I've snapped finally... 4x4 stuck in Low

[Original_Ranger84]

I CANNOT deal with this stupid electronic controlled 4wd anymore... I swear it works every time I need it but this is just too far...

Going to my friends house I didn't use it all the way there, Put it in 4 lo to keep traction going up his steep icy driveway, found a parking spot and put it back in 2wd turned it off and went inside.

At 3 Am I decide I should probably get home so i get in my truck flip it in 4 hi and back up and turn around. Then I flip it in 4 lo... It doesn't go... i fiddle with the knob and it finally goes in, I decend the ice rink driveway in first letting the low gear and engine slow the truck down so I don't slide. i get to the bottom of the driveway and start heading up the hubs clicked out... No biggy right? I figure I'll just switch it out and switch it back in 4wd... No go... it stayed in 4lo. I tried the switch again... no go... let it roll down the hill alittle bit and attempt to stop and slide to the culdisac... try it one more time... no go. so I flip the switch back to 4lo turn the truck off turn it back on clutch in out of gear brake and parking brake on and try it... nothing. tried a few different combos of turning the truck off and on with the knob at 2wd, 4hi, 4lo brake on at start up, parking brake only, in all gears (manual BTW) and neutral. Flipped the switch around back and forth fast and stuff, smacking the dash a bit... and then i grabbed a hammer and tapped the shift motor in all different drives and still nothing...

I didn't hear any clicking behind the dash like it normally does when I flip it into different drives... I tried having the motor revving a little, didn't help. I tried everything I could possibly think of to get it to shift out of 4lo with the limited amount of tools (a hammer) and the fact I'm on a Icy hill at 3am with only the parking brake on... What should I do?

Is there a relay that could have blown? the Knob short out? The 4x4 systems not flashing any codes its just not working? Popped a fuse? Dirty Connection? I plan on going back to my friends house tomorrow and resolving this issue one way or another be it going up the hill or off the cliff.

Also I would VERY much rather not deal with this stupid electronic crap anymore... What Manual T-cases can I put behind my 99 3.0L ranger with manual tranny? I know an FX4 would work but concidering I have only ever seen one... ever! in alaska I don't think thats gonna be an option... would an F150 case work? I already plan on getting AVM hubs for it so the vacuum hubs are not a major issue...

 

[LearjetMinako]

First of all, why 4lo? Unless you are driving through deep stuff, 4hi should be suffient. Even on ice, a feather light foot is all thats needed.

As for the transfer case. There was an article about shorting the motor wires to get it back into 2hi or 4hi.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

First of all, why 4lo? Unless you are driving through deep stuff, 4hi should be suffient. Even on ice, a feather light foot is all thats needed.

As for the transfer case. There was an article about shorting the motor wires to get it back into 2hi or 4hi.

Well 4 lo works WAY better going 1 -2mph up a steep hill, because in high I can't keep the RPM's high enough to keep the motor alive. I mean this is literally Ice Rink slippery status up a fairly steep grade. Going down 4 low puts the engine RPM's high and lets me go down the hill super slow in first without touching the brake. even slightly tapping the brake locked the tires up....

Well the problem is I need it to be functional to get it out of where its at because the hubs only stay locked in as long as the vacuum solinoid relay thingy is engaged which only turns on when it goes from 2wd to 4wd...

OH another thing I unplugged the speed thing for the cruise control on top of the brake mastercylinder, Then I plugged it back in and it still didn't work so i don't think it was the problem.

 

[Downey]

you need to find a manual tcase out of an explorer or ranger that is a 1354 and you will need the front drive shaft too i did this swap on my 94 i never have a problem now

 

[Original_Ranger84]

you need to find a manual tcase out of an explorer or ranger that is a 1354 and you will need the front drive shaft too i did this swap on my 94 i never have a problem now

Really? just any manual BW1353 will work?

 

[srteach]

My stupid Question: Did you apply BOTH the clutch and the brake at the same time when switching?

 

[Downey]

Really? just any manual BW1353 will work?

yes a ford bw1354 will work not a 1356 which is the manual tcase for the v8 explorers

 

[Original_Ranger84]

My stupid Question: Did you apply BOTH the clutch and the brake at the same time when switching?

Yep clutch to the floor, brake on, tried having the parking brake on too... In neutral, in gear, reverse, Only tried rolling slowly backwards while trying to get it out, gonna try rolling forward when I get back to my friends house.

 

[pwrranger88]

to get it out of 4 lo just pull the motor off and put it in 2wd with a pair of vicegrips

 

[Original_Ranger84]

to get it out of 4 lo just pull the motor off and put it in 2wd with a pair of vicegrips

Well the problem is I need 4x4. The motor stuck in 4 lo is a problem cause I gotta drive it to college on saturday. The problem is that the hubs won't engage till I can get it in 2wd and use the switch to get it in 4wd for the module to send vacuum to the hubs to lock them. (my hubs only stay locked in for like 1 minute or 2 after switching to 4x4) so that I can have 4x4 and get out of the culdisac

 

[heptofite]

isn't there a how-to on manually locking in vac hubs?

 

[Original_Ranger84]

isn't there a how-to on manually locking in vac hubs?

Yeah, I am gonna try it pretty soon. I just wanna get some money saved up first so if I F it up I can order manuals fast... Plus I can't get the caps off...

Ok well I finally got it out of 4lo, I drove slowly forward for a bit to get some room behind me then I put it in reverse and ran it back fast then SLAMMED the brakes. Tried it again and it went right out. flipped it between 4hi and 2wd a few times and took it for a test drive. It seem to be working fine. but now it won't go into 4lo again...

My ABS light has been on for a week and I have seemingly narrowed that down to the RABS sensor/VSS because the speedo jumps a bit from time to time and it turns the light on. Could a gummed up speed sensor essentially disable 4lo by sending pulses saying its moving ever so slightly and not a complete stopped like what is required to go in and out of 4lo?

 

[srteach]

Have you had the TSB work performed for the Cruise Control disengage switch (on the 99 ranger)? The bad switch on mine was colored orange. If the signal for the 4x4 is from that switch and it's bad, it could be the problem. Just a thought.

 

[Erazor983]

Found at least a quick check you can run with about five minutes worth of Googling.

http://www.justanswer.com/questions/2t0qc-99-ranger-4x4-doesnt-always-engage-put-new-transfer-case

Basically swap out the ELECTRONIC SHIFT RELAY with one that is marked the same and see if it works.

Good luck!

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Have you had the TSB work performed for the Cruise Control disengage switch (on the 99 ranger)? The bad switch on mine was colored orange. If the signal for the 4x4 is from that switch and it's bad, it could be the problem. Just a thought.

Yeah thats not because the switch is bad... well it is but the TSB is for putting in a fusable link between the plug and the Master cylinder because they have the possibility to catch fire.... I haven't done it yet but cruise control disengages with the brakes on so I assume its working. I plan on doing it probably next week when I head back up to college and apply at a dealership.

Thanks for the input guys! 2wd and 4hi work and thats good enough for now, I'll just keep tinkering with it till I can get 4lo back.