Hi. New member here. Been looking to buy a '93-'96 4wd Ranger and have been encountering this shift on the fly 4wd thing. One I looked at yesterday worked fine in 4wd high, but did not work in 4wd low (light didnt come on and reduction in gear ratio didnt happen).

This issue made me wonder if this shift on the fly is a reliable setup. Can anyone comment on this? If it is somewhat troubleprone, is it fairly easy/ inexpensive however to repair/ replace for the backyard do-it-yourselfer?

The older Jeep Cherokee and Chevy s-10 I used to own engaged their 4wd systems via a lever you yanked (which simulatanously locked the hubs too) and I never had a problem with them. Are the Rangers in '93-'96 years available with this setup, or are stuck with the shift on the fly.

Thanks for any help. Ken

 

First of all, the S10 you used to have was electronic too...at least all the ones I ever saw were. There might have been a lever to pull instead of a switch to turn, but they all are electronically engaged. My Chevy truck's 4x4 system died on me in the middle of a snowstorm one time. So you were just fortunate with your previous vehicles it sounds, because S10s are definitely not trouble-free.

On the shift-on-the-fly systems, the biggest problem is LACK of useage. After driven for miles and miles without ever being engaged, the 4x4 low shift motor can freeze up. That in turn causes the low-range to not work sometimes. If that one you drove would go into high-range but not low-range, that's probably the trouble. I've heard of people getting under the truck and tapping the shift motor on the transfer case and making it unstick and actuate. Even on my '99, I sometimes use 4x4 low for a few minutes off in the gravel or grass every once in a while just to keep the system loosened up and operational. Last time I did it had been a while and my truck acted like it didn't want to go low-range but after a few seconds it finally did. So I need to use mine more often too. It's like a new bolt. It's easy to tighten or loosen at first. But when left alone in the elements for a long time it rusts up and freezes in place.

Overall, if maintained properly the SOTF system is fairly reliable. It's hard to find a vehicle now days that doesn't use some type of electronic system.

 

Thanx WXboy, for the post. I suspected non use of the system (which was likely what happened with the low range on the truck i tested) would cause such a problem. It's good to hear that you think the system is rather reliable, since I'm really loathing the idea of hopping out to lock the hubs every time I need extra traction.

For the record pulling the 4wd stick on my (1987) s10 I had, did "electronically" auto lock the front differential (via a vaccuum diaphram), but it also MECHANICALLY enagaged gears within the transfer case. The chevy's system was therefore in essence part electronic and part manual.

The Ford I test drove was truly automatic because it did all this (hub lock and transfer case engagement) for you at a simple touch of a button. In my book more convience means more problems.

 

When you tried to use 4wd Low were you in neutral/park, stopped with your foot on the brake? If not it wont shift to 4Low
Oh and on those model years you can replace the hubs with manual style, which is where 90% of the problems are. Normally if the shift motor fails it wont shift at all. it will either stick in 2wd or 4high.
Rand

 

No, Rand, I don't think I tried it that way. I was stopped, but I doubt I had it in in nuetral (it's a 5spd) and had my foot on the brake as well.

Concerning the manually enagaged 4wd, I'm curious how can you replace the automatic 4WD system with a manual one if there isn't a stick on the floor to enagage the transfer case (the auotmatic one is not equipped with a stick, just a pushbutton).

Thanx

 

Ah, I dont know about the manual transmissions. I know you have to have the clutch in but im not sure about neutral.
Oh and you can convert the hubs on the wheels.
You cant convert the actual tcase. You would have to replace it with a manually shifted one.(I think)

Rand

 

You are right...the GM trucks had manual T-case shifters, but electronic motors in the front differential. That is the part that died on me in the snowstorm. GM recalled it and replaced the vacuum motor with an electric motor actuator.

Lots of people will tell you horror stories about SOTF systems. Personally, I've owned three four-wheel-drive trucks in my life and I had a problem out of two of them. The Z71 actuator in the front diff. went bad like I said...and the other problem was with a Ford manual locking setup on my F-150. I had tons of trouble with that. My Ranger so far has worked flawlessly. And I have a friend here at work that used to take his '98 Ranger four-wheelin' all the time and the SOTF system never broke on him. So I have faith in them if they are maintained properly.

 

My 93 has had problems with the shift motor. Took it off and cleaned it in under an hour. Works good now. The only time I have problems now is when the thermometer drops below 0 degrees F. I have the 5-speed and I usually have to put the shifter in neutral to get it to go into low. Sometimes it will go into low while in gear with the clutch depressed, but only on a good day. You don't have to use the brake if you are no flat gound and not rolling.
Cleaned my roomate's shift motor on his 91 Exploder that hadn't worked since a week after he got it. Has had no problems since, I told him to make sure he uses it once a week to keep it working.

 

Thanks for the help, guys. You really helped make the decision on whether to go with OTF a lot easier.

 

Turns out there wasn't a problem with the low range after all. On the manaul tranny you have to have the clutch depressed as well for it to go in.

In summary, Come to full stop, foot on brake, clutch depressed, tranny in nuetral, engage regular 4wd, then engage 4wd low. You may not have to do all these things for get it to go but it doesnt hurt.

 

Yeah, at first they can be a bit tricky because every manufacturer is different. On my GM truck, the manual specifically said DO NOT stop in 4-high when trying to shift into 4-low. Shift all the way through in a continuous motion. Now, on this Ford I have to hold the brake, put it in neutral, and then shift to low-range. So it just takes some getting used to for a while.

Good news is...you got it to work.

 

The electric 4WD not working is a somewhat common problem; I still haven't gotten around to fixing it on my Bronco. Here's a nice page on it:

http://www.glue.umd.edu/~singletn/web/pages/tcase.html