does my 4wd work?

[thelawgoddess]

i have a silly question. i just recently bought a 91 sport. last weekend we took it on a forest road that was covered with mud. i attempted to put it into 4wd, and the transfer case lever moved but it did not seem to engage. or at least i couldn't tell at all. bad news that mud! anyway, the dash indicator lights also did not go on. i have never had a 4wd vehicle before so i don't know what it is supposed to feel like. how can i tell if the transfer case shifter is working? (sorry if it's a dumb question!)

 

[hologram]

From your description you were most likely not in 4wd.
Put your transmition in neutral and try to move the T-case lever into 4wd low. You will be able to tell if it engages 4low. Also post more info, motor, tranny type, ect.
Weclome to the 4x4 world.

Seth

 

[KingOfTheHill]

take a full locked turn in 2wd... the do the same in 4wd... you'll feel the difference..

JOe

 

[thelawgoddess]

From your description you were most likely not in 4wd.
Put your transmition in neutral and try to move the T-case lever into 4wd low. You will be able to tell if it engages 4low. Also post more info, motor, tranny type, ect.
Weclome to the 4x4 world.

Seth

thanks! i will give it another try. (not sure what you all info you want about the motor but it is a 5-speed, 4-liter, 6-cylinder, with an ax-15 transmission.)

 

[schmiedel]

It seems to me as if your vacuum axle lock isn't working. If you engage 4L and the light doesn't come on, and you can do a full turn without feeling anything strange, you should start by inspecting your system:

In 4L you will feel your truck much "stronger" but "slower" at the same time; if that's the case, your transfer case seems to be working. Next would be to lift the vehicle and engage 4L, and see if the front diff is getting power. At this point you can be happy, as it's not related to your transfer case.


If it's so, check the wheels; if the left one turns a little bit (maybe or maybe not) and the right one stands still, you have a problem with the axle engagement system. It is a small box located on the axle at the passenger side. There are many tech articles in the forum explaining how to correct this. (search for posi lock, command track, vacuum, etc). However, I would not recommend you to get a OEM replacement for it, better check for aftermarket solutions because this system sucks.

Regards

 

[thelawgoddess]

thank you for your suggestions! i tried to shift the transfer lever into 4h as i left work last night and the lever moves but i really felt nothing different at all. i didn't want to give 4l a try until i can find a non-paved road and more room to mess around without having to worry about hitting something ... so i will give it more of a try this weekend and see if i can find out anything.

 

[steveC]

A short stretch in 4-low won't hurt, only prolonged driving will. The only prolonged thing you'll want to do in 4-low is trail crawling. Go ahead and try it (4L) in a parking lot, or a quiet residential street without traffic.

 

[Dirt]

AND PLEASE don't ever put your rig in 4 low while your driving it or giving it heavy throttle. if the 4wd is working you will definatley feel it doing a circle on pavement.

 

[thelawgoddess]

AND PLEASE don't ever put your rig in 4 low while your driving it or giving it heavy throttle. if the 4wd is working you will definatley feel it doing a circle on pavement.

do you mean i should put it in 4L while it's not moving? (the manual says to be going 2-3 mph so i wasn't sure if that meant that was the max speed at which i should be moving or if i should at least be moving but just very slowly.)

 

[Lawn Cher']

To engage 4-low, the vehicle should be in neutral but rolling slowly. Generally easier once it has been used quite a bit, or broken in as it were.

 

[gatorback]

my 90 you have to stop to to engage 4 low or it will only engage the t case and not the axle

 

[kennzz05]

nobody mentioned your gonna hear the gears mesh(or perhaps i shouldnt hear that on mine)just pull firmly on the handle even if you hear grinding it will go if your firm with it guess i should have noticed the post date