Have a 98 Ranger 4X4 ext cab V6, 155,000 and I am having probs with the 4WD. About a year and a half ago, i brought it in cuz the 4x wasn't working at all. He said the main component was shot and replaced it - worked great for a while.

The problem I have now is this: When I get it in 4WD and I KNOW it's in it works great. But when I turn the switch on the dash to off, and then have to turn it back on, sometimes it doesn't engage right away. I'll get stuck in the snow with the 4X ON, and I'll be told my front isn't spinning. OR...if i am in 2WD and get stuck and switch to 4WD, it won't kick in right away...it's quirky and hard to 'splain.

Anyone got any ideas?

I'm a disabled vet living on the Iron range of MN, and I NEED that 4WD..anyone up in this area who could look at at?

Jim

 

Did he replace it with a new part? what exactly was it her replaced?

 

I know he said something about a seal or something like that was completely trashed, and had to be replaced. i can find out tomorrow but, yes, it was definately new. I'm going to run out to the truck and see if I can find the receipt real quick. will reply to you if i can find it

 

Could not find anything but I am remembering now...i think it was a seal that was causing a loss of vaccuum or something...but that, to me, shouldn't be the problem because back then, it NEVER worked. Now, when it is functioning properly, the 4WD works KILLER. Thanks in advance for any insight you may be able to provide!

JB

 

It sounds to me like that seal could still be the problem. the 4x4 you have works by creating a Vacuum, the seal is probably put in improperly.
should have said this in my first post, my gramps would kick my *** if i didn't say thanks for serving. so Thanks for everything.

 

Wow, thanks! Totally unexpected! But thank veterans because it makes YOU feel goood to thank someone who sacrificed so you could be free, not because of pressure from someone else. But I am impresased, and appreciative, that you said something. I 'spose it COULD be that seal, it's just that the set of symptoms it was exhibiting THEN is much different than now. Like my dad's Toyota, if you're in 2WD and get stuck and throw it into 4WD....BAM you're out. i admire Toyota trucks...they do a nice job. Now MY truck, if you're in 2WD and get stuck, it's almost like it won't engage unless it has some resistance against the tire. Once on the highway and you put it in, and feel it jump when you do a 360, now I know it's in and it works great! Just weird!

JB


Have a 98 Ranger 4X4 ext cab V6, 155,000 and I am having probs with the 4WD. About a year and a half ago, i brought it in cuz the 4x wasn't working at all. He said the main component was shot and replaced it - worked great for a while.

The problem I have now is this: When I get it in 4WD and I KNOW it's in it works great. But when I turn the switch on the dash to off, and then have to turn it back on, sometimes it doesn't engage right away. I'll get stuck in the snow with the 4X ON, and I'll be told my front isn't spinning. OR...if i am in 2WD and get stuck and switch to 4WD, it won't kick in right away...it's quirky and hard to 'splain.

Anyone got any ideas?

I'm a disabled vet living on the Iron range of MN, and I NEED that 4WD..anyone up in this area who could look at at?

Jim
in

 

I have a 99. the vacuum wasn't working when I bought it, i used to take the hubs off and lock it in manually everytime. Then I found this mod
http://www.ford-trucks.com/article/i...cuum_Hubs.html. Works good for me, I just lock the hubs in before I get stuck, might work for you unless you want it all automatic. If that is the case, the most likely cause is the seals, or diaphragm. Or could be the vacuum solenoid. You can use a vacuum pump on each hub to see which one is causing the problem. If neither leaks down it is most likely the solenoid.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but 4WD means that there is one tire in the back that is powered and drags the other with it, and one tire in the front which is powered and drags the other with it, right? Otherwise we're talking about all-wheel-drive, correct?

I was always under the impression that 4 WD really only means 2 wheels are powered - one in front and one in back, and they are linked to their partner but the other two don't have a seperate power source.

Cuz like with rear wheel drive, only one tire has power, unless it has positraction, where both tires are powered. School me!!!!

 

well there is no specific tire that gets power and one that doesnt. basically the tire with the least resistance is the one that is going to spin. but if you have equal resistance they will both spin. so if both are in snow they will probably both spin....but if one is on dry pavement and one is on snow or grass or any other surface with less traction, that will be the tire that spins. same goes for the front. not im willing to bet that ur hubs are the problem. i believe there is a way to perminetly lock in your hubs...ill try to find it in a sec. basically it makes it the same as all rangers from 2001 and newer, and i believe that is how the toyota's work to. you might notice a little drop in gas mileage but not any worse than the newer rangers are getting. or you can get a set of rugged ridge manual hubs. but then you will have to get out and lock them in every time you want 4x4. or if you know your going to need 4x4 for a couple hrs, days, months or what ever you can just keep them locked in all the time, and again it will be like the newer rangers...but you could unlock them if u need to drive on the hwy or something and want better gas mileage. hope that helps

 

read some of these

http://www.therangerstation.com/Maga...%2006/tech.htm

http://www.therangerstation.com/Maga...04/offroad.htm

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech...erComparo.html

 

it could also be transfer case or atleast the device that engages it i had a issue on a suburban of mine it the vacunum acuataed plunger that caused the transfer case to engage or it could the be hubs not locking that is why for my i am puting in a manual transfer case and manual locking hubs

 

and thanks for serving my best friend is a para from the air force she is currently is florida on a road trip and scuba diving lucky duck i hate her guts lol