Help! Front wheels locked up!

[Illini_Rob]

I recently purchased a ranger on the cheap and it has its first problem. I'm new to 4x4's and the Haynes manual is useless so I'm in need of a little advice.

The vehicle:
Stock 1992 Ford Ranger Super (ext cab)
4.0 V6
Auto trans
Borg Warner 1354 transfer box

4 wheel drive was working last week, but I had a major problem yesterday.
I fired up the truck and hit the 4x4 button...
The lights dimmed slightly so I assume some current was going to the actuator but the 4x4 light didn't come on.
I put the truck in reverse and tried to back up.
The front wheels were locked solid, but when I hit the gas, the rear wheels spun in the dirt.
I tried shifting into all gears and the front wheels remained locked and the rear wheels kept spinning in the dirt when I hit the gas.
I kept hitting the 4x4 button, but there was no change and the 4x4 light never came on at any point.

Any Ideas!?

Where exactly is the actuator that engages the front wheels? Is this a transfer box problem? Could the problem be with something else?

Thanks in advance.

Rob

 

[surffishin07]

there is no actuator for the front axle the hubs do the work. try to spin the front axle shafts. if the front axle dosnt spin the hubs are engaged. but it really sounds like something like the brakes locked up or a bad bearing. best bet is to jack the truck up and take off the front wheels check the breaks and wobble the rotor if it does wobble the bearing may be bad

 

[bobbywalter]

location?

if there is water in the diff and its 10 degrees out....plus the brakes a bit froze...

it can be a pia to get going.

 

[metalmacguyver]

start by jacking it up and trying to turn each wheel by hand like surffishin07 said.

the actuator that engages the front wheels is the shift motor which is mounted on the transfercase. the hubs are automatic and they take care of themselves.

 

[Illini_Rob]

Thanks

Yes it's been very cold here -- but I've driven it in below-freezing conditions and engaged the 4x4 before.

Thanks for the advice -- I'll start poking around under there this weekend.

Rob