4x4 1996 Ranger

[Trailborneranger]

Hello, my name is David. I just bought a 1996 Ford ranger 4x4 automatic with the 4.0L in it. It has an electric selector for 4x4 hi and lo. I'm having issues with it. They guy that had it before me, replaced the hubs with manual lock-outs. When i lock the hubs and turn the selector, the lights on the dash will blink a few times then turn off and not lock in. Do I need a new switch or just to reset the computer? Thanks for reading this, any help will be much appreciated.
-Dave

 

[snab07]

The lights are blinking because the electric motor that shifts the transfer case is not completing the shift. If you are trying to shift into low range make sure the trams is in neutral and your foot is on the brake pedal. If it still won't go in I would suspect a defective shift motor. The fact that the lights are blinking tells me the switch and 4x4 circuit are good. Take the shift motor off of the t case and leave it plugged in then cycle the 4x4 switch and see if the motor moves, if it doesn't then you need a new motor they're available from any parts store but pretty expensive sorry to say. If the motor does move then you need to look deeper into the transfer case itself, and that can be even more expensive.

 

[cvar]

Welcome. Look in the tech library (click button above) for Transfer Case section, under Troubleshooting. You'll find more info about the switch and esp. the transfer case shift motor that tends to seize, if you don't exercise it periodically (eg, 1/month). It's very common. But has an easy fix.

 

[Trailborneranger]

Thank You

Thank you two very much! I've heard alot of people tell me it was the selector switch, and the Actuator is what my dad thinks it is but, the guy i bought the truck from said he replaced it. I am definitely going to go there next if the new switch doesn't fix it.

 

[cvar]

I'd go with dad, not the PO. BTW, the "actuator" is called a "transfer case shift motor". Likely just seized again. Make sure you reseal it with RTV (eg. gasket) during reinstall. Good luck.

Further technical details: http://visualbits.net/Ford Ranger 1...ON/07-07C Transfer Case, Electronic Shift.pdf

BTW, for 4LOW you must be stopped, in Neutral, AND foot on brake, before it will go in/out of 4x4 LOW. But 4HI will happily shift on-the-fly, while moving.