Long time lurker

[k55f5r]

Living the good life in So. Az. I'm currently on my 5th Ranger, but my first 4x4. I had to replace the control module to get it to work, still needs the H/L solenoid, but I'm mainly on dirt roads, not rock crawling. There's a reason every 5th pickup you see on the road is an old ranger.

 

[Uncle Gump]

They're a bit more rare on the roads here in the rust belt... but I do see then.

Come to think... I can see three from the picture window in the living room. One never moves due to a blown up 3.0L.

Welcome to TRS...

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

There is no high/low solenoid?

To engage Low Range an Automatic must be shifted into Neutral, not Park(manual needs clutch pedal down)
And foot must be on the brake pedal
Speed must be 0 MPH as well
Then move selector to 4low

You can "shift on the fly"(while moving) from 2WD to 4 high and then back to 2WD as you see fit
Recommended to only do this while under 50MPH

Ranger is a 4WD not an AWD, so 4high(or low) should not be used on dry pavement or transfer case can bind up
AWDs have a different type of transfer case

 

[k55f5r]

Welcome to TRS

There is no high/low solenoid?

To engage Low Range an Automatic must be shifted into Neutral, not Park(manual needs clutch pedal down)
And foot must be on the brake pedal
Speed must be 0 MPH as well
Then move selector to 4low

You can "shift on the fly"(while moving) from 2WD to 4 high and then back to 2WD as you see fit
Recommended to only do this while under 50MPH

Ranger is a 4WD not an AWD, so 4high(or low) should not be used on dry pavement or transfer case can bind up
AWDs have a different type of transfer case

 

[RonD]

Yes, that is the electric shift motor on the back of the transfer case, works the same as a power window motor
12volt and ground wires, the polarity of these 2 wires is reversed to get window up and window down
And in the case of the shift motor, clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation to move the Shift Rod in transfer case

The other 5 wires on the shift motor are position sensors/contacts, the 4x4CM(which you changed) uses these contacts to "see" what position the shift motor is in and how far to turn it and in what direction to get the Driver's selected position, 2WD, 4H or 4L

Shift motor is the only moving part of the 4WD control system so can wear out, but it most commonly fails from DISUSE
You should get into the habit of just sitting in the driveway and shifting from 2WD to 4H and then 4L and then back to 2WD once a month, don't have to drive it just shift it
This keeps the electric motor's brushes clean and the lube for the gear drive spread out

Using it a few times a year leads to premature failure, usually failed brush rotor contact, which you can fix by cleaning inside the electric motor

 

[k55f5r]

Thanks for the info, rond.