4WD Indicator Switch for NP231

jeepjoe43

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Black Canyon City, AZ 85324
Hey guys, I'm eliminating my CAD, but want to keep the light.
I know there's a switch that replaces the Commandtrac Vac switch after a little digging.
The site also references some other P/Ns.
I was just wondering if this is what I need, or there may be better choices?
Thanks
 
Been there done that.

Switch

Pigtail

Remove the vac switch and thread in the one I linked. Splice two wires onto the end of the pigtail I linked and leave them long. Tape, loom, etc the wiring and tie it up how you see fit. I zip tied to the other looms that run alongside the transmission (tcase vent hose, trans backup switch wiring, etc). Run those two wires to the old wiring pigtail next to the PDC box under the hood. Cut off that old plug and splice the two extended wires to the cut wires or make your own weatherpack or something, however you want to do it. I used a Deutsch connector. It doesn't need to be disconnectable there, but I figured if it's factory that way, I may as well keep it that way. Plus it's fun to use my Deutsch tool to make plugs sometimes lol.

Here's the wiring under the hood you need to splice to (the gray plug is the deutsch I made, I couldn't find the stock style plug to plug into my old one although you may have your factory one left over).

InkedIMG_4009_LI.jpg


Here is the switch on the t-case.

IMG_4010.JPEG
 
  • Like
Reactions: jeepjoe43
Been there done that.

Switch

Pigtail

Remove the vac switch and thread in the one I linked. Splice two wires onto the end of the pigtail I linked and leave them long. Tape, loom, etc the wiring and tie it up how you see fit. I zip tied to the other looms that run alongside the transmission (tcase vent hose, trans backup switch wiring, etc). Run those two wires to the old wiring pigtail next to the PDC box under the hood. Cut off that old plug and splice the two extended wires to the cut wires or make your own weatherpack or something, however you want to do it. I used a Deutsch connector. It doesn't need to be disconnectable there, but I figured if it's factory that way, I may as well keep it that way. Plus it's fun to use my Deutsch tool to make plugs sometimes lol.

Here's the wiring under the hood you need to splice to (the gray plug is the deutsch I made, I couldn't find the stock style plug to plug into my old one although you may have your factory one left over).

View attachment 117682

Here is the switch on the t-case.

View attachment 117683
Outstanding!
I thought you just might have the answer I was looking for.
Pretty sure the one I found wasn't even for a Jeep, but it was just a quick search.
Was wondering about the pigtail, the switch i found looked like it also controlled a thermo CAD judging by the 4 pin connector.
But i could be wrong.
Just saw your latest build thread post, it's looking good.
 
  • Like
Reactions: machoheadgames
Outstanding!
I thought you just might have the answer I was looking for.
Pretty sure the one I found wasn't even for a Jeep, but it was just a quick search.
Was wondering about the pigtail, the switch i found looked like it also controlled a thermo CAD judging by the 4 pin connector.
But i could be wrong.
Just saw your latest build thread post, it's looking good.
The one you linked said it was for Cherokees, and the GC WJ & ZJ. Must be for the full time 4WD NP242 or something, not sure. It did say np231 in the description but that’s definitely not the right one. It probably reports feedback to the vehicle to let it know when it’s in 2, 4HI, and 4low.

Anyways, yeah the pigtail is actually a weatherpack so I made that myself rather than buy it because I can make weatherpacks too. The only trick there is weatherpacks normally have male pins inside of the female plugs, and vice versa. The switch is female and it has female terminals, so if you were to make your own connector you’d need to make it a male plug with male pins. Not sure why Jeep did it that way. The plug I linked will work correctly since it’s built right, but then you have to butt splice or solder it in. No big deal, I just prefer as much solid wire as possible and I have the tools so I did it myself.

And thanks! It is getting there day by day. Just waiting on more parts now but we’re getting closer.
 
Been there done that.

Switch

Pigtail

Remove the vac switch and thread in the one I linked. Splice two wires onto the end of the pigtail I linked and leave them long. Tape, loom, etc the wiring and tie it up how you see fit. I zip tied to the other looms that run alongside the transmission (tcase vent hose, trans backup switch wiring, etc). Run those two wires to the old wiring pigtail next to the PDC box under the hood. Cut off that old plug and splice the two extended wires to the cut wires or make your own weatherpack or something, however you want to do it. I used a Deutsch connector. It doesn't need to be disconnectable there, but I figured if it's factory that way, I may as well keep it that way. Plus it's fun to use my Deutsch tool to make plugs sometimes lol.

Here's the wiring under the hood you need to splice to (the gray plug is the deutsch I made, I couldn't find the stock style plug to plug into my old one although you may have your factory one left over).

View attachment 117682

Here is the switch on the t-case.

View attachment 117683
Outstanding!
I thought you just might have the answer I was looking for.
Pretty sure the one I found wasn't even for a Jeep, but it was just a quick search.
Was wondering about the pigtail, the switch i found looked like it also controlled a thermo CAD judging by the 4 pin connector.
But i could be wrong.
Just saw your latest build thread post, it's looking good.
The one you linked said it was for Cherokees, and the GC WJ & ZJ. Must be for the full time 4WD NP242 or something, not sure. It did say np231 in the description but that’s definitely not the right one. It probably reports feedback to the vehicle to let it know when it’s in 2, 4HI, and 4low.

Anyways, yeah the pigtail is actually a weatherpack so I made that myself rather than buy it because I can make weatherpacks too. The only trick there is weatherpacks normally have male pins inside of the female plugs, and vice versa. The switch is female and it has female terminals, so if you were to make your own connector you’d need to make it a male plug with male pins. Not sure why Jeep did it that way. The plug I linked will work correctly since it’s built right, but then you have to butt splice or solder it in. No big deal, I just prefer as much solid wire as possible and I have the tools so I did it myself.

And thanks! It is getting there day by day. Just waiting on more parts now but we’re getting closer.
Tomorrow is going to be an expensive day, I'll be calling ECGS and ordering all the "trimmings" for that d30.
Good tip on the TJ vent vent fitting, may try that one too.
Finally got it out of trunk and on to jack stands tonight for thorough cleaning, stripping and painting,
Well, you know the drill...
 
Outstanding!
I thought you just might have the answer I was looking for.
Pretty sure the one I found wasn't even for a Jeep, but it was just a quick search.
Was wondering about the pigtail, the switch i found looked like it also controlled a thermo CAD judging by the 4 pin connector.
But i could be wrong.
Just saw your latest build thread post, it's looking good.

Tomorrow is going to be an expensive day, I'll be calling ECGS and ordering all the "trimmings" for that d30.
Good tip on the TJ vent vent fitting, may try that one too.
Finally got it out of trunk and on to jack stands tonight for thorough cleaning, stripping and painting,
Well, you know the drill...
Enjoy. That will hit the bank hard.

Yeah the plastic vents really don’t hold up well. This metal one should be good, it comes from a JK. A TJ guy had the same plastic issue as ours do so he did the JK mod.

Damn, there really shouldn’t be hardly any cleaning at all? That thing was almost clean as a whistle. I had cleaned it a few years back when I deleted the cad. That passenger cad seal had leaked for years even after I changed it 3 times. The fluid built up gunk on the passenger C from always being wet. But I cleaned that a while back, it should still be pretty clean. Anyways, have fun. I know the process all too well, and I’m still in the middle of it as you know.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jeepjoe43
Been there done that.

Switch

Pigtail

Remove the vac switch and thread in the one I linked. Splice two wires onto the end of the pigtail I linked and leave them long. Tape, loom, etc the wiring and tie it up how you see fit. I zip tied to the other looms that run alongside the transmission (tcase vent hose, trans backup switch wiring, etc). Run those two wires to the old wiring pigtail next to the PDC box under the hood. Cut off that old plug and splice the two extended wires to the cut wires or make your own weatherpack or something, however you want to do it. I used a Deutsch connector. It doesn't need to be disconnectable there, but I figured if it's factory that way, I may as well keep it that way. Plus it's fun to use my Deutsch tool to make plugs sometimes lol.

Here's the wiring under the hood you need to splice to (the gray plug is the deutsch I made, I couldn't find the stock style plug to plug into my old one although you may have your factory one left over).

View attachment 117682

Here is the switch on the t-case.

View attachment 117683
Outstanding!
I thought you just might have the answer I was looking for.
Pretty sure the one I found wasn't even for a Jeep, but it was just a quick search.
Was wondering about the pigtail, the switch i found looked like it also controlled a thermo CAD judging by the 4 pin connector.
But i could be wrong.
Just saw your latest build thread post, it's looking good.
The one you linked said it was for Cherokees, and the GC WJ & ZJ. Must be for the full time 4WD NP242 or something, not sure. It did say np231 in the description but that’s definitely not the right one. It probably reports feedback to the vehicle to let it know when it’s in 2, 4HI, and 4low.

Anyways, yeah the pigtail is actually a weatherpack so I made that myself rather than buy it because I can make weatherpacks too. The only trick there is weatherpacks normally have male pins inside of the female plugs, and vice versa. The switch is female and it has female terminals, so if you were to make your own connector you’d need to make it a male plug with male pins. Not sure why Jeep did it that way. The plug I linked will work correctly since it’s built right, but then you have to butt splice or solder it in. No big deal, I just prefer as much solid wire as possible and I have the tools so I did it myself.

And thanks! It is getting there day by day. Just waiting on more parts now but we’re getting closer.
Tomorrow is going to be an expensive day, I'll be calling ECGS and ordering all the "trimmings" for that d30.
Good tip on the TJ vent vent fitting, may try that one too.
Finally got it out of trunk and on to jack stands tonight for thorough cleaning, stripping and painting,
Well, you know the drill...
Enjoy. That will hit the bank hard.

Yeah the plastic vents really don’t hold up well. This metal one should be good, it comes from a JK. A TJ guy had the same plastic issue as ours do so he did the JK mod.

Damn, there really shouldn’t be hardly any cleaning at all? That thing was almost clean as a whistle. I had cleaned it a few years back when I deleted the cad. That passenger cad seal had leaked for years even after I changed it 3 times. The fluid built up gunk on the passenger C from always being wet. But I cleaned that a while back, it should still be pretty clean. Anyways, have fun. I know the process all too well, and I’m still in the middle of it as you know.
Oh, she's not bad at all, I'm just picky and want it spotless when I throw the Krylon. (Black like it was)
Clean it, fix it, paint it and and make it new again, that's been my MO since I was 11 years old.
 
Been there done that.

Switch

Pigtail

Remove the vac switch and thread in the one I linked. Splice two wires onto the end of the pigtail I linked and leave them long. Tape, loom, etc the wiring and tie it up how you see fit. I zip tied to the other looms that run alongside the transmission (tcase vent hose, trans backup switch wiring, etc). Run those two wires to the old wiring pigtail next to the PDC box under the hood. Cut off that old plug and splice the two extended wires to the cut wires or make your own weatherpack or something, however you want to do it. I used a Deutsch connector. It doesn't need to be disconnectable there, but I figured if it's factory that way, I may as well keep it that way. Plus it's fun to use my Deutsch tool to make plugs sometimes lol.

Here's the wiring under the hood you need to splice to (the gray plug is the deutsch I made, I couldn't find the stock style plug to plug into my old one although you may have your factory one left over).

View attachment 117682

Here is the switch on the t-case.

View attachment 117683
Outstanding!
I thought you just might have the answer I was looking for.
Pretty sure the one I found wasn't even for a Jeep, but it was just a quick search.
Was wondering about the pigtail, the switch i found looked like it also controlled a thermo CAD judging by the 4 pin connector.
But i could be wrong.
Just saw your latest build thread post, it's looking good.
The one you linked said it was for Cherokees, and the GC WJ & ZJ. Must be for the full time 4WD NP242 or something, not sure. It did say np231 in the description but that’s definitely not the right one. It probably reports feedback to the vehicle to let it know when it’s in 2, 4HI, and 4low.

Anyways, yeah the pigtail is actually a weatherpack so I made that myself rather than buy it because I can make weatherpacks too. The only trick there is weatherpacks normally have male pins inside of the female plugs, and vice versa. The switch is female and it has female terminals, so if you were to make your own connector you’d need to make it a male plug with male pins. Not sure why Jeep did it that way. The plug I linked will work correctly since it’s built right, but then you have to butt splice or solder it in. No big deal, I just prefer as much solid wire as possible and I have the tools so I did it myself.

And thanks! It is getting there day by day. Just waiting on more parts now but we’re getting closer.
Tomorrow is going to be an expensive day, I'll be calling ECGS and ordering all the "trimmings" for that d30.
Good tip on the TJ vent vent fitting, may try that one too.
Finally got it out of trunk and on to jack stands tonight for thorough cleaning, stripping and painting,
Well, you know the drill...
Enjoy. That will hit the bank hard.

Yeah the plastic vents really don’t hold up well. This metal one should be good, it comes from a JK. A TJ guy had the same plastic issue as ours do so he did the JK mod.

Damn, there really shouldn’t be hardly any cleaning at all? That thing was almost clean as a whistle. I had cleaned it a few years back when I deleted the cad. That passenger cad seal had leaked for years even after I changed it 3 times. The fluid built up gunk on the passenger C from always being wet. But I cleaned that a while back, it should still be pretty clean. Anyways, have fun. I know the process all too well, and I’m still in the middle of it as you know.
Oh, she's not bad at all, I'm just picky and want it spotless when I throw the Krylon. (Black like it was)
Clean it, fix it, paint it and and make it new again, that's been my MO since I was 11 years old.