Ford ranger question

[Orchard]

How we doing?

I have a question about a 57 ford ranger I am looking to buy was hoping someone can help.

Firstly are they a mazda with a ford badge or are they ford born and built?

The other thing when I put it into 4 low or 4 high the green symbol comes up on the dash and below it it says RFW, can someone please explain what it means? I thought it was diff lock but it won't switch off even when I press the RFW button on the dash board? I thought it would be optional whether it was on or off but the light on the dash seems to suggest it's on as soon as you put it in 4 low or high?

Thanks in advance!

[54gka]

Got that RFW on mine.The switch is to turn it on and off and i think when its on you can engage the 4x4 with out having to stop.When i had a new clutch fitted to mine it came back with the RFW light on took it back to garage and they didn't know why its on and said take it to Fords i just left it and sold the truck as it was.Got an 08 now and the RFW switch and 4x4 stopped working now.

[ballibeg]

Google says...

 

The Ranger has remote free-wheeling hubs to disconnect the front wheels from the front axle when 4wd is disengaged, reducing rolling resistance and hence tyre wear and fuel consumption.*

 

When you engage 4wd initially (when stationary) the free wheeling hubs engage automatically. Once these are engaged it is possible to shift between 2H and 4H and back when moving (e.g. when going between solid road and snow, since without a centre differential you can't safely drive the Ranger on-road in 4x4).*

 

This is why the free-wheeling hubs do not disengage automatically. To disengage them you press the RFW switch. This is the only time this switch does anything. If you drive > 60mph the RFW light will flash to remind you to press the button to disengage the free wheeling hubs.

[normandylumberjack]

These are nothing but trouble in my experience, It disengages the free wheel hubs to the front once out of 4x4, instead of the old style where you had to get out and turn a dial on each end of the front axel.

 

Its not easy to diagnose the exact fault or fix it would seem. Avoid

 

Have a search on here and google about it and you will see I am not the only one

[Mountain man]

God I don't miss disengaging the front hubs by hand one little bit!

Never had a problem anywhere along the drive train of my 2005 ranger.

[scraggs]

I would prefer manual free wheeling hubs on my ranger, the diff lock coming on automatically when you engage 4wd is a ridiculous idea, at least then you could use low range when pulling away on the road by just disengaging the hubs.

Can be bought but quite expensive.

[muttley9050]

Never had a problem with my 05 either. I would of thought problems arise when people try to engage 4wd whilst moving without the rfw already locked.

[hamdogg]

With mine I engage 4wd on my ranger I make sure I'm stationary and even I disengage it I reverse up a little while doing it!!

[dig-dug-dan]

Ford own mazda I believe, hence they are both the same

[Mountain man]

I serviced my Ranger today, got the filters from the Mazda dealer as they're cheaper.