98' Ranger 4x4 5spd- 4wd lights are flashing
 

Im looking at a 1998 Ranger 4x4 with the 3.0L stick shift. Trucks great except the 4wd dont work. The guy said it worked great last time he used it back in January. The thing is the 4hi and 4low lights in the dash flash on off the whole time your driving and when you turn the knob to 4hi you dont hear that click when it goes into 4x4. What could be the problem here?

Thanks

I would first check all fuses related to the 4x4 system.

I got out the owners man. and looked at the fuse diagram and did not see anything that had to do with the 4x4. Is it called somthing else? I really want to buy this truck but would like the 4x4 to work.


Thanks

There are known issues with both the controller and the shift motor. One or the other isn't working, and the controller is smart enough to know its not going into 4x4, so it blinks the lights. I'd start with the shift motor.

Check fuses #10, 26 and 27 in the fuse box inside the cab.

Check fuse #3 in the fuse box under the hood, driver's side.

There's also a relay in a relay box located under the dash, to the right of the steering column.

4x4 problem
 

Do you think it would be safe to buy this truck with out costing me lots of money to fix the 4x4 problem?

Thanks

its hard to tell.... i wouldnt touch it because there is a problem that could be caused by other problems. i think its best to make them fix it and then buy it

Matt

+1 Fordboy. If lets say, the transfer case is grinding in 4X4, all someone has to do is pull the relay and tell a buyer that it worked fine last time he used it and hope someone buys it thinking it was just a fuse.

Fred

More Details on 4x4 problem
 

Ok guys. I bought the truck last night......but wait...i got a really great deal!! $2000 bucks for a 1 owner 98 Ranger 4x4 reg cab XLT stick 3.0 130,XXX miles So i can afford to stick a little money into it. I just need to know where to stick it.

More details.. The 4HI and 4LOW lights blink 6 times and then go off for about 2 min and then blink 6 times again. its always 6 times. Is this some kind of code? (rubydist) said it could be the shift motor or the controller, where are these located?

Thanks for the replies.

Wow, great deal! Welcome to the Ranger community.

Unfortunately it doesn't work that way regarding 4WD-related trouble coes. Those kind of codes must be read by a special scanner tool that only a few shops and the Ford dealer would have. Did you check the fuses/relays?

4x4 problem
 

I checked all the fuses with no luck. About the relay....how do i check it? The click that you should hear when you turn on the 4wd i assum is the relay under the dash right? I dont hear any click when i turn mine on. Would a bad relay cause the 4x4 lights to flash? I called three local ford dealers today about this and none of then knew nothing.....or nothing they wanted to tell me..Service department said they have seen this before but couldent tell me what causes this without bringing it in. They said bring it in and it will cost $200 to look at it. It seems like if the motor was bad on the transfer case the relay should still click when 4wd is turned on.

Thanks,

Yes, most any problem in the 4WD circuit will cause the 4x4 lights to flash.

The best I can do for you in terms of identifying the relay in the box under the dash is to pass along the colors of the wires that are connected to it:

- Yellow (Y)
- Brown (BR)
- Light Green /0range Stripe (LG/O)
- Light Green/Dark Green Stripe (LG/DG)

The Brown wire is the same wire that carries battery voltage (B+) to the transfer case motor when the 4WD switch is on. So you should probably start by checking to see if you are getting 12V to the TC motor on that color wire in the TC harness connector.


Time to crawl under your new truck and start getting dirty. ;)

4x4 problem
 

I will give this a try and let you know what i come up with. I have to figure this out now because if i dont i will put if off all summer. Then before you know it winter will be here with no 4wd.


Thanks

4x4 problem
 

Ok i replaced all three relays under the dash, changed nothing. I havent checked for power at the TC motor yet but i will tomorrow.

NEW UPDATE 4x4 issue
 

I checked the TC motor today for power and nothing. So i checked for power at the 4x4 switch dial and no power there either. I checked all fuses with no luck. What i have noticed is when the truck sits for a long period of time or when you unhook and reconnect the battery and get in and start it up the 4HI light stays on alone for about 15-20 seconds and then you hear a click-click-click sound (sounding like a relay) from under the dash and then both 4HI and 4Low lights begin to flash again. I put my finger on the relays in the black relay box under the dash to the right of the column and the click im hearing is not comming from them. Now if you shut the truck off and then restart only after a few minuts both 4hi and 4low lights start to flash right away with no clicking sound. I hope this is something simple im missing.

Thanks,