2000 Ranger 4wd problem. Help.

[wildcatfan94]

My daughter has a 2000 Ford Ranger Stepside. The 4 wheel drive is not working correctly and I am trying to narrow the problem down. When I put it in 4 wheel high the light on the dash lights up and you can hear the relay click in. When I put it in neutral and switch it to 4 wheel low the 4 wheel low light comes on and you can hear the relay click. With the clicking of the relays and the light on the dash comming on can I eliminate the problem being with the transfer case switch and the module. Is there any other ways to narrow down the problems to the hubs (or vaccum lines) without jacking it up on all four wheels. We have over 20 inches of snow and I don't have a garage. Thanks for any and all help.

 

[dennis461]

more info please

My daughter has a 2000 Ford Ranger Stepside. The 4 wheel drive is not working correctly and I am trying to narrow the problem down. When I put it in 4 wheel high the light on the dash lights up and you can hear the relay click in. When I put it in neutral and switch it to 4 wheel low the 4 wheel low light comes on and you can hear the relay click. With the clicking of the relays and the light on the dash comming on can I eliminate the problem being with the transfer case switch and the module. Is there any other ways to narrow down the problems to the hubs (or vaccum lines) without jacking it up on all four wheels. We have over 20 inches of snow and I don't have a garage. Thanks for any and all help.

You did not describe the problem ??

 

[triumphrider-1]

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?p=629843#post629843

 

[wildcatfan94]

Sorry

Only one back wheel spins when stuck in snow.

 

[dennis461]

Only one back wheel spins when stuck in snow.

OK,
now, put in 4-wheel drive
get it stuck in snow.
Have someone look underneath at the FRONT drive shaft.
Is it spinnning around?

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Is your truck a 99 by chance? Because they switched to live axles in 2000 I believe. If not then it could be hubs but if so... well Its your transfer case.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Take 20 minutes and do the transfer case electric motor maintenance found in the tech section. If its that cold there it is entirely possible that while clean, moisture has frozen your motor. Doing the maintenance might reveal it clean, however break the motor loose so it will work, then engage it and disengage it every morning before driving. If your lazy just tap it with a hammer while she pushes the button.

 

[Toms01PSD]

Only one wheel will spin if it's an open differential....

 

[adsm08]

Yeah, in all reality a 4x4 with a pair of open diffs is only a 2WD, you just have those two wheels on different axles.

 

[wildcatfan94]

I'll try the transfer case electric motor maintenance this weekend, already tried tapping with hammer. Thanks for all the ideas. It's just to cold and snowy here to work on now. Should be in the 30's this weekend.

 

[4x4wannabe]

If only one back wheel spends when its stuck in the snow that has nothing to do with 4wd. Your back tires spin whether its in 2wd or 4wd unless your ranger is some sort of all time front wheel drive vehicle lol. One of my back tires always spins when I get stuck in the snow cause I have one of those stupid things called an open differential and its just how they work as already stated above.

 

[wildcatfan94]

Got it stuck in snow. One back wheel is spinning, none of the front wheels move. Front drive shaft turns, and both drive axles turn. IS this the hubs? If so has anyone swapped with the AVM manual hubs.

 

[Earl43P]

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Apr04/offroad.htm

It's free and works.

 

[triumphrider-1]

Instead of permantly locking the hubs, I would recommend doing what is posted in the previous link I mention. If you want to get away from the vacuum system, I would just modify the stock hubs to be selectable (save some cash):
http://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...r_19982000_Ford_Ranger_Pulse_Vacuum_Hubs.html