4 wheel drive problem

[benjaminlaw]

i have a 1990 ford ranger. it has the electronic push button 4wheel drive. it has been working great for the past year out in the mud. now it is about 20 degrees here and i used it on the ice and now the automatic locking hubs will not unlock. any sugestions.thanks

[second chance]

If the o rings that fit to the outside of the hub have let water in they may have to warm to unlock. I had this happen on a 93.

[DangerRanger86]

On any ford ranger you will have problems with automatic locking hubs. convert it to manual locks and you will be problem free for a long time!

[ABE]

Originally Posted by benjaminlaw

i have a 1990 ford ranger. it has the electronic push button 4wheel drive. it has been working great for the past year out in the mud. now it is about 20 degrees here and i used it on the ice and now the automatic locking hubs will not unlock. any sugestions.thanks

I am not familiar with that particular transmission, but I think the front axle(s) are meshed with the differential using an electrical solenoid to move a gear inside the differential. If this is your case there will not be any locking or unlocking of the hubs, they will be fixed in drive. I hear that mud and cold cause a high load on the solenoid unit and it fails to move the gear. Cleaning and/or warming the front axle area may free up the unit to work.

Just an alternative thought .

[gixxer32404]

try backing up?? i thought that unlocked autohubs.