL
Ok so I have a 1998 Sahara, the 4wd light comes on when I pull the transfer case switch plug off the switch and jump across the leads of the plug with a wire. Plug it back into the old switch and a new Dorman 600-551 switch and no light on. Is the new switch bad too or is there something wrong inside the transfer case?
No i don't have a meter, sorry.
Thanks in advance
 
Ok so I have a 1998 Sahara, the 4wd light comes on when I pull the transfer case switch plug off the switch and jump across the leads of the plug with a wire. Plug it back into the old switch and a new Dorman 600-551 switch and no light on. Is the new switch bad too or is there something wrong inside the transfer case?
No i don't have a meter, sorry.
Thanks in advance

I've found the TC switches can be hit or miss, the guy at the parts counter gave me a few to try. 2nd one did the trick.
 
I've found the TC switches can be hit or miss, the guy at the parts counter gave me a few to try. 2nd one did the trick.

Gonna take it to work tomorrow and let the maintenance guy test it and see if its bad then exchange it for a new one. Just wanted to make sure something in the transfer case wasn't making contact like it should.
Thanks
 
Gonna take it to work tomorrow and let the maintenance guy test it and see if its bad then exchange it for a new one. Just wanted to make sure something in the transfer case wasn't making contact like it should.
Thanks

The one I returned wasn't bad and continuity was fine with the switch in hand, it just not contacting correctly in place. Several owners have experienced similar results.
 
Last edited:
The one I returned wasn't bad and continuity was fine with the switch in hand, it just contacting correctly in place. Several owners have experienced similar results.

So its the ball in the switch not making good contact inside the transfer case? A different one may be made better and contact better correct?
 
So its the ball in the switch not making good contact inside the transfer case? A different one may be made better and contact better correct?

I think you can adjust that by how far in you screw the switch. I took my transfer case apart like seven times in a month trying to stop a leak. Very familiar with the mechanism.

-Mac
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Zorba
Well, my 4wd light goes on and off in 2wd. Probably need to fix it, again. Already replaced it with a Mopar sensor.
 
I think you can adjust that by how far in you screw the switch. I took my transfer case apart like seven times in a month trying to stop a leak. Very familiar with the mechanism.

-Mac
If you try that, you'll need to figure out how to make it seal since most do that when tightened all the way. That and if his light is not coming on, that likely means the ball isn't moving far enough when the switch is screwed all the way in. Your solution would work if you can stop the leak and the light stayed on in 2wd and went off if you threaded it out to adjust it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: macleanflood