I joined this forum as I just acquired a new to me 2003 Ranger XLT 4.0 4X4 . I bought it as a way to help reduce mileage on my 17 SUPER DUTY 6.7 LARIAT as my company is moving to a new location which is quite a bit further than my current commute . Hope to use this forum's knowledge to keep it running well and hopefully help others as I learn .

 

Welcome to the forum

Nice Ranger, is it RED, I like RED Rangers?

Be sure to shift 4WD system once a month to keep it clean and lubed
Don't have to drive it, just shift to 4high then to 4low, and then back to 2WD once a month sitting in the driveway
Because most don't use 4WD more than once a year, if that, when they do need it they are surprised it doesn't work, usual problem is brushes in electric shift motor are dirty so lost contact
It also has a worm gear drive and the lube settles to bottom, running it keeps lube spread out

 

If an auto, make sure to keep an eye on the front Tranny lines, specifically the one that runs bottom. If you from southern states where you don’t get a lot of snow then you might be okay, I’m from Ontario, and where these transmission lines sit is right along the skid plate where all the salt and sand sit and I blew a line about an hour away from home at midnight. Just something to keep an eye on imo

 

If you're thinking of using this thing as a gas sipper, you're in for a surprise.

 

It's the one shown in avatar . Funny you should mention shifting into 4x4 . I was doing that last weekend and it would illuminate 4x4 high for just a few seconds and then go off , but 4x4 low would stay illuminated . Any ideas on what's up with that ? Thanks

 

Didn't buy it for mileage , I'm a "No replacement for displacement" old school guy . I have used two tanks of fuel and am averaging about 19 mpg . I bought it so my wife would also use it on the weekend to haul supplies to our daughters house to take care of her geese . She won't drive my super duty .

 

Explorer and rangers used the same 4x4 system, back in the day, lol

Have a look here: https://www.explorerforum.com/forums...-motor.123542/

Pictures 5 and 6 show the contact wheel and the contacts, this is the Position Sensor used by the 4x4 control module

I bring this up because this is what turns on the dash board 4WD lights
The switch on the dash just has 3 resistors inside and 2 wires
With key on the 4x4 module sends the switch 5volts, it will get back 1 of 3 voltages depending on switch setting and resistors(like the fan resistor block)

4x4 module sends 12v/Ground or Ground/12v to the 2 motor wires to turn it clockwise or counter clockwise

It "knows" what contacts should be open and closed for 2WD, 4hi and 4 low, so it stops the motor when it gets that combination, and turns on, or off the dash light
It also "knows" if its in 4hi it needs to turn transfer case shift counter clockwise for 4low, or clockwise to 2WD, it doesn't rotate 360deg

It could be the contact for 4high is a bit off or corroded, 4x4 module is turning it to the correct position but it loses contact once its there

Also the 2001 to 2005 4x4 modules were "known" issues, Ford redesigned them in 2006 but they are not backward compatible
So could be the start of a 4WD issue, just a heads up