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  #1  
Old 12-16-2013, 10:45 AM
Chip682 Chip682 is offline
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Default 98 ranger wont stay in 4wd

Hey all I am new to this forum but i hope you all can help. I have a 98 ranger 4wd with th 3.0 engine. I can turn the 4wd switch to engage the 4x4 and it will go in. But it will only stay in 4wd for about 15 seconds then it just goes back to 2wd but the 4wd light is still on. If I stop the truck and put it in N or P and flick the switch back to 2wd then back to 4wd it will work again but only for the 15 or so seconds. Not sure if it is the shift motor on the trans or something else. Please help thanks -Chip-
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  #2  
Old 12-17-2013, 05:40 AM
Chip682 Chip682 is offline
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Default Re: 98 ranger wont stay in 4wd

Anyone?
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  #3  
Old 12-17-2013, 05:43 AM
djfllmn djfllmn is offline
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Default Re: 98 ranger wont stay in 4wd

id check to see if the front hubs are holding vacuum..they are the POS vac hubs..the 4wd light staying on leads me to believe that the t-case isnt reverting back to 2hi
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Last edited by djfllmn; 12-17-2013 at 05:45 AM.
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  #4  
Old 12-17-2013, 10:38 AM
Chip682 Chip682 is offline
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Default Re: 98 ranger wont stay in 4wd

I will check the vaccum lines up front later.. let u know
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  #5  
Old 12-18-2013, 05:09 AM
Chip682 Chip682 is offline
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Default Re: 98 ranger wont stay in 4wd

Hey everyone, i just wanted to post to say that i fixed the issue with the 4wd. It ended up being the 2 front vacuum hoses that go to the front wheels. Very dry rotted and split. They both were barely hanging on there. Im suprised that it even tried to work. But anyway all is good.
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  #6  
Old 12-18-2013, 05:48 PM
1999dangerranger 1999dangerranger is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chip682 View Post
Hey everyone, i just wanted to post to say that i fixed the issue with the 4wd. It ended up being the 2 front vacuum hoses that go to the front wheels. Very dry rotted and split. They both were barely hanging on there. Im suprised that it even tried to work. But anyway all is good.
Where are your vaccum lines at mine is doing the same thing
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Old 12-19-2013, 05:23 AM
Chip682 Chip682 is offline
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Default Re: 98 ranger wont stay in 4wd

The lines are just 2 rubber hoses that connect to the back side of the front hubs. theres like a metal nipple on the hub side right next to the abs sensor wire. The hoses are about a foot long and the other end connects to a plastic fitting just over the frame rail. They are really easy to replace the only tools i needed was a pair of needle nose pliers to pop the 3 or 4 clips holding the hoses in place. Maybe took me 15 mins to do both.
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Old 12-19-2013, 08:53 AM
1999dangerranger 1999dangerranger is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chip682 View Post
The lines are just 2 rubber hoses that connect to the back side of the front hubs. theres like a metal nipple on the hub side right next to the abs sensor wire. The hoses are about a foot long and the other end connects to a plastic fitting just over the frame rail. They are really easy to replace the only tools i needed was a pair of needle nose pliers to pop the 3 or 4 clips holding the hoses in place. Maybe took me 15 mins to do both.
Ok thanks ill check them today
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Old 12-19-2013, 03:26 PM
Chip682 Chip682 is offline
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Default Re: 98 ranger wont stay in 4wd

let me know if thats not it i may be able to point you in the right direction
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Old 12-19-2013, 05:17 PM
1999dangerranger 1999dangerranger is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chip682 View Post
let me know if thats not it i may be able to point you in the right direction
My lines look fine what else do you think it is
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  #11  
Old 12-19-2013, 06:51 PM
Prages Prages is offline
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Default Re: 98 ranger wont stay in 4wd

It's still probably the hubs. I think there's a diaphragm in there that is known to go bad and allow the vacuum to leak out.
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  #12  
Old 12-19-2013, 06:54 PM
1999dangerranger 1999dangerranger is offline
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Ok I think I am just gonna get manual hubs
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  #13  
Old 12-20-2013, 06:18 AM
Chip682 Chip682 is offline
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Default Re: 98 ranger wont stay in 4wd

If its not those two hoses try following them up farther. They go to a junction under the air box. I think there is also a soloniod at that junction too.
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  #14  
Old 12-20-2013, 07:49 AM
1999dangerranger 1999dangerranger is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chip682 View Post
If its not those two hoses try following them up farther. They go to a junction under the air box. I think there is also a soloniod at that junction too.
Ok thanks ill check it today
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  #15  
Old 12-20-2013, 11:25 AM
taconic taconic is offline
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Default Re: 98 ranger wont stay in 4wd

How do I seal off, or remove the rusted vacuum sensor studs at the wheel hub? Mine are rusted and I've plugged off the rubber lines for now. I want to go with manual hubs,,,,,Is the vacuum hub issue the reason I'm getting a check engine light?
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