A friend has a 2003 Rancher ES. It will sometimes get locked in the higher gears and won't downshift. They either have to shut it down and let it sit for a few minutes, or shift it with the Mickey Mouse add-on shift lever. Any ideas? Thanks. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

That model has self diagnostics with a memory. It likely has left an error code. You need access to a shop manual to sort out the "how to", but it's not hard to do. Without that resource, it's pretty hard to do anything but check connectors and battery terminals.

 

It's been back to the dealer. They claim they can't fix it if it doesn't happen while they have it there. Another stupid dealer?

 

Make sure the oil level is good, and the proper type of oil is used.
Also, do a clutch adjustment, surprisingly, that causes alot of the es problems.

 

The only time i ever had any problem with my ES was when i got mud and dirt in the shift buttons. If this happens it jams the buttons to where they want pop back out after you press them to shift up and down. When the buttons don't pop back out it will not shift. Hope this helps!

BeerDude

 

Thanks for the ideas, any others?

 

Your not giving us much to go on. Do you get a dashed line across the gear indicator when it happens? Does the speedo read funny just before it happens? Is there any info in the self diagnostics? Keep in mind when you use the emergency shifter your self diagnostics should indicate an angle sensor circuit problem. You need to narrow it down. If there is nothing in the self diagnostic memory, and you don't get the dashed line where your gear indicator normally is (ESP senses an error of some sort). It could be a mechanical problem, such as a weak shift motor, problem with the tran linkage, or clutch adjustment to name a few.

 

i can answer that question with no problem. i've fixed that problem on 2 ranchers now, including one on this site! but first things first! does the speedo still work or will it read 0mph no matter how fast your going?

 

does it do it when the engine is running or stopped

 

Just talked to the guy; the speedo still works but the gear indicator does have dashed lines across the screen.