4 wheel drive not working

I would start by removing and disassemblying the hubs. They get dirty and the grease dries out and things stick. Start with that. Also, if you hear the clicking in 2wd, check the CV joints.

I recently purchased this truck assuming the 4WD worked. After a couple times engaging the 4WD, the transfer case motor failed. I replaced it, and according to the dash light the transfer case engaged. Unfortunately the front wheels were not pulling. Last night I was spinning the front drive shaft trying to diagnose the problem, the driveshaft would spin freely while not engaged, as I assume it should. It appears the differential is OK, but I am not sure. The drivers side drive axel spins with the drive shaft, but not the passengers side. Is this normal, or is this side possibly froze up? If it is normal, I assume the hubs are shot. Any advice would be great. Thanks.

If one of the front axles does not lock to the wheel--Even in 4X4, all power to the front is transferred to the least resistance...thus freewheeling the "loose" axle fruitlessly inside the unlocked wheel (unless your front diff. is positive traction--you will then be in 3 wheel drive!) Remove and clean the hubs, you might get over, on Ole Murphy! The Medic

Other Category problem
1994 Ford Ranger V6 Four Wheel Drive Manual 178000 miles
----------------------------------------------------------------
I've been having engaging my 4x4 in my ranger. When I push the button on the dash, it would normally light up after a second and i could hear a little buzz noise and i could feel the 4x4 engage, and the 4x4 light would light up. Now when i push the button, the light doesn't turn on and the 4x4 won't turn on. I put some dielectric grease on the electric connection behind the transfer case, but to no avail, if you could suggest something for me to do that would be very much appreciated.
thanks

[quote:b3bebb894c="Schiess"]Other Category problem
1994 Ford Ranger V6 Four Wheel Drive Manual 178000 miles
----------------------------------------------------------------
I've been having engaging my 4x4 in my ranger. When I push the button on the dash, it would normally light up after a second and i could hear a little buzz noise and i could feel the 4x4 engage, and the 4x4 light would light up. Now when i push the button, the light doesn't turn on and the 4x4 won't turn on. I put some dielectric grease on the electric connection behind the transfer case, but to no avail, if you could suggest something for me to do that would be very much appreciated.
thanks[/quote:b3bebb894c]sounds like you have a prblem with the motor for the transfer case. probalyl going bad or is bad. should start there hope it helps let me know pat

when you engage thee 4x4 listen for the silinoid module that is located behind the stereo in thee dash you will hear clicking, and another question when you engage 4x4 and leave it in does the 4hi 4low lights come on and flash occasionally? if it is the transfer case motor i would think you could be able to take a test llight on the power plug to it to see if it is even getting power but you would need to be under with the light ready and someone turning the 4x4 switch to try this so try these methods first and get back to me

Engine Performance problem
1994 Ford Ranger 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic

Hi

This is my third question i am writing about,never did received a answer on the second question. I check the module it check out good. I did the step like you told me to do. What is next to check?

Thanks

OK sorry I did respond but you must of not recieved it for some reason anyway here is the next step. This test is done on the 5 pin harness at the module. You will unplug the 5 pin harnes and follow the instructions below and there is a pic of what pin is what ok. After the test let me know what you find so we can go to the next step. 1) connect ohm meter between term 1 and 2 and then press and hold the 4x4 switch and you should get 50 ohms. 2) connect ohm meter between term 1 and 3 and press the low range switch and you should get 50 ohms. 3) Now make a jumper wire that you can use to put between term 4 and a good ground, turn the key on engine off and the 4x4 in the instrument cluster and the low range 4x4 bar should light up. Turn key off and remove jumper wire. 4) Now connect the jumper wire between term 5 and ground and turn key on engine off the 4x4 in the instrument panel and the 4x4 bar should light up. Let me know what you find and and we will go to the next step after this.

I did the second step with the module.check out good. I also took motor down,I had it hanging down someone press the 4x4 buttom. The motor spin,then I engage 4x4 manually by hand and front wheel still did not spin the truck was off the ground.
What next? Do you think this is something that can cost a lot of money.

Don't know if it will cost alot yet haven't found the problem yet. I do replace the 4x4 shift motors alot the one on the transfer case and they run about 150 anyway lets test the 8 pin connector at the motor I will walk you through the steps and include a pic so you know what pin is what ok. 1) key off connect your ohm meter between term 1 and ground (with automatic trans put in neutral) should read less then 50 ohm's. 2)Now connect you ohm meter between term 2 and 3 it should read between 200 to 350 ohms. Now repeat this step between terms 8 and then term 4 then 8 and 5 then 8 and 6 then 8 and 9 resistance should be between 200 and 350 ohms at each step. If not then the speed sensor needs to be replaced. Here is the pic for this test.

Now it this pans out then here is a test on the the other 8 pin connector at the module. 1) Key off connect your volt meter between 8 and gound you should see battery voltage. 2)Now connect meter between term 7 and gound and turn key on should see battery voltage. Turn key off. 3) Set back to ohms and connect between term 6 and ground should be less then 10 volts. Now connect between term 4 and 5 should also be less then 10 ohms. 4)Connect between 3 and ground then between 2 and ground both should read 0 ohm.

Hi

Check out the module,like you to say to do and everything check out good. What I did do next I took truck off the ground with jack stands. I put it into 4x4 ,the front shaft starts to turn,but the shafts coming out of front tranfer case does not make the front wheels turn. I don,t know what to do next,everybody say they will look at it,but it will cost me. Need help anything else to check?

Thanks

1994 Ford Ranger 4x4 mileage: 115,000. I have a problem with the four-wheel drive on my Ranger. One day I was using the four-wheel drive and realized that only the two back tires were pulling. Also, there was some (rattling) noise coming from the front passenger side wheel (even after the 4 wheel drive was disengaged). I have since taken off the front wheels to check out the automatic locking hubs to see if there was something wrong with them. One hub looked a little suspicious like some of the metal had been worn down inside. I then jacked the truck up off of all four wheels so that I could engage the four-wheel drive to see what was actually pulling and what was not. The back two wheels were both pulling. The front on the other hand was not. The drive shaft leading from the transfer case would engage but the shafts leading to the wheels were barely even spinning. You could stop them from spinning by holding them still. My question is do you think that the hubs are bad and I need to replace them, or is something messed up in the "gear housing". I know you really can't know for sure from my description but if you have any advice that you think I could use, it would be greatly appreciated.

Ok if you have done all the steps above and all checked out as it should then the 4x4 shift motor on the back of the transfer case needs to be replaced. Let me know if something did test right. It is very important that you do all the steps as discribed. Thanks and let me know how it goes.

The automatic locking hubs seem to be a high maintenance item on these Ford Rangers. Yours may need to be replaced.

Engine Mechanical problem
1994 Ford Ranger 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic

Hi
I did all the tests you told me to do,Module checks out good,motor is good,also put new speed sensor still does not engage. I read there is a vacum hose might need to be replaced,can you tell where this is locate. I don,t know what to check after that,The hubs look good.

Now there is no vacuum for this version of the 4x4 system. In 95 they started that. Now if you want we can walk through some tests but it will start with ohming the speed sensor (the one on the top of the rear differetial) then it will move to the module tests as these are the common problem for this system. Get back to me with what you would like to do.

on 3-4-09 my 4x4 engaged fine. no noises in hubs in snow. it is a push button control 4x4 switch on the dashboard that lights up it no longer does that. also tried engagaging in neutral gear and park with no sucess . need help.

Check and make sure the transfer case wires are still hooked together.They might have came unhooked.You will be able to see the wires under the truck if they are undone.

The 4x4 will not engage. When I push the button on the dash I hear a clicking noise comming from a small box behind my seat. And the 4 wheel light also does not come on at that time. It was working when I went down through an old grade stayed a while to hunt and when I needed to come back out it would not work. What do you think?

Ok let have the truck do a self test on the system. You need to locate the 4x4 module it is located to the left of the speaker on the right side in the instrument panel. Once you found it you need to unplug the 5 pin and 8 pin connector from the module. Now turn the key on engine off does the 4x4 light flash or is one steady. Let me know what you find and we will take it from there.

Hi
That small box behind seat is control module for transfer. Unplug the 5 wire and 8 wire connectors. Turn key to run press switch on top observe light.
Flashes mod. O.K. if steady replace mod.
Let me know
Thanks for donate

I have a push button on my dash for the 4 wheel drive. It doesnt work. I replaced the original hubs with manual hubs and seems it works as far as the hubs...My problem is, I dont know if the transfer case is always feeding the front drive train to the wheel axle...It seems to me, that there is something that the transfer case has to engage to make the front drive move, thus moving the front axle. Or, does the front drive train always spin?
I thought putting on manual hubs would fix it, but I still think that maybe the front drive is not engaging. Which means, I will still have to replace or troubleshoot the electronic module in the back of the super cab, to engage the transfer case to make the front drive spin, thus making the front axle spin.

Ok so manual hubs is an upgrade. So tell me what is the truck doing? What are the lights on the dash doing? What makes you thing that it isn't working? As far as how it works you first lock you hub (now that they are manual) then as you know push the button and it send the signal to the module which then sends the signal to the transfer case motor on the back of the transfer case and that locks in the 4X4. Get back to with some answers and we will go from there ok.

I know about the manual hubs and the button....dangit tho, yesterday when I tested it on loose soil I forgot to push the darn button in tho..I was very distracted with alot of things...anyway, the light next to the 4x4 button comes on and the 4x4 light underneath the speedometer comes on...which is a good sign but I still have to make sure the connection to the transfer case is good and that the transfer case is working...any tips? The front wheels were not spinning before I put the manual hubs on. That is why I put them on, in hopes it would fix it. I guess the next thing to do is test it again, and make sure I push the darn button in this time. Then check voltage to the transfer case with the button on..If I get voltage I suppose it could be the transfer case, but cross our fingers that it is not....any other suggestions would be appreciated. Oh, I do have another question.. Does the front drive train and the front axle have some type of connection point that I should be concerned with? For instance, maybe the front drive train spins but the axel does not spin?

Ok sounds good. Now as for the front diff it is locked once the hubs are locked in. The driveline doesn't turn till the transfer case motor locks the transfer case in. The transfer case motors do go bad a lot. Keep in mind you will only get one tire upfront to spin it is not a possi front end, you would be better to have it on a hoist and see if all locks in just saying. Anyway let me know what you find and we will go from there if needed ok.

This will be my last question, I can take it from here... I did not understand your comment about "one tire spinning". 1. the front drive train will kick in once the motor to the transfer case kicks in to the transfer case. 2. The front drive will turn, thus, turning the front axel. The axel will turn but unless I am locked in on the hubs, the tires will not turn. 3. So, if the transfer case engages with the front drive train, the front drive train will turn the front axle. If the hubs are locked, then the tires will spin....
My question is, I dont understand what you mean about "one tire spinning". If both hubs are locked in, wont the front axle turn both tires?

First let me ask away don't bother me at all ok. As for one tire well you see the front is not a posi can't be wouldn't do well in corners if it was so one tire will get most of the power causing it to spin and maybe not the other thats all.

Its all working... what happened tho was when I was done testing it, I went to turn off the button on dashboard, (after putting hubs on free), and the 4x4 lights on the dash would not go out....They finally did, but that was weird. Thanks for your help.....

That is very weird, glad its all fixed and working though. Thanks again for being patient and have a great 4th.

That is very weird, thanks again and glad it all working. Have a great 4h

don't work , what could be the problem

what does not work, and on what year

The 4X4 doesn't work at all, it will not switch from 2X4 to 4X4, the year is 2000

when u shift it to 4 wheel do you hear anything from the front diferental? check the shift linkage for loose, binding or worn and adjustment.

I hear absolutely nothing, not even a click

I have a 1996 Ford Ranger 4X4 w/4.0 liter engine, A/T, w/ 103000 miles. The autohubs have been replaced by lockout hubs. The 4 wheel drive will not lockin. I was told to disconnect battery and wait then hook back up. This worked once then again quit. The 4 wheel drive will not engage.

Since that is an electronically shifted t-case,Go for the obvioius, check all fuses. The t-case is controlled by the switch and the GEM module,both of which ive seen fail. Test resistance across the switch
With the switch in these positions the resistance should be as follows

2wd- 3400-4300 ohms
4wd or auto 4wd- 100-1200 ohms
4wd low- 320-400 ohms.
If switch is ok id go to the GEM module.

i just bought a 92 ranger,,,v-6 with a 4.0L manual transmission,,,it has push button 4x4 with lock out hubs,,,i failed to check it before the purchase,,,when i went to put it into 4x4 today it went into 4x4 high but would not engage into 4x4 low,,the light for the 4x4 high comes on but not the low,,,is this a transfer case problem or could it be something electrical,,,i dont want to spend anymore money on this that i have to,,,

It is very possible that the automatic locking hubs are broke that engage in the axle behind the tires up front. My 1994 was in a wreck, and I had the mechanic check everything out, and he said the front transfer case drive axle was turning for the four wheel drive to work, but that these piece of junk auto lockers Ford put in were worn out. I have heard of people replacing them with standard locking hubs and they work just fine. Hope this helps.

Drive Train Axles Bearings problem
1991 Ford Ranger 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic

I have a 1991 ford ranger with a 4.0 v6 i had a new tranny put in and now my 4 wheel drive doesn't work . Ther is a clicking sound coming from the jumper seat behind the drivers seat. I would imagine that is the brain for the w wheel drive. I think they forgot to hook something up if anyone could help I would greatly appreciate it