Cub Cadet BIG COUNTRY 4X2, Service Manual

4 X 2 Gear Selector

19

3.

TERMS & DEFINITIONS - 

•

ESM

 - Electronic Shift Module

•

Neutral Switch

 - in the neutral position the 

switch is normally closed (NC). 

•

Shift Wedge

 - this is a wedge shaped mechani-

cal part that actuates the Neutral Switch depend-
ing on the gear selected.  The void portion of the 
wedge is neutral.

•

Closed Circuit Failure

 - the contacts in the 

Neutral Switch will stay closed when the shift 
wedge is in forward or reverse position.  This will 
occur if the shifting wedge is not contacting the 
Neutral Sensor properly.

•

Open Circuit Failure

 - the contacts in the Neu-

tral Switch will stay in the open position even 
when the contact roller passes the void in the 
shifting wedge.  This will occur if the contact  
roller of the sensor is stuck inside the sensor 
housing or if the wires leading to the sensor are 
cut/disconnected.

NOTE: 

 To determine the failure mode, it is nec-

essary for the ESM to remember the original 
state of the transmission gear, the gear that was 
selected, and the state of the indicator lights.

NOTE: 

The ESM should automatically return the 

shift wedge to the neutral position if the key 
switch is turned off with the vehicle in gear. 

FAULT CODES DEFINED

Code 1: "REVERSE" and "NEUTRAL" lights flash

Action A - Vehicle is in "FORWARD" and operator 
attempts a shift to "NEUTRAL"

•

This lets the operator know the vehicle was sup-
posed to go to neutral, but probably ended up in 
reverse.  The vacuum actuator probably shifted 
the transmission into reverse because the signal 
to stop at neutral was not present.  However, it 
may not have shifted out of forward if there was 
mechanical binding, or loss of vacuum. 

Action B - Vehicle is in "NEUTRAL" and operator 
attempts a shift to "REVERSE"

•

This lets the operator know the vehicle was sup-
posed to go to reverse and it probably did, but it 
was not verified because the contacts in the 
Neutral Switch never opened (due to mechanical 
binding or a damaged switch). 

Code 2: “FORWARD” and “NEUTRAL” lights flash

•

Action C - Vehicle is in "REVERSE" and opera-
tor shifts to "NEUTRAL"

•

This lets the operator know the vehicle was sup-
posed to go to neutral, but probably ended up in 
forward.  The vacuum actuator probably shifted 
the transmission into forward because the signal 
to stop at neutral was not present.  However, it 
may not have shifted out of reverse if there was 
mechanical binding, or loss of vacuum.

•

Action D - Vehicle is in "NEUTRAL" and operator 
attempts a shift to "FORWARD"

•

This lets the operator know the vehicle was sup-
posed to go to forward and it probably did, but it 
was not verified because the Neutral Switch con-
tacts never opened (due to mechanical binding 
or a damaged switch). 

Code 3: “FORWARD” and “REVERSE” lights flash

Action E - Vehicle is in “FORWARD” or “REVERSE” 
and the operator shifts to the opposite direction

This lets the operator know the vehicle was supposed 
to shift to the opposite direction and it 

probably 

did, 

but the module was not able to verify. this may have 
occurred because the neutral switch is damaged, or 
there is mechanical binding, or loss of vacuum. 

CAUTION: 

If the vehicle is shut off under a fault 

condition it should return automatically to neu-
tral.  If the vacuum lines are defective, the unit 
exhibits mechanical binding, or if the neutral 
switch is damaged the unit will not return to neu-
tral.  When attempting to start the vehicle, either 
all or none of the gear indicators will be illumi-
nated.  In those instances, before the vehicle will 
start again, the contacts in the Neutral Switch 
must be closed AND the vehicle will have to be 
manually shifted into "NEUTRAL".