4wd not engaging

[TheDurk]

I am also having a problem with the 4wd system. Seems like everyone that has is using the automatic.

To add to the discussion, what is this TC people keep referring too. I have isolated the problem, and it seems that there is no signal coming from the J shifter to tell the VSV to switch vacuum. Hopefully this isnt a major fix. Thank you for your input.

TC= Transfer Case

Next thing to check are the sending switches on the TC. These are located high up on the rear of the case and unscrew, but they are a PIA to get to (PIA= pain in the ass). They unscrew and then you can check if they provide continuity when the ball is depressed.

 

[MR.H]

thanks for the guidance, sounds like you are referring to multiple switches. I found one switch on the top side towards the rear of the shifter. Firstly are there more than one switch, and checking the switch resistance it measured around 25 Ohms when closed, not quite a short circuit so do you think the switch is bad? We also tried to short the circuit by bypassing the switch, but this did not solve the problem, so not sure what to look for next.

Appreciate your insights and assistance.

 

[TheDurk]

thanks for the guidance, sounds like you are referring to multiple switches. I found one switch on the top side towards the rear of the shifter. Firstly are there more than one switch, and checking the switch resistance it measured around 25 Ohms when closed, not quite a short circuit so do you think the switch is bad? We also tried to short the circuit by bypassing the switch, but this did not solve the problem, so not sure what to look for next.

Appreciate your insights and assistance.

Unless you have a 5-speed, I am not much help from here on because the autos have different switch and relay setups and I only know my own rig. Although I think you should have at least two as mine does. I would call 25Ω a bad switch. I just don't know if it is bad enough to cause the problem. 2Ω or 3Ω is what I think you should see (or less).

By the way, did you try both 4H and 4L? On the 5-speed the switches are separate--one on each side of the TC, so if you were shorting the more or less good one and the problem was on the other, you would get the result you did, which is nothing.

 

[MR.H]

Unless you have a 5-speed, I am not much help from here on because the autos have different switch and relay setups and I only know my own rig. Although I think you should have at least two as mine does. I would call 25Ω a bad switch. I just don't know if it is bad enough to cause the problem. 2Ω or 3Ω is what I think you should see (or less).

By the way, did you try both 4H and 4L? On the 5-speed the switches are separate--one on each side of the TC, so if you were shorting the more or less good one and the problem was on the other, you would get the result you did, which is nothing.

Should have clarified that its a 5spd.
Well found the other switch, dont know why I didnt see it. Used the same method of shorting it and it worked! So, now what needs to be replaced, just the one that made it work, or both since Im getting a bad reading off the other as well?

 

[TheDurk]

Should have clarified that its a 5spd.
Well found the other switch, dont know why I didnt see it. Used the same method of shorting it and it worked! So, now what needs to be replaced, just the one that made it work, or both since Im getting a bad reading off the other as well?

It depends on how much work is involved for you. They aren't cheap and I don't know of a good generic substitute. NAPA only has the reverse switch for the tranny. I guess I'd just do the bad one and see if that resolves it. I'm still running my original switches. But as I said, test both 4H and 4L, as one switch does one and one does the other.