Let me first thank any of you who are willing to offer any assistance with my issue.

Event: I placed my 2006 FX4 standard trans. Ranger into 4wd high just briefly to help get me out of a sand gravel slope. Once out, I placed it back into 2wd, without incident, and drove the truck appr. 15 miles to my home.

Outcome: The next day I jumped in my truck and drove straight, no cornering, down my road to a HORRIBLE ratchet type noise, very loud and you could feel the resistance in the vehicle. The noise occurs when going straight or turning. It is extremely loud and no doubt metal on metal, very similar to a pneumatic air ratchet set at the speed of the truck?

Can anyone, help me diagnose this before I have it torn apart?

I did disconnect the battery to ensure 4wd was fully disengaged.

Thank you all again for any guidance.

 

2006 Ranger should be "Live axles" up front which means wheels are always engaged to front drive line.
So the shifting to 4WD is only done in the transfer case, and of course, shifting back into 2WD is only done in the transfer case.

The electric shift motor on the transfer case doesn't usually get used much, so it can fail to shift or not shift fully.
It is a good idea to shift in to 4WD and low range once a month so motor's brushes stay clean.

Yours may not have shifted transfer case all the way into 2WD.

I would shift back into 4WD and then back to 2WD, do it several times also shift in to low range

 

I have the problem on my '03 except it is 4wd low.
Goes in just coming out it makes a lot of noise.
When you disengage the 4wd, hi or lo, have the truck in neutral, then back up some, gas brake, gas brake.
It sometimes helps, sometimes not !

 

RonD and Scrambler82,

I took your advice and low a behold, problem solved.
If I were to express to you the benefit of your knowledge at this particular time in life, I would be thrown off the forum for being to Gooey...lol

Thank you both so much for helping.

 

Thanks for the update, and good work getting it back to normal.

 

No problem here, just join and support the forum... lol.

Now if there is a way to grease that shifting mechanism, do it !

Ltr

 

Unfortunately it only worked for a few days and now it is metal on metal again, and I cannot seem to shift it out.
I know it has to be something with the 4wd, since the truck rolls and moves fine until any shift to 2wd or 4wd is made.

Hmmm?? Stumped on how to fix it for good.

 

Have you considered swapping to a manual shifted transfer case ?
It can get pricey but worth the effort.

 

My choice, I believe, is to give up on it. To long of a life left on the loan and to many repairs so far. I owe $7000.00, but the truck books at 12k retail if it was perfect. Only has 84k miles, but it's not worth me keeping it since I have no real place to work on it and do not want the burden.
You're guidance and assistance is much appreciated. You are more than welcome to buy it @8k.....lol. It is a good looking and perfectly (engine) running truck.

Thanks again.

 

Ok on the loan, sucks when you just get the loan and you need work on the truck.
The manual T/C would be good and not really a big job of you are mechanically inclined. You will need a T/C and linkage along with other small items but once done it will last you for the loan time anyway.

Other than that you will to take out the shifting solenoid, have it checked out, the linkage will need to be cleaned up and if you are right about the metal to metal sound then some of the linkage will need to be replaced. How much further ahead you will be with the fix it up method who knows for sure.
Ask around the site and your area, see if you can find the parts needed for the manual swap.
There might be a How-To on the subject but not too sure, check it out.

Good luck on your choice, get it fixed, it is a pita if it stays in 4x and you have to drive that way.