4X4 system not engaging

BEAR257 · #1 02-10-2012, 02:41 PM

The 4X4 indicator lights on the dash are both flashing on/off on occasion with the switch in 2 wheel drive. Now the 4 wheel drive system will not engage either Hi or Lo range. Just unhooked the battery to see if an ECU reset will fix it – any other ideas?

mthomp1 · #2 02-10-2012, 02:51 PM

The lights are flashing on and off to indicate that you have a problem. It could be your shift motor.

FordDude1991 · #3 02-10-2012, 03:19 PM

vaccum hubs i would assume...

BEAR257 · #4 02-10-2012, 03:50 PM

How do you trouble shoot it?

Skylark65 · #5 02-10-2012, 04:02 PM

if the trucks a '98 i'd say it's a 95% chance of it being the vaccum hubs.

only way i would know how to troubleshoot would be to pull everything apart and see if it engages. just went through that with my mother's isuzu trooper

BEAR257 · #6 02-10-2012, 04:23 PM

OK thanks

dkranger94 · #7 02-11-2012, 12:32 AM

its a 98.... i dont think those are vaccum assisted hubs. the hubs and wheel bearings are all one piece. could be your shift motor or it could be your 4x4 module.

Skylark65 · #8 02-11-2012, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkranger94

its a 98.... i dont think those are vaccum assisted hubs. the hubs and wheel bearings are all one piece. could be your shift motor or it could be your 4x4 module.

actually, '98 had the new torsion bar suspension, but it still had vaccum hubs. the live axle setup (one peice hubs & bearings) didin't come around untill at least partway through '99.

one of these day's i've gotta help my buddie out with his '98, he's having the same problem as the OP. first we gotta get his truck to run though, lol.

BEAR257 · #9 02-11-2012, 11:12 AM

I got some thumps out of the transfer case when the lights were blinking so will work with that first......have a new shift motor to install.

If the hubs are a problem will do the mod to lock them.

dkranger94 · #10 02-11-2012, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skylark65

actually, '98 had the new torsion bar suspension, but it still had vaccum hubs. the live axle setup (one peice hubs & bearings) didin't come around untill at least partway through '99.

I stand corrected. your right 98 model rangers and some thru '00 had these hubs. shitty ass idea, having plastic pieces to make metal ones work..... yea fuck that!!!!! and personally i do not like the new setup for the hubs either. i would rather be able to lock and luck my hubs whenever i want to. and that way i know they will work lol

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEAR257

I got some thumps out of the transfer case when the lights were blinking so will work with that first......have a new shift motor to install.

If the hubs are a problem will do the mod to lock them.

or you could get some newer 4x4 spindles and swith everything over to the newer hubs. still not the best but more reliable than plastic at least....

zman7125 · #11 02-11-2012, 08:40 PM

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech..._pvh_hubs.html
How To: Troubleshoot PVH Hubs ('98-'00)

http://www.therangerstation.com/Maga...04/offroad.htm
How To: Permanently Lock Your PVH Hubs ('98-'00)

Hope this helps guy, keep us updated.

gcextreme · #12 02-11-2012, 10:50 PM

Both my 98 and 99 have the vac pvh hubs, well my 99 has manual lockouts now. Best $120 I ever spent, lol.

The 4x4 lights blinking is suppose to be giving u an error code, but not always. The 4x4 and dome light are connected, by a fuse and a relay. I had a bad wire connection at the relay box down under the dash, behind the HVAC area. My lights would blink randomly, with no rhyme or reason, and when they were blinking my dome light wouldn't come on.
One day when they started flashing, i turned the dome light on at the dimmer switch, of course the light didn't come on, but then i turned off the pavement and onto some rough gravel, and as i hit some bumps, the dome light would flicker on and off, as well as the 4x4 lights blinking. So i knew it had to be a loose connection.

So things to check:
Vac pvh hubs
Shift motor and its connections
Fuse
Relay

Good Luck

Skylark65 · #13 02-12-2012, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zman7125

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech..._pvh_hubs.html
How To: Troubleshoot PVH Hubs ('98-'00)

http://www.therangerstation.com/Maga...04/offroad.htm
How To: Permanently Lock Your PVH Hubs ('98-'00)

Hope this helps guy, keep us updated.

awsome 2nd link, think i'll have to send that to my buddie. free fixes are sometimes the best fixes, lol.

BEAR257 · #14 02-12-2012, 10:27 AM

Agree on the link. Had already picked up that link while searching & decided to go with a fresh shift motor + that mod for the hubs if they are a problem. Temp dropped to 23 degrees last night in the sunny south so will be a few days before I get to it.

zman7125 · #15 02-12-2012, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEAR257

Agree on the link. Had already picked up that link while searching & decided to go with a fresh shift motor + that mod for the hubs if they are a problem. Temp dropped to 23 degrees last night in the sunny south so will be a few days before I get to it.

Yeah I haven't had a chance to replace my filler neck, it's been 15° up here in Buffalo for a couple days now...block heater & battery blanket FTW.