Four Wheel Drive Problems
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, OH
Four Wheel Drive Problems
I have a 99 Ranger and I am having problems with my four-wheel drive system. Whenever I use four wheel drive and then switch back to 2wd, all is fine for a minute or so. You can then feel a jerk and then hear something like the hubs or something else grinding in the front in. It is almost like it is not completely out of 4wd. I then have to switch the 4wd back on and then back to 2wd for it to stop. Sometimes I have to do it more than once because it keeps repeating. Also, here lately my front hubs have been locking in I think. I can feel it in the front end as I accelerate. The truck seems like it doesn't accelerate as good as it used to and it affects my power. I was thinking that it may be my hubs going bad, or maybe the 4wd switch might be bad. Any suggestions??? 
Bobby
Bobby
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,821
Likes: 19
From: South Dakota
Four Wheel Drive Problems
How does the 4x4 work when its in gear, is there any heavy grinding when you give it some serious gas in straight line?
I'm not sure if the 99 had vaccum lock hubs or not...I think that it might sound like a vaccum leak...but not sure.
I'm afraid that there prolly isn't going to be a quick fix, and it cost some $$ to fix as there might be some damage to your hubs.
My suggestion would be to just take it to the dealer....my .02
super
I'm not sure if the 99 had vaccum lock hubs or not...I think that it might sound like a vaccum leak...but not sure.
I'm afraid that there prolly isn't going to be a quick fix, and it cost some $$ to fix as there might be some damage to your hubs.
My suggestion would be to just take it to the dealer....my .02
super
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, OH
Four Wheel Drive Problems
There isn't any really heavy grinding, but you can hear the front end humming pretty good. My 99 ranger does have the vacuum hublock system on it. I was figuring I would probably have to take it to the dealer to have it looked at. I'm going to have to take it to another dealer though because I had it at one place a few months ago regarding what I thought was the switch, and they didn't even look at it, they informed me about the TSB out for the driveshaft, and didn't mention a word about the 4x4, which is the reason I had it in there.
Bobby
Bobby
New User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Lebanon US
Four Wheel Drive Problems
Hello,
I'm new here but I read this and I think I can help here. I have a 96 XL and I had the automatic locking hubs for my 4x4. I bought my ranger and after about 6 months I had the same thing happen. The autos weren't working correctly and after I took it out of 4x4 I would get the same ratcheting noise from my front axles. After a couple of months of this my 4x4 just stopped working. I took it to the place I bought it and they said oh well, no warranty. They then proceeded to tell me that it was going to cost $1600.00 to replace the auto hubs. Then I asked about manual locking hubs and they said that that was going to cost about $800.00. Well I like to do things myself and at that price I figure I can screw up a couple times and still be cheaper than those quotes. I bought Warn manual locking hubs and the conversion kit. That cost about $180.00, then my friend and I proceeded to replace the autos with the manuals. I took 1 hour to do both sides and it was pretty easy. I have not had any troubles with my 4x4 since. Now if I could only get the engine to put some hp out. Hope this helps. By the way a Chilton manual helps tremendously.
I'm new here but I read this and I think I can help here. I have a 96 XL and I had the automatic locking hubs for my 4x4. I bought my ranger and after about 6 months I had the same thing happen. The autos weren't working correctly and after I took it out of 4x4 I would get the same ratcheting noise from my front axles. After a couple of months of this my 4x4 just stopped working. I took it to the place I bought it and they said oh well, no warranty. They then proceeded to tell me that it was going to cost $1600.00 to replace the auto hubs. Then I asked about manual locking hubs and they said that that was going to cost about $800.00. Well I like to do things myself and at that price I figure I can screw up a couple times and still be cheaper than those quotes. I bought Warn manual locking hubs and the conversion kit. That cost about $180.00, then my friend and I proceeded to replace the autos with the manuals. I took 1 hour to do both sides and it was pretty easy. I have not had any troubles with my 4x4 since. Now if I could only get the engine to put some hp out. Hope this helps. By the way a Chilton manual helps tremendously.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, OH
Four Wheel Drive Problems
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 29-Jul-02 AT 11:40 PM (EST)]I looked into switching to manual hubs, but the Rangers 98 and newer have the pulse vaccuum hublock system on them and the dealer said to switch it over to manuals, I would have to switch the front axle too to allow me to use the manual hubs. I'd like to convert it over to manuals, but it looks like it would be way too expensive for me by the time I get the new axle and hubs. Thanks for the advise though. I'll look into getting one of the those manuals.
