4wd shifter

[Shurick]

When I put the car in 4wd the little green light indicating thatthe truck is in 4wd does not usually turn on. Once in a while it will either turn on while I'm driving or sometimes when I shift into it. Most of the time the light never goes on. Is this something that I need to worry about?

I've notice the truck behaving slightly differently when the light is on versus when its off.

I'm starting to get concerned. some background, its a 97 5spd SR5 with about 75k on the clock. It runs pretty good over all, but does have some aging electrical issues it appears. I jsut baught this truck so I'm learing about all the little things that are not working quite right.

Thanks a mil
Alex

 

[yellow1342]

green 4wd light

mine is on when 4wd engaged. no other knowledge about how the light effect to gear!

 

[mc959]

It kinda sounds like the light is accurate in telling you when it's engaged or not, but it's hard to tell. You should try to find some way to test it when you think it's engaged but the light isn't on. I've noticed on all the 4x4 vehicles I've owned that you can't turn as sharp when it's engaged, there is usually more resistance the tighter you try to turn. You could experiment with that, or go find yourself some mud! My last Subaru had a delay in engaging the light, and I'm pretty sure it was accurate too. That was a push button electric control though, I'm not sure how the lever on the T4R works, but it seems more manual..

 

[Shurick]

Interesting you mention the car feeling tighter when 4wd light is on. This definately happens when the light eventually turn on. THe thing is, when i put the shifter into 4wd, all 4 wheels drive as opposed to just the rears (i tested this in the snow), but it does feel more "solid" when the light goes on. Before the light turns on I am able to turn without the car bogging down much. Hmmmm.

 

[Lexusbstrdchild]

its actually only the right rear that does the work in 2wd, and when its in 4wd it engages the front left as well. so its not really all 4 wheels doing the work. if that helps in figuring out if its working or not.

 

[Shurick]

its actually only the right rear that does the work in 2wd, and when its in 4wd it engages the front left as well. so its not really all 4 wheels doing the work. if that helps in figuring out if its working or not.

is this true? Something doesn't sound right. If I understand it correctly it's only 1 wheel drive in 2wd mode?

 

[Shurick]

It kinda sounds like the light is accurate in telling you when it's engaged or not, but it's hard to tell. You should try to find some way to test it when you think it's engaged but the light isn't on. I've noticed on all the 4x4 vehicles I've owned that you can't turn as sharp when it's engaged, there is usually more resistance the tighter you try to turn. You could experiment with that, or go find yourself some mud! My last Subaru had a delay in engaging the light, and I'm pretty sure it was accurate too. That was a push button electric control though, I'm not sure how the lever on the T4R works, but it seems more manual..

I've paid more attention to this and what is happening is when i put the 4wd shifter to 4HI the 4wd system does not engage until the green light goes on. once the light pops on the steering become MUCH more tougher to steer. Once the light is on, the system works just fine. Sometimes it seems like when turning tight with 4wd engaged something might break because the turning feels extremely rough.

When I have the wheels turned all the way with with 4wd engaged and try to drive forward for a bit, then shift to 2wd, the light doesn't go off until the wheels are straitened out.

 

[Lexusbstrdchild]

is this true? Something doesn't sound right. If I understand it correctly it's only 1 wheel drive in 2wd mode?

yes. unless your vehicle has posi (positraction, where both rears actually do the work) if you peel out across a lawn say in 2wd, there will be only one skid mark. but if you do it in 4wd, you will get one from the left front, and right rear. try it out on a buddy's lawn lol.

 

[Shurick]

Can someone give me an accurate description of that a 97 SR5 5spd is supposed to do while in 4wd and making a sharp turn? Something doesn't feel right to me. It is very tight and jerkey and if don't rev hard enough the car will definately stall. Is this normal?

 

[lee]

its normal. its the differential being locked... each tire is spinning differently and at a different speed.