98' won't shift into 4-LO
 

I need help! I have a 98' 3.0 ranger with a manual tranny and it wont shift into 4-Lo. It worked last week but when I needed it today it would not work. It will shift into 4-high no problem and back no problem. I thought that i might have gottin dirt or something in the conection underneath. But the connection is clean. Next i checked for a bad fuse but found nothing. So i took out the switch and checked the continuity but appers to be good. Now i am stuck and don't know what to do. If someone could please help that would be great. Thanks!

I have no idea if your 98 manual is anything like my 03 auto but I know mine won't go into 4-Lo without being in neutral with my foot on the brake. It drove me nuts for the longest time, I thought mine was broken too. Give it a try, if it doesn't work you might need a new shift motor? Hopefully someone else will chime in.

Stopped, foot on the brake, in neutral.


If you have a problem with any of these other systems you wont get into 4lo. Ie vss, bpp, cpp, or dtr

???

Yeah I have to be stoped with the clutch in and brake on. Like I said it worked last week.

I know the clutch system works because my truck wont start if it is not in. And I would think that the break system works too becuse i still have tail lights but who knows. Ill look and see what i can find. Thanks guys.

i have a 99 auto 3.0 and mine won't go into 4lo either. when i put it in 4lo, the 4high light still stays on....no clue wtf is wrong with it. luckily i have not gotten into too much trouble where i needed the 4lo but still stupid that i can't get it to work.

I just went out in my 4x4 offroad, and tested the low. I found that when I'm sitting still in gear, clutch pushed down, brake pushed down, and i turn it to 4xlow, it clicks right in. With an automatic I believe you have to have be in neutral (N) with brake applied.

Just a idea....on the front passanger side underneither the firewall (you might have to pull the skirt out) there is an oval canister, that's (I think) your vaccum canister.(someone chime in here) Two lines go to that canister to accuate your hubs (lock and unlock) unplug both lines to the canister and plug them to each other. You will have ot find a smaller vaccum line to splice the two together. Reason I say this is, my canister for some reason kept my hubs from going into 4-lo. It would go into 4 hi all the time, but no 4-lo

exact same thing on my 99 4x4.. switch it to 4x4 high no problem but when switch to 4x4 low the light still stays lit on 4x4 high

mine goes in fine now......when my HUB IS NO GOOD. USELESS. so i basically have a 2wd now....ghey. got stuck twice yesterday

just put it in neutral with the brake on and put it in 4low. should work.

Im no mechanic so correct me if im wrong but dont the hubs just lock and unlock. The electric shifter motor on the transfer case shifts the transfer case from 2hi to 4hi and to 4lo. Ive had to replace the shifter motor on my 98 3.0l with a manual tranny it would engage the four wheel drive at all.

Unless you've solved the problem, the brake light switch will solve BOTH your problems. If you go to autozone, advance auto, etc, buy their brake position switch or whatever it is, and install it. It goes on your brake pedal, up under the dash. This switch went out on my 98 2wd, causing me to loose brake lights. My taillights still worked, and turn signals, just not my brake lights. The switch costs less than 10 dollars at an autoparts store.

NOW, you HAVE to have your foot on the brake for the transfer case to shift to 4Lo. Here is the problem with your 4lo: Your brake switch isnt working, and if the brake switch isn't activated, your truck doesnt think your foot is on the brakes, and it prevents it from shifting into 4lo. if your brake switch isn't working, the truck doesnt think your foot is on the brake.

Replace the brake switch and I'm willing to bet that your brakelights AND 4lo work again ;)

just because you have the clutch in doesn't mean neutral for the tcase you have to put the tranny in neutral or it will not allow it to turn i had my cousin in my truck and he had the tranny in gear with clutch in and i was under mine turning it by hand with pliers because i gave up on the electric **** and was turning it and it wouldn't go until he put it into neutral so your truck must be in neutral not just have the clutch in