4WD, What Next?

[ozziemo27]

Hey Folks, i got my 99 Ranger 4.0 4WD Electronically shifted.
I did my 3inch body lift but forgot to unhook the wire loom for the electronic shift. So, it stopped working. Figured that the loom just came unplugged so I finally managed to get under the truck and it turns out its still plugged in, its just kinda tight. So I unclipped it, unplugged it and cleaned the male and female ends and plugged it back in. 4WD still don't work. Whats next?
heres a few pics:

Also, it clicks like its working into 4 hi and the light comes on, but i get nothing, same with 4 low

 

[ozziemo27]

whoops

 

[Jspafford]

You mean the lights on the dash lite up, but your not getting power to all 4 wheels? Sounds like bad hubs to me. The PVH Hubs suck.

 

[ozziemo27]

So the hubs just happen to go bad right as I did the body lift? because the 4wd worked just fine before it. I am hearing a click and the light comes on like it should but nothing. This is bazaar

 

[Jspafford]

My guess is your disrupted one of the vacuum lines that runs down to either the left or right hub. If just one of the hubs does not lock, your 4wd will be useless, as a regualar differential will send the power to the side with the least resistance, hence the side that did not lock.

Check your vacuum lines.

 

[TwoTrackMind]

My TwoBits

There is a troubleshooting sequence that maybe helpfull (tho I havent gone thu it myself) in another thread of this forum: http://therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97

Before coming to this site, I had alot of problems with computer control of both the vacuum actuated hubs and the electric operated xfer case. I eventually concluded that the "automatic" operation needed to be castrated and bypassed the "commitee" control of both. (Anyone want to buy a 4wd dash control switch?) I believe that your problem may be just coincidental to doing the lift and you are now experiencing what anybody else would, if they just simply drove the damn thing. What I done to fix mine would not be appropriate for the faint of heart tho (involves operating the hubs with a manual, adjustable vacuum source and wiring a toggle switch/relays to the xfer case motor circuitry). You may just want to seek advice that is offered in yet other forums (manual or solid hub conversion?).

 

[Jspafford]

There is a troubleshooting sequence that maybe helpfull (tho I havent gone thu it myself) in another thread of this forum: http://therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97

Before coming to this site, I had alot of problems with computer control of both the vacuum actuated hubs and the electric operated xfer case. I eventually concluded that the "automatic" operation needed to be castrated and bypassed the "commitee" control of both. (Anyone want to buy a 4wd dash control switch?) I believe that your problem may be just coincidental to doing the lift and you are now experiencing what anybody else would, if they just simply drove the damn thing. What I done to fix mine would not be appropriate for the faint of heart tho (involves operating the hubs with a manual, adjustable vacuum source and wiring a toggle switch/relays to the xfer case motor circuitry). You may just want to seek advice that is offered in yet other forums (manual or solid hub conversion?).

Or you could just check the vacuum lines.

 

[BlackBII]

Rather than "4wd doesnt work" lets find out if the transfer case is not Engaging or If the hubs are not working.

Is the transfer case engaging? If you put it in 4wheel drive does the front driveshaft turn if you drive forward?

If not, then your transfer case is not engaging, and pehaps the switch motor is at fault.(common issue)

If the transfer case is enaging but you have no power to the wheels, then it's your hubs.

 

[KELLY88]

I've never done it but heard quite a few stories about Ranger body lifts. One thing that's a big issue is overstretching wires that run between the body and frame/drivetrain. Maybe something came unplugged not letting the transfer case motor engage.

Like BlackBII said, isolate the problem to the transfer case or the hubs. With the windows down, stereo off and quiet as possible with the engine running, engage the transfer case to 4x4 high. If you don't hear that distinct clicking noise then it's the transfer case. If you do hear it then have a buddy watch the front driveshaft for rotation while you idle along slowly in 4high. Those couple checks will tell you where the problem lies.

 

[ozziemo27]

I've never done it but heard quite a few stories about Ranger body lifts. One thing that's a big issue is overstretching wires that run between the body and frame/drivetrain. Maybe something came unplugged not letting the transfer case motor engage.

Like BlackBII said, isolate the problem to the transfer case or the hubs. With the windows down, stereo off and quiet as possible with the engine running, engage the transfer case to 4x4 high. If you don't hear that distinct clicking noise then it's the transfer case. If you do hear it then have a buddy watch the front driveshaft for rotation while you idle along slowly in 4high. Those couple checks will tell you where the problem lies.

I'll check and see if the front driveshaft is spinning when I engage the 4-wheel. I do certainly hear a click. Thanks for the info, guys.

 

[Jspafford]

If you just turn the key to accessory with the truck off it will still shift. You should hear the clicking of the t-case and then the vacuum going to the hubs.

My guess is since the light is coming on, the t-case is fine and the hubs have a loose vacuum line. Even if the t-case is not engaging, when he flips into 4wd the hubs may still lock and cause the driveshaft to turn, so the test above is really not accurate.

 

[kkjb4x4.0]

If a PVH line becomes detached, would it, could it affect engine performance due to a vacuum leak?

 

[Jspafford]

If a PVH line becomes detached, would it, could it affect engine performance due to a vacuum leak?

You bet.. Usually more noticeable when the heat/air is on.

 

[ozziemo27]

If you just turn the key to accessory with the truck off it will still shift. You should hear the clicking of the t-case and then the vacuum going to the hubs.

My guess is since the light is coming on, the t-case is fine and the hubs have a loose vacuum line. Even if the t-case is not engaging, when he flips into 4wd the hubs may still lock and cause the driveshaft to turn, so the test above is really not accurate.

I'll try that, too, thanks

 

[CheapThrillB2]

The pigtail to the vacumn actuator under the battery was unplugged. It was plugged into one of those connector dead ends. Must have unplugged when lifting the core support and plugged into the dead end instead of back into the actuator.