Drivetrain Tech General discussion of drivetrain for the Ford Ranger.

Stuck in 4 low?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 10-08-2007
haoleranger03's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: hawaii
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Stuck in 4 low?

I have a 98 Sport

I turned on 4 low yesterday but a weird thing happened, Both the 4 High and 4 low lights blinked on and off on the dashboard a few times and then both extinguished. Needless to say the front tires didnt engage. Only thing is now the transfer gearbox is still in 4 low and wont disengage.
Is this a solenoid problem on the gearbox? I would hit the solenoid and the 4 high/low lights would blink on my dash.

how could the gearbox still be in low gear but the front tires are not engaged?

thanx for any help!
 
  #2  
Old 10-08-2007
whippersnapper02's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Posts: 7,415
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Since your truck is a 98 it have pulse vacuum hubs in the front. Meaning your hubs unlock when you are not in 4wd. But if there is a problem with the system, and usually there is, then it will not lock the power to the front wheels. The easy fix is to switch them out for AVM hubs. The shifter motor in the transfer case also is a problem and that is more than likely why you are stuck in 4wd low.
 
  #3  
Old 10-08-2007
jtfoxman's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: The Poconos
Posts: 891
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Happened to me once. Had to have a flatbed tow it to the tranny shop. When the flatbed dropped it off it jarred it enough and it came unlocked. Tranny placed looked it over and I've never had problems since. 4 years ago.
 
  #4  
Old 10-08-2007
99ranger4x4's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 12,198
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
how hot does it get over there in Hawaii?

i know in Texas my t-case solenoid wouldn't shift to 4wd because it was hot A LOT and some times it wouldn't leave 4wd...


up here, nice and cool, it works like a charm :D
 
  #5  
Old 10-08-2007
RazorsEDGE's Avatar
There's no lifeguard in the gene pool
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 7,684
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
I don't quite understand........what.......stuck in 4LO......means?!???
 
  #6  
Old 10-08-2007
DaGGer's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: East Windsor, CT
Posts: 919
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well if you want to you can pull the motor off the transfercase and manually put the truck back into 2 wd. Under the motor there will be a little **** sticking out and it will say 2wd, 4hi, and 4lo. Just turn it. while your down there you can take a look at your shift motor and clean it up.
 
  #7  
Old 10-08-2007
haoleranger03's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: hawaii
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
ya looks like Ill have to do it the manual way until i can finally figure out what the problem is. Im leaning towards the solenoid just because of the symptoms.

if anyone else has first hand experience with this hit me up.
 
  #8  
Old 10-08-2007
whippersnapper02's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Posts: 7,415
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
I had my 4wd get stuck in 2wd wich was good because I could drive it home but it was bad because you needed 4wd to get out of where I was. Turns out the switch and the 4wd control module fried.
 
  #9  
Old 10-08-2007
Red_Ak_Ranger's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 17,221
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
hit mr. solenoid with a hammer to bump it back into good ol 2wd
 
  #10  
Old 10-08-2007
haoleranger03's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: hawaii
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
trust me i hit that solenoid enough that my name is now bobby brown

no go
 
  #11  
Old 10-09-2007
Blhde's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Its a motor not solenoid, hitting it can damage the magnets inside.

The flashing is the computers way of telling you theres a problem with the transfer case shift motor.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech...shiftmotor.htm

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...parttype,10323
 
  #12  
Old 10-09-2007
Red_Ak_Ranger's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 17,221
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by Blhde
Its a motor not solenoid, hitting it can damage the magnets inside.

The flashing is the computers way of telling you theres a problem with the transfer case shift motor.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech...shiftmotor.htm

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...parttype,10323

Knocking it is a proven way to fix it. As well as the starter on your engine. **** the magnets. They already seem pretty damaged to me if the damage thing doesnt work.
 
  #13  
Old 10-09-2007
jtfoxman's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: The Poconos
Posts: 891
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by Red_Ak_Ranger
hit mr. solenoid with a hammer to bump it back into good ol 2wd
That's what I believe happened to mine when the flatbed dropped it off. When it droppwed of the flatbed it jarred it enough and it acted as a hammer just hit it,
 
  #14  
Old 10-09-2007
Join Date: May 2004
Location: CT
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
When my '03 got stuck in 4lo on the beach in NC, beating on the transfer case with a tire iron did the trick.
 
  #15  
Old 10-09-2007
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Charlestown, IN
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
if you truely are stuck in 4Lo, take the shift motor off the t-case....there will be a stud sticking out of the t-case that you can turn to get the t-case back into 2Hi....it will have the spots were the stud needs to be facing for each selection cast into the case.
 
  #16  
Old 10-09-2007
DaGGer's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: East Windsor, CT
Posts: 919
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by lifted97ranger
if you truely are stuck in 4Lo, take the shift motor off the t-case....there will be a stud sticking out of the t-case that you can turn to get the t-case back into 2Hi....it will have the spots were the stud needs to be facing for each selection cast into the case.

Exactly

As for beating on the motor and starters. Thats really a bad thing to do. On older trucks you could do that but the newer trucks you have to be careful with because the outer casing isn't as strong and you can mess that up along with the magnets inside.
 
  #17  
Old 10-09-2007
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Charlestown, IN
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
i wouldn't beat on aluminum if i were you, but it is your guys' t-case, not mine...
 
  #18  
Old 10-09-2007
Red_Ak_Ranger's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 17,221
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by DaGGer
Exactly

As for beating on the motor and starters. Thats really a bad thing to do. On older trucks you could do that but the newer trucks you have to be careful with because the outer casing isn't as strong and you can mess that up along with the magnets inside.
My ***. NEVER heard of anything like that, and I've hit the starter and the tcase on my buddies jeep, as well my my rangers tcase, with no problem at all. If your tcase can break to a hammer hit, thats pathetic.
 
  #19  
Old 10-09-2007
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Charlestown, IN
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
well then i guess it is pathetic.....aluminum doesn't have a great tolerance to stress....any little stress crack you put in it from hitting it will eventually blow out...
 
  #20  
Old 10-09-2007
DaGGer's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: East Windsor, CT
Posts: 919
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ok well, we tried tapping on my brothers Wranglers starter when it wouldn't work when we brought it in they guy first told us not to hit it. Within the first few minutes he told us that hitting it didn't help. As for the transfer case, its made out of aluminum so it transfers heat better. Thats why we have skid plates so we don't hit it.
 
  #21  
Old 10-09-2007
Join Date: May 2004
Location: CT
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Banging on the T-Case itself isn't going to break it. They aren't that cheap. The electric motor, I wouldn't go much beyond a firm tapping rather than a total beatdown.
 
  #22  
Old 10-11-2007
haoleranger03's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: hawaii
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
well guys thanks for all the help but ive got the official answer. Took the shift motor off and opened the motor. One of the magnets inside was totally demolished locking the motor. The T-case was stuck between 4-hi and 4-lo.
so i manually put it in 2WD until i got a new motor yesterday. Really cheap ( i have friends at NAPA) so its replaced and it works perfect now.

once again thanks a lot!
 
  #23  
Old 10-11-2007
whippersnapper02's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Posts: 7,415
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Good to hear. Thats what we are here for..
 
  #24  
Old 10-11-2007
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 3,297
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Good to know!
 
  #25  
Old 10-11-2007
ranger's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Imperial Beach, CA
Posts: 4,502
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
sickness
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Kerry
General Ford Ranger Discussion
13
01-28-2024 08:28 PM
radioglenn
Drivetrain Tech
0
11-18-2013 11:34 PM
mattp0718
Drivetrain Tech
15
07-26-2009 02:43 AM
JRacer
4.0L OHV & SOHC V6 Tech
23
05-06-2009 11:25 PM
kimmer415
Drivetrain Tech
20
12-16-2005 03:35 PM



Quick Reply: Stuck in 4 low?



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:52 AM.