Hello guys I have a problem with my Ford Ranger 1999 V6 3 liter flex fuel engine my 4x4 will not engage about four months ago my truck was driven into a river and the engine seized while it was in 4 Low had the engine rebuilt now the 4x4 will not engage I had to tow it out of the river about six miles while it was in 4-wheel drive to even get it to a tow truck I'm wondering if I destroyed the gearbox because Itowed it in 4 Low? After the engine was rebuilt I went to try to shift the 4x4 and it would not fully disengage so I had to remove the hubs and that is where I am now any suggestions or ideas or comments would be greatly appreciated thank you all

 

Welcome to the forum

First thing I would do would be to remove the shift motor

read here on that: How to: Rebuild 4X4 Shift Motor | Ford Explorer and Ford Ranger Forums - Serious Explorations

With motor off try to shift transfer case shift rod manually, vise grips or pliers
There is a picture in above thread that shows transfer case in 2WD, it should turn COUNTER clockwise to 4hi position and then to 4low position
Then clock wise back to 2WD
It doesn't rotate 360deg
And BE CAREFUL, opposite 2WD is Neutral, so make sure wheels are blocked!!!

That will tell you if transfer case can shift

Next select 2WD or 4hi or 4low using the dash buttons and see if shift motor works, if not then start checking fuses.

You can download your owners manual from here: https://www.ranger-forums.com/genera...1-models-3747/

It tells you what fuses are what

The pulse vacuum hub(PVH) system was never very reliable, Ford used it less than a year on some models and only for 3 years total.
Trouble shooting guide here: Ford Ranger How To: Troubleshoot/Fix Your PVH Hubs (1998-2000)
But switching to Rugged Ridge manual hubs would be better longterm
The PVH vacuum system could just be full of water

And just as a heads up of whats available, if you do alot of 4wheeling then you can get a Shiftster, it bolts onto transfer case in place of the electric motor, making it a manual shift.
Yes you do have to get under the truck to shift it.
But many who have manual hubs leave it in 4high all the time, and then just lock the hubs when 4WD is needed, rest of the time same as 2WD, but yes for 4low you would need to get under the truck to shift transfer case.
But you would NEVER wonder again if the 4WD will work, lol