1996 Ford Ranger Owner's Manual - Page 171

Driving Your Ranger With the transfer case in N (Neutral), the vehicle is free to move with either the automatic transmission in P (Park) or with the manual transmission in any driving gear. RWARNING Do not leave the vehicle unattended with the transfer case in the N (Neutral) position. Always set the parking brake fully and turn off the ignition when leaving the vehicle. To shift from N (Neutral) to either 4H or 4L, stop the vehicle and engage the parking brake. Place the automatic transmission into N (Neutral) or depress the clutch on manual transmission vehicles. Push the transfer case shift lever to the desired position. If it is difficult to shift into either 4H or 4L, it may be necessary to let the vehicle roll slightly and/or turn off the engine (particularly on vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions). 4WD Systems - Select Drive Electric Shift The select drive electric shift system functions in three modes. In two-wheel drive mode, power is delivered only to the rear axle at normal road speed. The 4x4 HIGH position provides four-wheel drive with power delivered to the front and rear axles for increased traction. The 4x4 LOW position provides four-wheel drive with power delivered to the front and rear axles when above average power is required at reduced speeds. Four-wheel drive operation (4x4 HIGH or 4x4 LOW) on dry pavement is not recommended. Operating the vehicle in four-wheel drive on dry pavement will increase noise, vibration, tire wear, decrease fuel economy, and make four-wheel drive disengagement difficult for the transfer case. 171