Hello, i got a 99 ram 1500 that recently have been having trouble with the four wheel drive working. When it is engaged, the front drive shaft turns, so transfercase should be all good, but the axle wont engage. I checked the vacuum lines and i had vacuum, so i assumed it was the actuator, so i replaced that ($100) but the 4 wheel drive still wont engage. I checked the vacuum again and this time couldn't feel anything.... so what do you guys think, should i try to figure out whats up with this vacuum system or cut my losses and get the posi-lok deal? Thanks!

 

you should have bought the cheaper 4wd selector switch ($15) first, its the one on the x-case, and the lines run to the front axle. also since you were messing with it before you might have cracked a vacuum line.

when i first bought my truck the 4x4 wouldnt work either, replaced said switch and 4wd works every time.

 

Ok, thanks for the advise. After replacing that motor itd be nice to use it, lol. Do you know how hard that switch is to replace?

 

Don't replace anything else, unless you know for a fact that it is bad. Simply throwing parts at something until it starts working isn't the best plan.... and can get very expensive, for what might be as simple as a vacuum leak.

Check to see if you are getting vacuum to the front axle, and if you aren't, find out why not. THEN fix it.

 

i changed mine out in 10 mins with a crescent wrench and some pb blaster.

fyi its the switch on top of the tcase with all the lines running to it, remove the lines, remove all the dirt and mudd from around the switch, replace the switch and reinstall the vac lines. they can only go on one way.