I've recently purchased a 2002 Ford ranger 4.0 and the 4x4 does not seem to work.
When the engine is started the lights flash briefly and then go away.
After putting the car in neutral and switching the 4x4 switch to 4x4 low nothing happens.
I have looked up through previous posts and thought since i did not hear clicking supposedly coming from the 4x4 control module that the control module was the issue and replaced with a newer looking one I bought off ebay.
Now I tried it again and nothing happens lights on dash still do not come on after the switch and i hear no clicking in the control module.
Any help out there?

 

Welcome to the forum

All dash light should come on with Key ON, it a "bulb test", nothing to do with the 4x4 system, just FYI


If the shift motor on the transfer case wasn't working the 4x4CM(module) should Flash the 4x4 lights

You only mention 4Low?
So does it work when shifting from 2WD to 4High?

The 2001 to 2006 4x4CM were known to fail, but those are the only ones that will work in your 2002

So getting a used one doesn't mean it was a working one, long odds on getting a bad one but odds are not 0 either

 

Thanks for the reply ron.
The 4x4 high also doesn’t come on( tried driving around with the switch flipped to it with false hopes it could)
The 4x4 doesn’t flash at all when flipping the switch
So I found a old post of yours today
https://www.ranger-forums.com/genera...ranger-145468/
with the CM
I replace my old one which was
1L54-7H417-AE
with the one I ordered off eBay
1L54-7H417-AB
the last letters I replaced the module with don’t match what you say

also after work today I took off the TC Shift Motor which was easily and plan on following tomorrow
https://www.explorerforum.com/forums...-motor.123542/
which you recommended
https://www.ranger-forums.com/genera...orking-152081/
I started to stop following the steps the Poster did because my ultimately did not start any clicking sound when I plugged it in.
also, said in the last postand check for any burnt broken fuses and all seems good, I’ll do a double take when I get off work tomorrow

Edit:
One last thing if you could
I see that since I can manually change the transfer case with pliers from 2wd to 4wd(H,L)
could you run me the steps into doing it correctly, so basically
Turn truck on
then turn with pliers manually to 4wd or am I able to do it while it’s off also,

I appreciate the feedback a lot

 

Hey bud. I own a 2004 Ford Ranger Edge, 3.0 V6, 5 speed manual, 4x4. I had a TC Shift Motor burn out on me a couple years ago and I removed it since I didn't need 4X in the city. I just moved up to the mountains and went on a little tour of some trails with a buddy of mine, but again, I didn't need 4X for those trails. Got me thinking though, winter's coming, and I need to rectify my 4X issues before it gets too gnarly. So the next morning, I went out and grabbed a small crescent wrench and crawled under the truck to test 4H and 4L. I was able to engage both, and return the TC back to 2H. The issue is, at least in my case, 4H had a tendency to slip out and disengage my transmission entirely. It threw me into neutral a couple times when testing it out and I had to crawl under the truck in the middle of the street to throw her back into 2H. Point being, you can engage the transfer case manually with a wrench, or as you stated, some pliers, but since dickin' around with it, I don't suggest putting up with that if you're having 4X control issues. I just replaced the TC Shift Motor on Friday, too. Unfortunately, something isn't working to engage the transfer case correctly. I think its the control module, but I have to do more research on how to diagnose it. Mine clicks behind the dash when I switch between each 4X selection, but I get no lights on the dash and the actuator on my brand new shift motor barely moves out of the 2H position. So, cheers brother... We seem to be in the same boat! Hope the tip helps, though. Its worth it to switch the case manually, at least to check if you've got 4X. Again, I was able to engage both 4H and 4L at a dead stop and in neutral. I didn't have to depress the clutch. Take care.