I have a 1996 Ranger XLT SuperCab 4X4. How can I tell if my truck is actually going into 4X4 mode? Last night, it snowed, I went to the store and put it in 4 hi, and the back end kept slipping around, I also heard a grinding/wining sound from the front drivers wheel. Plus it was hard as hell getting up my hill.

I stoped and put the truck in 4 LO. and that seemed to work, but how can I tell for sure that my 4 HI is working?

When I put the truck in 4X4 mode, HI or LO, I do not hear the infamous Clunck at all. Just when I turn the switch, I hear a click coming from the dash.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Chris

 

if the lights in the dash are not burnt out, then that would tell you it is in 4wd high......if it doesn't light up, then it aint in...

 

They light up, but it feels like it is not engaging

 

Do you have manual hubs or auto hubs?

 

I have Auto Hubs. Last night I tried it again, and I heard the clunck, It pulled like a mother, but when I got into my driveway, there was an ice patch, and I heard the front slip like it is grinding/wining. I also heard a noise coming from the transfer case. I can describe it as it only lasted for a second or two.

My neighbor, who is a mechanic, is going to look at it this weekend. He thinks I need to swap all fluids, Rear Diff, Trans, Trasfercase, and front Diff. I don't know if that will fix it or not, but I guess it won't hurt to swap out the fluids.

 

some times my light wont come on when i put it in 4wd so what i do to see if it is, is when im stopped i turn the wheel all the way and you can defiantly feel a differce

 

i'll place $ on the hubs switch to some warn manuals...

 

here is a real stupid question, What kind of HUBS are on the truck now? Remember, it is a 1996 XLT SuperCab 4X4

 

auto hubs.. that are junk..

 

mines a 95 and it did the exact same thing today!!!!!!!! I just bought it about a month ago and seemed to work fine, but today I got into about a foot and half of snow on a 2 track and it kept popping in and out, lotsa grinding, lights worked fine, not to hijack your thread but the first thing that came to mind was the hubs ( thhey are auto) . it seems to work fine on bare snow but the minute you try to "work" it , it grinds, ect....... kinda pi***s you off, dont it!

 

To bring this back to life. I finally had the truck looked at and it appears it is the Auto HUBS.

With that said, Where can I get a set of Cheap Hubs? I don't want to spend a lot of money just to find out that it is not my hubs.

 

its more than likely your hubs, almost guarenteed, dont cheap out on hubs, you will just be replacing them more than you will like, you may be able to get some from a local auto parts store or try ebay.......

 

Well, I finally got my 4X4 working. Went out and bought a set of Warn Manual Locking hubs, and BAM! 4 wheel drive. My neighbor and I installed them in 1 hour and 20 min. then tested it out on his lawn. then I decided to go into deep snow and try and get stuck, and I could not. So I am very happy today.