'98 Ford Ranger XLT 4.0L
4x4 Auto Trans

Hi, I'm a student and so people hate me. My Auto Tech teacher has told me that I have 2 O2 sensors and the auto-zone guy has said 3, who's right here? I pulled the codes and they need to be replaced.

Also, something about my 4x4 isn't working right. We bought the Ranger used and I know that the 4x4 worked before, here's what happened:

During the winter, a storm iced over our parking lots and there's about a 30 degree incline going into it so i had to use 4x4 High, i clicked it on, the light came on, but when i hit the gas it was like the gears were grinding together and we didn't go anywhere. I let off, straightened the wheels and tried the gas agian and we went up just fine.

But now that summer is rolling around i have a new problem. I was showing a non-believer that the 4x4 worked. I flipped it on, first too far onto the 4x4 low and noticed that the light didn't come on. I switched back to 4x4 high and drove off on a straight, paved road (so no turing), but through out the 5 second trip the 4x4 whinned really badly, almost a whistle. I disengaged it and the sound continued for about 5 minutes when suddenly it felt like someone had dropped a 300 lb weight on the hood and it was just a huge clunk. I stopped completely and got out to look if the transfer case fell off (don't laugh at me) but i got in and drove (slowly) off, and after that she's been totally fine. I enganged the 4x4 one more time to show my dad what had happened and the same thing happened again, I haven't since tried it.

I know, its a whole host of problems, but if anyone could help me out that'd be great. Thanks

 

On your truck, i believe it has 3 (1 on each manifold, and 1 after cat). I know my truck has only 2, but i think they changed it to 3 after 97 or somthing like that. On the 4x4, i know the 98-99 have the PVH (Pulse vaccume hubs (i think)). From the sound of it these hubs are problem prone, so that would be my first place to look. I would put the truck into 4x4 high, drive it forward like 10 feet (to make sure hubs engage) and then jack the front right wheel, see if it will turn, and let it down, then jack up the front left wheel, see if it will turn and let it down. with the truck in 4x4, none of the wheels should move, they may have a little play back and fourth in them, but they should not be able to spin freely.

When you said you flipped it too far into 4x4 low, i believe you have to have your vehicle in neutral for it to shift into 4x4 low. Did you have it in neutral when you tried to shift into low?

 

3 O2s, just like peter94 said.

 

No, i didn't have it in neutral, but i don't think that i need to. It is a shift on the fly 4x4, plus i've had it in 4x4 low before.

As for the part about jacking up the front left and right end, do you mean turn the steering wheel left and right, try and spin the wheel as if it were driving, or hit the gas. I would think that hitting the gas, or turning the steering wheel would knock it off its jack, but maybe i'm wrong.

 

i mean like outside your vehicle with your hand, just wiggle the tire back and fourth, do not turn the steering wheel or try to drive it, just like you said, it will probalby knock it off the jacks. And since 4x4 low range sets it into a different gear, i'm about 95% sure you have to have it in neutral. Mine wont even go into 4x4 low without it in neutral, maybe a sensor on your truck is messed up, so the t case doesnt know your still in drive, and it tries to shift or somthing at the wrong time.

 

Peter is right about shifting into nuetral before engaging 4x4 low. Very important. Shift on the fly is applicable only to 4x4 high.

This thread has a whole bunch of info on the PVH 4x4 system, including a TSB I posted containing steps on how to troubleshoot it: 1998-2000 4x4 Pulse Vacuum Hubs