2wd 4wd light flashing - 6 Cylinder Gasoline - Ranger Engine Tech

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It's done that since I bought truck. 98 ranger light intermittently flashes on and off as I'm driving down the road.

What might cause that?

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Posted: Thu Oct 18th, 2018 09:19 am

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TRansfer case shift motor out of position
Does your 4x4 work? Try it? When was the last time you used the 4hi? 4 low? Might be a good idea to shift it in and out once in a while

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Posted: Thu Oct 18th, 2018 09:41 am

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Posted: Fri Oct 19th, 2018 06:09 pm

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410customs wrote:
TRansfer case shift motor out of position
Does your 4x4 work? Try it? When was the last time you used the 4hi? 4 low? Might be a good idea to shift it in and out once in a while
We had no internet last night so I didnt see the response.

Ok here what I know now, I jacked up the front and rear end, all 4 tires off pavement. Turned the knob ( man I hate that stupid knob, why couldnt they give me a floor shifter ? ) and nothing happens, only the one wheel in the right rear spins super fast and the left sorta spins.

Nothing happens in the front.

Driving it home I turned the knob and noticed no change in anything so that made me decide to jack it up and check it out.

Ive only had the truck a few weeks.

I can say that the 4WH and 4WL light is flashing on the dash now more often than it was before.

It flashes 5-6 times than goes off for a few minutes and then does it all over again.

I know nothing yet about how this system works and dont know what part you are referring too

Im assuming that 4WD would mean one in the rear and one in the front at least should be spinning?

Last edited on Fri Oct 19th, 2018 06:10 pm by 1930

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Posted: Fri Oct 19th, 2018 06:16 pm

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This aint my video and Im sure not needed but this is what mine does https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngFg11hdCrQ

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Posted: Fri Oct 19th, 2018 06:36 pm

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1930 wrote:
This aint my video and Im sure not needed but this is what mine does https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngFg11hdCrQ
Just watching a you tube video I see there is an electric motor under there that shifts things around? I dont see anything physically wrong with that

Attachment: 028.jpg (Downloaded 38 times)

Last edited on Fri Oct 19th, 2018 06:37 pm by 1930

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Posted: Fri Oct 19th, 2018 06:37 pm

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1930 wrote:
1930 wrote:

This aint my video and Im sure not needed but this is what mine does https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngFg11hdCrQ
Just watching a you tube video I see there is an electric motor under there that shifts things around? I dont see anything physically wrong with that

Attachment: 027.jpg (Downloaded 34 times)

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Posted: Sat Oct 20th, 2018 06:14 am

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Im gonna need some help with this cause now Im getting stressed.

I drive about 132 miles every weekend to Dunnellin, I have property out there that I am clearing for retirement home hence buying the 4WD truck.

I get in this A.M and right away the light says 4low and its clearly in 4 low.

I try moving the knob and no difference, I know its not good to drive it that way above a certain speed but I decided to take it around the block anyway while trying to get it in 2high ( not really even knowing all that entails to get it there ).

No dice.

LSShort I get online, remove the motor and twist the knub with some vice grips, cant get it right away but I eventually got it in 2WD.

Im assuming its 2WD cause I jack it up again off all 4s and just back right spinning.

Im leaving the motor disconnected and just zip tied to transfer case shield cause I cant see how to get that one wire ( the black one ) disconnected from the transfer case.

I hate cutting wires, gotta be a way, I tried pulling it out of TC but I only managed to pull off some insulation.

Im gonna drive it out there now but Im hoping Im gonna be OK.

BTW the overdrive off light was flashing while I was in 4WD low.

Now its back to usual, both 2WD and 4WD light flashing intermittently.

Thanks for your time

Last edited on Sat Oct 20th, 2018 06:15 am by 1930

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Posted: Sat Oct 20th, 2018 08:09 am

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I'm thinking this, just a guess based on what you are experiencing now.

your problem is actually 2 different problems.

Being a 98 it has those dreaded vacuum hubs in the front.

When in 4wd there is a rubber vacuum line going to right and left hubs, completing the engagement of the axles to the wheel hubs.

It was a bad setup and by 2000 they did away with it.

You are not going to have reliable 4wd until you replace them with a manual locking system or a half shaft with threads and a hub for a 2000. I have not seen one that worked on both sides yet, I'm sure others have.

Now your light. I'm researching it but the switch doesn't really control that it goes to a TC control module or the GEM depending on the year. I'm thinking the module is bad or the wires going to it are pinched. I don't know which years have what yet because I have never had to work on that portion but by the end of the day I will be familiar with it and report back unless someone else chimes in.

The fact that it actually went in to 4 low by itself is a big clue. The fact that the fronts didn't engage is definitely the vac hubs.

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Posted: Sat Oct 20th, 2018 08:12 am

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thanks I really do appreciate your effort.

I'm not sure what you mean in your last paragraph, you say that it never really engaged ?

Did you read the post above my last one where I had it up on jack stands all four wheels the evening before and then this morning it was definitely engaged suddenly by itself even though it wouldn't engage on the stands?

I was driving it in 4 wheel drive low this A.M.

I just want to be sure that you maybe didn't miss one of my posts and maybe some Clues

Last edited on Sat Oct 20th, 2018 08:20 am by 1930

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Posted: Sat Oct 20th, 2018 08:17 am

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Anyway I'm in I'm in Dunnellon now so 130 miles it was no problem whatsoever for the truck.

Thanks again for any replies and research

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Posted: Sat Oct 20th, 2018 08:22 am

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OK I read that wrong, I thought it said it was in 4 low and the fronts were not spinning. Yours is the first one I've heard of that both sides worked on the vacuum system.

Back to my cave :)

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Posted: Sat Oct 20th, 2018 08:26 am

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Yes it was in 4 low and as far as I know it was in 4 wheel drive. Hard to turn the wheels when making a sharp turn was one of the signs I took as being in 4 we.

I HIGHLY doubt the 4wd has ever been used on this truck

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Posted: Sat Oct 20th, 2018 11:00 am

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okay to get in and out of 4 low you must:
Be at a complete stop
Foot on the brake
truck in Neutral (or clutch pressed in if manual)
Only then will the shift motor move from low range to high range

The flashing 4x4 lights indicates a problem with the shift motor
It is VERY common for the shift motor to have issues, especially with age and with it not being used very much

Unfortunately you bought a Ranger equipped with vacuum hubs (automatic locking hubs)
They are problematic and should be removed and or replaced.

4 wheel drive would mean that at least one rear tire and one front tire would turn yes.

You have a few options, first is to look into removing and replacing those front hubs.
We can also test the 4x4 shift motor and see if she is working. Shifting into 4low is good, at least we know the motor turns and the transfer case is shifting.

There are front end parts you can bolt on that eliminate the problematic vacuum hubs
There are manual versions of that transfer case that do give you a lever instead of a switch, however once you know how to use and operate the push button 4x4 that system is also very reliable, once we get it troubleshooted and working.

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Posted: Sat Oct 20th, 2018 04:48 pm

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I gotta know where to start, Im gonna post here a step by step of whats going on, Ill also post it on another ranger forum, someone must have experience with this and can tell me where to begin

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Posted: Sat Oct 20th, 2018 05:02 pm

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Ok here goes, hopefully I dont miss anything

1- bought truck a few weeks ago, guy said 4WD worked fine, took it for a drive and noticed the 2WD and the 4WD light flashing simultaneously on and off.

Moved the knob on the dash, nothing lit up as far as an indicator that I had shifted out of 2WD/

The truck did not go into 4WD.

2- Driving the truck, not liking the fuel mileage, tired of seeing the flash I decided to put a jack under the front and rear axle, get it off the ground and see what was spinning.

3- Did this, only one in the right rear was spinning so I knew I was in 2WD.

Put the vehicle in park again ( still up in the air ) and moved knob to 4high and 4 low. Put it in drive and nothing spinning but the right rear.

4- Put it back down on the ground, put the knob back in 2WD and parked truck in my driveway.

5- Got up this A.M started truck and light on dash said 4low and also OD OFF was flashing. I drove the truck a short distance and indeed it was in 4 Low.

6- Even though I have no Fn clue what Im doing I removed the shift motor and turned the pawl in there until
it finally was in 2WD. I did not put the motor back in place but instead zip tied it to the shield under transfer case where it is still now.

7- Drove the truck a great distance today and all it did was again flash the 4high and 4 low light but at one point it stopped doing that, now its flashing that its in 4 low and the O/D off is again flashing. ( its not in 4 low though )

PLEASE tell me how to fix this, where to start. Thank-you

Last edited on Sat Oct 20th, 2018 05:07 pm by 1930

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Posted: Sun Oct 21st, 2018 11:23 am

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the transfer case shift motor believes you are still in 4 low, so the truck thinks it is
You manually shifted it to 2wd
So the truck is freaking out because it sees one thing from shift motor and another from the speed sensor.

To fix, try shifting truck from 4 low to 2wd using the dash switch, Watch the shift motor see if it turns.
Remember to get in or out of low range. must be at complete stop and in NEUTRAL (Not park) foot on brake, then turn knob to 2wd....
If the shift motor turns to the 2wd position, bolt it back to the transfer case
If it does not turn, then its likely you need a shift motor or rebuild yours.
If it does turn, then bolt it back to t case and see if your 4 hi and 4 low is working again.

To switch between 2hi and 4 hi you can shift at anytime under 45 mph
Again to get in and out of 4 low you must be stopped, foot on brake and in N

This is just the shift motor portion of your 4x4, the vacuum hubs are a whole separate issue, if you plan to use the 4x4 in this truck consider ditching the vacuum hub setup by installing CV axles, wheel bearings and knuckles from a non vacuum hub truck (ranger or explorer)

FUN!

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Posted: Sun Oct 21st, 2018 05:51 pm

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I do not know what happened, long story short my 4wd is working fine now, I came out of the all you can eat china buffet, started it up, the 4 low light was back on again, I took it out of park and all the lights on dash turned off.

Just for the heck of it I switched it to 4 high and for the first time I heard the solenoid click, I stopped truck, had my wife move selector switch and could feel the motor turning, I drove it a few miles, pulled over and put the electric motor back onto the T case.

Tried it again and everything works.

I dont know how long but Im gonna hope for the best.

Thanks for your effort

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Posted: Mon Oct 22nd, 2018 09:35 am

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YES!!!!!!! You see the shift motor just needs exercise once in a while or they get stuck between gears.

Now you have a working transfer case! Next time you get a chance put your truck up on the jack stands again and check it out...you can now test your front hubs and see if they are working or not. This way when you get to your property and you need 4x4 you will have confidence that it will work for you!

Now look what you have done, you are now familiar with the workings of the ESOF 4x4! (electronic shift on the fly 4x4)

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Posted: Mon Oct 22nd, 2018 09:36 am

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thanks I do know the front hubs are working I took it in the sand yesterday and could see the marks left in the sand from fast acceleration

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Posted: Mon Oct 22nd, 2018 09:37 am

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I'm wondering in 4 low or 4hi are both Wheels supposed to spin in the front or is it still just one in the rear and one in the front

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Posted: Mon Oct 22nd, 2018 12:02 pm

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factory 4wd is two legged
This means one tire up front one in back
You have what is called "open differentials" no traction device. Power follows the path of least resistance

Here is how it works:
You put truck in 4x4
transfer case splits engine power from just rear axle to front and rear axles via a chain, now a 50/50 split half up front half to back.
The differentials are open, this makes it handle really well on the street because turning wheels rotate at different speeds (the outside tire has to travel further to make the same turn)
So all the power to the front or rear axle will go to the tire that slips the most
This is what I call two legged
You get one front tire in ice or mud = stuck
traction devices can add more tires, like a limited slip in the rear axle will give you a little power to both sides, but only until a certain breaking point, hence the word limited.
Next step would be to add a locker, a locker makes it so both tires travel the same no matter what. Some lockers are full time, some are part time, some are automatic, some are selectable
Only a rig with lockers front and rear is truly 4wheel drive. This is called 4 legged.

Welcome to the wonderful world of 4x4 :)
two legged can go places
3 legged can go alot further
4 legged can get you in real trouble :)

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Posted: Mon Oct 22nd, 2018 12:25 pm

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I've had and still have 4wd trucks,I've had a lot of 4wd trucks in the past, never had a ranger and have never gotten into them as much as you.

Thanks for your time

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Posted: Mon Oct 22nd, 2018 12:28 pm

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My excuse is that I'm always working constantly working I've got a real nice full-size Dodge truck that I've had for years that I've never driven I restored it but I've never driven it always working I'm hoping a few more years I can retire and enjoy some of the stuff that I collected

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Posted: Mon Oct 22nd, 2018 10:22 pm

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1930 wrote:
My excuse is that I'm always working constantly working I've got a real nice full-size Dodge truck that I've had for years that I've never driven I restored it but I've never driven it always working I'm hoping a few more years I can retire and enjoy some of the stuff that I collected
I'm with you on that excuse. I'm trying to get my house maintenance free or minimal maintenance. So I've been working on it for a while. I've resided it, put all new windows, rebuilt the garage, and built my man cave. I'm working my way through the house. I have a laundry room. Kitchen, 3bdrms and 2 baths on the interior left. Then I need to do gutters and paint the silver coat on the roof again. Then I want to landscape the yard and possibly build a second garage/shop. I've lived here for a long time and the yard has always been a nightmare. The idea is once I'm done all I'll need to do is paint every 7 years and now the lawn. I plan to be one lazy retired SOB.

But I'm taking this year off to build my truck. Its killing me seeing these guys have so much time to do all these cool mods n upgrades

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