My 2005 ranger 500 awd will not engage when you flip the switch. Switch lights up and after a few hundred yards it kicks in. But I may not need awd then. Any idea what could be causing this? Thamks

 

Awd ground circuit went through the speedo on the atvs and believe the same thing on the Rangers. Intermittent ground problems were solved on the atvs by jumping the brown/white wire to the brown in the speedo harness connector,which bypasses the speedo. See if that helps on the light plus there is that old mechanical problem also of plastic roller cages cracking.When this happens front shafts could lock up or the awd wouldn't engage. Here's a good manual for your model that can help on electrical and mechanical checks and repairs. You don't say if you have efi or a carb model so here's both.2005 Polaris Ranger 500 4X4 EFI Service Manual PDF Download 2005 Polaris Ranger 500 4X4 CARB Service Manual PDF Download

 

My 05 does not have a speedometer, very basic...

 

Oh yes, I remember now.. And I believe the difference between I think the 2003 and 2004 was the later model had a glove box. They called it a type 10 I think. Any way the schematic in the manual can help on wiring problems if that's the case. Also addresses the plastic roller cages.