Hey everyone!

Got a question about the Ranger in my sig. Getting her all ready for some snow here, we just got our first major snow today.

Got the manual lockouts put in, I'm pretty sure a monkey could have done that, very easy, and well worth it to get rid of the autos.

My question is, I notice that if I push the button to put it in 4x4 it wont always go in the first try. I can hear the clicking behind me from the 4x4 box, no light will come on. Push it again, still no light ( can still hear clicking) push it a 3rd time, hear the clicking and then it will go in. Just wondering whats going on. After messing with it for a while I got it to where it would go in on the first time. But the Explorer I have will go in no problem. Same exact setup. Except the hubs are bad on that as well (along with a whole lot of other issues)

The 94 Explorer has the same exact drivetrain (at least I'm pretty sure, 4.0L 4x4 A4LD should be the same right?)

Just wondering if anyone knew off hand whats up. This is the first older ford I've had with this style push button 4x4. Personally I'd rather have the good ole lever on the floor, but this will do. Thanks!

 

I just rigged my 86 ranger electric shift to a manual switch for the same reason, I would get clicking all the time, sometimes it would take a couple of times to work, but then it got to where it would not work at all.

There is hardly any info at all on how this system works. I did many web searches, and I have the full blown 86 factory manual. They tell you about the switches, the speed sensor, the magnetic clutch, the computer and the motor, but that's it. There are several articles on the web on how to take the motor apart and check it out, but there is no theory of operation on the computer that I have found.

Using only my gut feeling on this, and working around a lot of Ford engineered components, I am going to make a guess. I am guessing the clicking is from the software or circuitry in the shift computer being in a "retry" mode. I see some Ford engineer giving the motor a certain time period to do it's thing, and the computer verifies it's there from the switch signals in the motor. From my experience with the manual switch, and the few times it did work, the time period is very short for the motor to move to the proper position. I believe the clicking is because the computer is saying "well you didn't make it, let's turn power off to the motor and then apply power and try again".

If i am right, then there are many many things that can cause this. This thing is a little bit complicated and the wiring on these trucks is getting old. It could be;

1. Something wrong with the motor. That could be brushes, the plastic gear on my old one was cracked in half, the switch in the motor could be wore out. You could look up one of the web articles on how to take it apart and inspect it, or get a rebuilt one and see if it works.

2. A bad connection in the wiring. This could be down at the motor, up at the computer, and mine had a bad power connection under the hood.

What yo could try that gave me a couple more months before it failed to work completely: I found mine would work if after it failed, I turned the engine off and then turned the key back to run without starting the engine, and then pushing the 4x4 button. I can't explain what difference this would make, maybe there is also a problem with the transfer case mechanically lining up inside or something.

 

Thanks Dave. I'm wondering it isn't something with the motor, cause I was messing Round with it tonight and I noticed that after I disengaged it, it was still in 4x4 and took a bit for it to actually "come out." I agree with your theory on the age as well this truck is approaching 24 years old, and I'm sure the cold isn't helping much. Thankfully I have a parts doner vehicle (the explorer, which seems to go in and out no problem. But has defunct front hubs) I'm mess with it some more. Don't know ally of history about the truck. Hard to say with the age. Not even sure how many times the odo has wrapped. Thank you though for your insight. This gives me a place to start.

 

I got a manual transfer case from the pic and pull for 50.00 and had it swapped out in less than a six pack.
Get the floor plate while you are at it and you will be very pleased.
The only thing I never addressed , was the indicator lights, I knew which range I was in .

 

I was doing some research on this awhile back, and couldn't quite make sure what fits and what doesn't.

I know on the large trucks, any transfer case will bolt to any 4x4 tranny no problem. It's the little things like the shifter and the driveshaft lengths that throw a damper on things.

I think I am right in saying the transfer case manual shifter mounts to the adapter piece that goes between the tranny and the transfer case? If that's true, then if someone gets a manual transfer case in the yard, they need to make sure and get the adapter piece and the complete shifter with it correct? And this will fit a automatic as well as the different 5 speeds they had? Did your driveshafts go right back in or did you have to get different length ones?

 

To answer your question, I did not need the adapter from transmission to tea after case, the provision is already on the adapter.
The transfer case came from an explorer, and they had the same 4.0 engine.

My drive shaft as bolted right up.

I can't remember all of the details , it has been 5 years since I did the swap.
Just make sure you get the short linkage piece for the shifter.
It seems the yards leave it attached to the transmission when they pull them.

As I am thinking back on this, I had to go thru the yard to get the shifter, it was as I said in an explorer with an automatic, the stepped bolt that mounts the shifter was in the truck , there is also a plastic bushing that goes with it .

Ad again be sure to get the little dogbone like part of the linkage I already mentioned.

This is by far one of the best and easiest upgrades you can do.
And like I said , takes about an hour, maybe an hour and a half.