4X4 engagement troubles
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4X4 engagement troubles
hello;
i have a '97 ram i just bought. this weekend i changed out the rear shaft u-joints. while the shaft was out i needed to move the vehicle, i started it up, shifted into 4h and put it in drive...front shaft spun, speedo showed movement, no 4wd light came on, i went nowhere, in fact i rolled backwards.
i think it may be the actuator but i am not sure. a test light shows power at the actuator plug.
i noticed a vacuum line on the top of the actuator, it goes up to the inner fender and is capped off with a plastic 'breather'...doesn't vacuum operate the hubs as well as elec?...where does the vacuum come from? on all other 4wd's i've owned, the breather cap is on top of the housing by the pumpkin.
i pulled the dash to make sure 4wd lightbulb wasn't burned out, its not.
before i replace the actuator, is there anything else i should check...ie: another sensor someplace, etc...
can aftermarket manual hubs be added to alieviate this problem?
i will add this but don't know if it has anything to do with it, ie: maybe on same fuse link, etc...the cruise doesn't work, the switch lights up but it won't engage...
the trans was just rebuilt by AAMCO just after i bought it.
the transfer case is working, shifting it into 4h or 4l with the rear shaft on works just as if it was in 4h/4l, but when turning the wheel hard left or hard right, no hop/skip so front hubs are not engaged...
i appreciate any feedback anyone can give.
thank you.
*edit*
i appreciate all the replies...can't afford the dynatrac parts, this was their reply:
"Hi Michael,
- Free Spin Hub Conversion Kit = $1,989.00
- Stage 2 Inner Axle Shaft Kit (CAD Delete) = $595.00
- Shipping: Free if you call me direct to order"
just too much for me for a truck I only paid $1,000 for. i figured it was the actuator and priced one at autozone for $100. i have always had dodge diesels before this, a '96, a 2001, and (2) 2004's...the last gas one i had was a '95 and it was my 1st, so i'm actually going backwards i guess, lol. and thank you for the welcome to the forum....i will be monitoring it as long as i own a dodge as with 184,xxx miles on the truck, i have a feeling nit-picky troubles with it are not in my rearview mirror but instead in my front windshield, so to speak. i am still deciding between a new actuator ($100) or a posi-loc ($200)...i live in sw missouri now and will only use the 4wd when the freezing rain turns to ice, but will eventually be moving back north where it will be used during the winters...so am still deciding, but again, i appreciate all the replies and info.
i have a '97 ram i just bought. this weekend i changed out the rear shaft u-joints. while the shaft was out i needed to move the vehicle, i started it up, shifted into 4h and put it in drive...front shaft spun, speedo showed movement, no 4wd light came on, i went nowhere, in fact i rolled backwards.
i think it may be the actuator but i am not sure. a test light shows power at the actuator plug.
i noticed a vacuum line on the top of the actuator, it goes up to the inner fender and is capped off with a plastic 'breather'...doesn't vacuum operate the hubs as well as elec?...where does the vacuum come from? on all other 4wd's i've owned, the breather cap is on top of the housing by the pumpkin.
i pulled the dash to make sure 4wd lightbulb wasn't burned out, its not.
before i replace the actuator, is there anything else i should check...ie: another sensor someplace, etc...
can aftermarket manual hubs be added to alieviate this problem?
i will add this but don't know if it has anything to do with it, ie: maybe on same fuse link, etc...the cruise doesn't work, the switch lights up but it won't engage...
the trans was just rebuilt by AAMCO just after i bought it.
the transfer case is working, shifting it into 4h or 4l with the rear shaft on works just as if it was in 4h/4l, but when turning the wheel hard left or hard right, no hop/skip so front hubs are not engaged...
i appreciate any feedback anyone can give.
thank you.
*edit*
i appreciate all the replies...can't afford the dynatrac parts, this was their reply:
"Hi Michael,
- Free Spin Hub Conversion Kit = $1,989.00
- Stage 2 Inner Axle Shaft Kit (CAD Delete) = $595.00
- Shipping: Free if you call me direct to order"
just too much for me for a truck I only paid $1,000 for. i figured it was the actuator and priced one at autozone for $100. i have always had dodge diesels before this, a '96, a 2001, and (2) 2004's...the last gas one i had was a '95 and it was my 1st, so i'm actually going backwards i guess, lol. and thank you for the welcome to the forum....i will be monitoring it as long as i own a dodge as with 184,xxx miles on the truck, i have a feeling nit-picky troubles with it are not in my rearview mirror but instead in my front windshield, so to speak. i am still deciding between a new actuator ($100) or a posi-loc ($200)...i live in sw missouri now and will only use the 4wd when the freezing rain turns to ice, but will eventually be moving back north where it will be used during the winters...so am still deciding, but again, i appreciate all the replies and info.
Last edited by junkyarddogfan; May 11, 2010 at 01:20 PM. Reason: add info
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you can take the vac lines off the actuator and have someone shift it into 4x4 and see if you have vac going to the actuator first. if you do then yur actuator is more than likely shot.
