wont roll in neutral...bound 4x4?

[RumpRanger98]

1999 Ford Ranger XLT 3.0 5spd 4x4

So since I bought the truck a year ago it intermitently has been going into 4h on its own. It takes me turning the electric shifter to 4h then back to 2wheel to get it to pop out of 4h. Why it goes into 4h randomly on its own? I don't know, dang electric 4x4.

Anyways, heres the problem. I went to the store and a block before I got there it started acting like it was in 4h. So I did what I normally do and throw it into 4h then back to 2wheel to get it to pop out. This time it did not pop out. Normally if it does not pop out, which it does sometimes, the 4h 4lo lights flash 6 times. Then the next day I'll go fire the truck up and its fine, no flashing lights and its in 2wheel and it will go into 4h or 4 lo and back like its been fine the whole time.

So, turning into the parking lot, the wheels squeeled and I heard a pop noise. I pulled into a parking space and when I put the clutch in to coast to a stop, the car just stopped. As if the drivetrain seized up. Truck was in neutral and parking brake was off, I only use parking brake on hills...So when its in neutral and no brake on, I cant even push the thing, parked on a slight incline the truck wont even roll...

I start the truck up and go to drive, and it acts as if something is bound up. I have to give it more gas and let the clutch out slower so it gets more power to pull through the binding. So now Im going 3mph forward and when I go to turn the wheels squeel again and I hear a strange noise from the front.

What I mean as bound up, is like someone was holding the brake down when trying to drive.So I had it towed to my cousins shop. We get it off the fat bed and as its rolling back it is acting like it was, 2 of us were able to push it but it was tough.

I paid the tow truck driver and my cousin jumped in the truck and everything was fine...WTF??

I think the electric shifter for the 4x4 is screwy. It seems as if it was bound somewhere in 4wheel drive. He is going to look at it Monday, but I'm curious if anyone has any possible ideas? Any help is appreciated.

 

[srteach]

If it happens again, jack one front wheel off the ground. It sounds like it is binding up. If it is, lifting one front wheel of the ground may release the bind. If it is broken components you will have to find the problem.

 

[WTF]

When you shift it back to 2 wheel make sure that you back your truck up at least 20 feet to help with releasing the t-case. Hope this helps!!

 

[ragajungle]

Can you pull the connectors for the auto tcase shift motor? maybe even pull the shift motor off and manually shift it to neutral with a Vise Grip?

 

[RumpRanger98]

Thank you srteach and wtf. I think thats what it was. Because when we got it off the flat bed, it rolled about 15 feet backwards then we pushed it a few more feet. Thats when my cousin got in and everything was fine.

I think it was in 4h, because I noticed it just before turning into parking lot. Being that your not supposed to use 4x4 on dry pavement that probably caused the bind.

Kind of sucks I paid $100 to tow it on a flat bed to the shot and right when it got off the flat bed it was fine lol. Oh well...

Now I need to find out whats causing it to shift into 4wheel drive when the switch it in 2wheel...lights don't even light up but it will engage 4wheel randomly...If I don't get this fixed I'll keep running into binding problems.

Thanks again guys.