I have a 2005 for ranger edge. 4wd does not engage, the lights in the dash don’t turn on. Other than initial start up. The 4wd control module behind the radio click from 2wd to 4wd sometimes I put a new cm in and same thing put new switch and all new fuses in and still nothing. It may be just me but it sounds like the truck bogs down a little when trying to shift into 4wd but it could just be me hearing things. As far as electrical goes I am not very educated in it but none of the connections or wires seem compromised. The truck did sit for a while but the 4wd worked until about a month ago then it just stopped after I put a new battery in. That could be a coincidence I don’t know. Any insight?

 

Welcome to the forum

Diagram below is so you can check the fuses that are used for 4WD
Say 4.0l but 3.0l is the same system

Check fuse in Engine bay fuse box first(27), that powers the shift motor on the back of the transfer case under the vehicle
Other fuses are in cab fuse box

There is a 7 wire connector on the shift motor, unplug it and plug it back in to clean its contacts, they are outside and can get corroded

Yes, 2001-2011 Ranger 4WDs had a common failure point, the 4x4CM, behind radio 2004 to 2011
The dash switch rarely failed
The shift motor was next failure point, not hard to replace

But the absence of 4WD lights points more to the 4x4CM, these lights should come on with key on, like ALL the dash lights, its a Bulb Test
4WD lights should flash when you select 4WD if.................the shift motor doesn't start to move, fuse 27
Flashing lights indicate no movement of shift motor

4x4CM does have 2 internal relays, one will "click" when you change the selection on dash switch, the "click" indicates 12volts is being sent to shift motor
Inside shift motor are 4 contacts that show its "o'clock" position, 9:00 for 2WD, 6:00 for 4high, 12:00 for 4low
If 4x4CM doesn't "see" contacts changing when it sends the 12volts it stops sending the 12v and Flashes the 4WD lights

There are two different 4x4CMs, and they are not interchangeable
2001 to 2005
2006 to 2011
Did you get the correct replacement?

 

I had got the cm from a junk yard they used my vin for reference so I would assume that it was the correct cm but you never know. I would hate to buy another cm as they are expensive I will try the connector on the shift motor. This thing has got me at my wits end I went through a similar problem with the headlights and it was a connection under the dash. And I figured that was it for this problem to but kind of weird the 4wd worked and now all the sudden it doesn’t. And the lights do work during the bulb test that’s it though

 

As said the 4x4CM 2001-2005 were prone to failure, so wrecking yard find may be bad, most yards will swap it with another if you bring it back, some won't(i.e. "All electrical part sales are final", lol)

Try https://www.car-part.com/

2005
Ford Ranger
Computer box not engine
skip area
YOUR Zipcode
search

New screen will open and you can select transfer case module matching your original part number
Search

If they have the 4x4CM they may also have the shift motor so you can pick one up
2001-2011 used the same shift motors, year doesn't matter

Shift motor does not need to be bolted to the transfer case to work, it has its own ground wire, it just needs to be plugged into its wiring harness
So you can test shift motor while its off

Under the shift motor is the transfer case shift rod
Picture here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tec...ft_motor-2.JPG

In the picture the transfer case is in 2WD, triangle rod end pointed at 2H
The shift motor turns that rod counter-clockwise to 4H or 4L, and then clockwise back to 2H, so doesn't go all the way around, just 270deg rotation
You can manually turn the rod to any position, to make sure its not stuck, but BE CAREFUL...................
Directly across from 2H, between 4H and 4L is NEUTRAL!!!!
Its not marked but its there, so have tires blocked because when you shift thru Neutral vehicle WILL ROLL AWAY!!!!

If you get shift motor working put it in same position as transfer case shift rod using dash switch, before putting shift motor back on

 

Ok so it’s been a few days I haven’t been in here but I found my problem…..turns out it was a corroded 4x4 neutral sense fuse I tested with a volt meter had nothing pulled it cleaned the corrosion and boom….4x4 works. Hope this may help anybody else with issues and thank you for the help I received. Very glad it was something simple before I threw more money into it with no solution