Hello everyone!

I recently bought a 2001 Ranger 4x4 3.0L auto and I am pretty pleased with the truck so far. I started getting into hunting and fishing and my honda hatch back was just not cutting it. The tuck is in pretty good shape considering the year. I am really looking forward to all the technical help that this community will provide. I have a lot to learn about owning a truck.

 

Welcome to the forum

With an electric 4x4 system you should shift into 4high and then 4low and then back to 2WD once a month, just sitting in the driveway
This will keep the electric shift motor on the transfer case clean(inside) and the lube spread out
The problem is that after sitting for 10 months the shift motor's brushes no long make good contact with the rotor so no 4WD, when you NEED IT!, so shift it once a month

Other thing is just a general heads up for most vehicles, swap around the heater hoses at the firewall every 2 years or so, this reverse the flow thru the heater core and keeps it cleaner
On the 2001 Ranger you have to remove THE WHOLE DASH to replace the heater core, so reverse the hoses now, and then in 2 years, you don't lose much, if any, coolant when you do this on a Ranger, COLD engine of course, lol


The 2001-2011 4x4 Rangers use a 4x4 Shift control module, yours is in the passenger side kick panel, these do fail, a known issue
If you get flashing 4WD lights when you try to shift to 4WD then problem is the shift motor itself, either blown fuse or bad brushes
If no 4WD lights when shifting then 4x4CM module is most likely bad, not the switch
The 4WD lights should come on with Key ON, that's a Bulb Test, all dash lights should come on, its not a 4WD test, just a bulb test


You can download your 2001 Ranger owners manual from here: https://www.ranger-forums.com/genera...1-models-3747/

Its good to have a searchable PDF owners manual, books are great but really hard to find what you want quickly, lol