PVH and manual hubs

[dhams20]

hey have been looking at these forums for a while but never registered till now...

i got a 99' ranger so i have the shitty pulse vacuum hubs and i see a lot of people have the same problems with them...

im going to buy the rugged ridge/avm manual locking hubs and get rid of the vacuum lines since they are not needed with manual hubs (ive head good things about the manual hubs)...

i just have a question about the manual hubs... when i want 4x4 do i lock them and turn the switch in the cab to 4x4 hi/low? or just lock them and not even worry about the switch since the vacuum lines are gone? confused...

thanks a lot

[96_4x4_XLT]

the 4x4 switch puts you in 4wd the hubs lock the front wheels to the axle so they get power so you will have to lock the hubs and put the truck in 4x4 to be in 4 wheel drive

[dhams20]

ok thank you i was just confused... so i can definitely get rid of the vacuum lines though right? no use now?

also in snow would you recommend low or hi 4x4?

first 4x4 lol sort of a noob still... i just want to have 4x4 working before winter. its just around the corner.

edit: also could i just always have the hubs locked? and just use the switch between 2wd and 4x4? or is it hard on the truck

[johnday]

Yes, you could always leave the hubs locked, but, you will be wearing parts you don't need to, and your fuel mileage will suffer as well. For the amount of effort, just lock them when you need to, or when you think you'll be getting into something where you may need it.

In snow, hi range usually. In the 40 or so years I've had a four wheel drive, each vehicle was put in low range maybe once or twice, basically just to see if it worked. Low range is usually a "double reduction", in other words, you'll be turning double the engine speed, for the same ground speed in high range.

[dhams20]

ok just another thing im confused about... the guy at the garage told me my right vacuum hub is broken (bad leaks, etc) but he said the left one is still working... he ALSO said my GEM module is NOT working because the left tire is not spinning (but the vaccum is working) ... And all my other electronics work perfect lights, locks, speedometer, everything...

So i guess im trying to say does my GEM module have anything to do with 4x4 not working since my left vacuum hub is still working he said? (could the GEM not be activating 4x4?)

and if my hubs are manual and i take out my old vacuum lines what does the 4x4 switch control if theres no vacuum lines?

sorry for all the questions the guy at the garage just confused the fuck out of me lol. I dont want to buy these manual hubs then find out the GEM wont activate 4x4 or something.

[johnday]

Myself, I don't know what the GEM [GooEatingMonkey] has to do with it. I think the mech was talking about a vacuum leak? That would just prevent the hub from locking as far as I know. Now the switch? I "think", all that does is engage the transfer case, and sends a signal to a solenoid that activates the vacuum side to pull the hubs in.
Maybe someone with more knowledge than I could answer that. I'm on my first, a '12 F150, with those type of hubs and the electronic switching that the dash switch does. Electronics is pretty much black magic to me!!! LOL

[gcextreme]

GEM is the general electric module...its like a big relay computer hub for many electronic devices.
Its located behind the radio in the radiobezel off to the left side..held in by one screw i think.
You cant just replace it with another one...the replacement has to match the same serial number series.
They are about $350 brand new...i was lucky enuff to score a match for mine at the local jy for $45.

The GEM may or may not be your problem...if its just your 4x4 thats not working i doubt its the GEM, cuz it controls alot of other things.

Does your 4x4 light flash and pause and flash more...if so count the flashes then the pause then the flashes.
For example 4 flashes and a long pause and then 3 flashes is a code 4-3.

Can u hear the tcase engage when u turn the 4wd switch?

As for the avm manual lockouts.... i love mine. I live in snowy Minnesota and leave them locked all winter long....but leave them unlocked the rest of the year unless i need them.

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The 4x4 switch controls the transfercase and the auto vac hubs..with manual hubs, still need to turn the switch to activiate the transfercase.

[johnday]

Reread your post. The new manual hubs shouldn't have anything to do with 4times4 not working. What you would have to do is plug or capoff the vacuum lines so you don't wind up with a vacuum leak. All the PVH does is keep sissies from getting mud on their penny loafers, in other words, take the physical effort out of turning the locks on the hubs. The transfer case should still work as usual. If I was in your boots, not penny loafers, I wouldn't think twice about ridding myself of the PVH's. Once less thing to go wrong. Any kind of manual hub would work, as long as it's for a Ranger. Mile Marker and Warn are a couple other good brands of manual hubs.

[modelageek]

Originally Posted by gcextreme

GEM is the general electric module...its like a big relay computer hub for many electronic devices.
Its located behind the radio in the radiobezel off to the left side..held in by one screw i think.
You cant just replace it with another one...the replacement has to match the same serial number series.
They are about $350 brand new...i was lucky enuff to score a match for mine at the local jy for $45.

The GEM may or may not be your problem...if its just your 4x4 thats not working i doubt its the GEM, cuz it controls alot of other things.

Does your 4x4 light flash and pause and flash more...if so count the flashes then the pause then the flashes.
For example 4 flashes and a long pause and then 3 flashes is a code 4-3.

Can u hear the tcase engage when u turn the 4wd switch?

As for the avm manual lockouts.... i love mine. I live in snowy Minnesota and leave them locked all winter long....but leave them unlocked the rest of the year unless i need them.

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The 4x4 switch controls the transfercase and the auto vac hubs..with manual hubs, still need to turn the switch to activiate the transfercase.

Originally Posted by johnday

Reread your post. The new manual hubs shouldn't have anything to do with 4times4 not working. What you would have to do is plug or capoff the vacuum lines so you don't wind up with a vacuum leak. All the PVH does is keep sissies from getting mud on their penny loafers, in other words, take the physical effort out of turning the locks on the hubs. The transfer case should still work as usual. If I was in your boots, not penny loafers, I wouldn't think twice about ridding myself of the PVH's. Once less thing to go wrong. Any kind of manual hub would work, as long as it's for a Ranger. Mile Marker and Warn are a couple other good brands of manual hubs.

The GEM does control the 4x4 switching but your tech is confused how the system works, which would scare me. If you can turn the 4x4 switch on and off abd a wheel spins the gem is fine. I bet if you install the new hubs you will be fine.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by dhams20

ok just another thing im confused about... the guy at the garage told me my right vacuum hub is broken (bad leaks, etc) but he said the left one is still working... he ALSO said my GEM module is NOT working because the left tire is not spinning (but the vaccum is working) ... And all my other electronics work perfect lights, locks, speedometer, everything...

So i guess im trying to say does my GEM module have anything to do with 4x4 not working since my left vacuum hub is still working he said? (could the GEM not be activating 4x4?)

and if my hubs are manual and i take out my old vacuum lines what does the 4x4 switch control if theres no vacuum lines?

sorry for all the questions the guy at the garage just confused the fuck out of me lol. I dont want to buy these manual hubs then find out the GEM wont activate 4x4 or something.

OK, I reread the post. The tech is saying the transfer case isn't switching over I bet it is the motor or the switch. Did he test for power? Usually if a gem fails you have multiple issues.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

[dhams20]

all my other electronics work fine, windows, lights, wippers, mirrors, blinkers, locks, etc... And when i put the switch to 4x4 hi or low i hear something engaging so i believe the gem is fine... but who knows...

I dont understand if you have manual hubs why you would have to use the 4x4 switch? dont you just get out and lock them?

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Originally Posted by gcextreme

GEM is the general electric module...its like a big relay computer hub for many electronic devices.
Its located behind the radio in the radiobezel off to the left side..held in by one screw i think.
You cant just replace it with another one...the replacement has to match the same serial number series.
They are about $350 brand new...i was lucky enuff to score a match for mine at the local jy for $45.

The GEM may or may not be your problem...if its just your 4x4 thats not working i doubt its the GEM, cuz it controls alot of other things.

Does your 4x4 light flash and pause and flash more...if so count the flashes then the pause then the flashes.
For example 4 flashes and a long pause and then 3 flashes is a code 4-3.

Can u hear the tcase engage when u turn the 4wd switch?

As for the avm manual lockouts.... i love mine. I live in snowy Minnesota and leave them locked all winter long....but leave them unlocked the rest of the year unless i need them.

----------

The 4x4 switch controls the transfercase and the auto vac hubs..with manual hubs, still need to turn the switch to activiate the transfercase.

all my other electronics work fine, windows, lights, wippers, mirrors, blinkers, locks, etc... And when i put the switch to 4x4 hi or low i hear something engaging (the transfer case) so i believe the gem is fine... but who knows...

the only manual hubs for 99' rangers are the rugged ridge correct?

[gcextreme]

U still have to engage the transfercase..that provides power to the front driveshafts!!

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The Avm Rugged ridge are the only options for manual lockouts for the 98-00 rangers.
Warn makes some for other years just not for the 98-00 years.