I have a 1997 Ram 1500... My 4wd is not working correctly and I was wondering if I could get anybody's input on it... I've only tried shifting into 4wd while sitting still. I pull back into 4H while in park, shift into either R or D and go but the 4H never engages. I can shift to N and pull it back into 4L and goes into 4L with ease and appears to do as it should driving at a low speed in my yard. When I go to shift it back out of 4L I put it back into N and try to go to 4H and then back to 2wd but it won't go to 4H so I have to do whatever I can to get it back to 2wd. Any ideas of what my problem is? Also my 4wd light never comes on but I do know for a fact that the 4L is doing fine. Thanks

 

I might be wrong but iv'e always shifted into 4X4 in drive rolling or in neutral I don't think you can engage it in park.
Also it is hard to shift these into and out of 4X4 anyway gotta move thru the settings quick and hard.

 

OK that could explain it. I also have a 4runner in which I've always shifted to 4H in Park and 4L in Neutral. I assumed the truck would be the same. I bought it for $2000 from a friend. It has around 140k miles. Thought it was a good deal so I snatched it up. My first Dodge... I like it I just hope the 4wd problem is operator error (me) and not the transfer case or front differential. Thanks

 

It's a shift on the fly system, so try this: While rolling at 50MPH or less in 2HI, shift the transmission into neutral, then shift the transfer case to 4HI in a swift but not too forceful manner. The 4WD indicator lamp should light within, oh, two seconds. Shifting back to 4HI is the same thing.

Going to 4LO should be done rolling, in neutral, at less than three MPH.

 

Np I've owned a good amount of chryslers with the same set up, the transfer case we have is for shift on the fly. My owners manual says you can shift from 2hi to 4hi at speeds of up to 55mph although I wouldn't recommend that lol.

 

I understand that it's a shift on the fly system but just one question. If a person was stuck in the mud and needed to shift to 4wd wouldn't the shift on the fly be useless? I mean the system would also need to be able to shift from a stand still too right? Sorry for my ignorance on this subject, I'm just trying to learn this stuff.... Thanks

 

It will try to go in at a stand still but if the axles in the front aren't lined up perfect it will fight it. Thats what I understand anyway.

 

Shift on the fly just means that the gears are synchronized going from 2hi to 4hi, and you don't have to get out and lock the hubs.

The light should come on eventually, regardless if you are moving or not when you shift. Problem becomes, the front axle is vacuum actuated, and there is a vacuum motor that slides a collar to lock the passenger side axle halves together. If the light isn't coming on at all, chances are, you have a vacuum problem. Also, when sitting still, if the splines aren't quite lined up.... the collar won't lock the axles, you will have to 'slip' a bit to get it to engage. (give is a bit of gas so the inner axle rotates, then the collar will line up.)

To shift into 4Lo, be rolling just a bit, 3mph tops, shift to 4hi first, and then YANK the stick over and back into 4Lo. If you hesitate, and get caught in neutral, shut off the engine, then put it in 4Lo.

You probably have vacuum issues. Check the lines at the CAD unit on the front axle. In 2Hi, there should be vacuum to the outboard port. In 4wd, there should be vacuum at the inboard port. If you don't have that, need to find out why.

 

Yup that right, that why I liked my old 89 f150 with manual front hubs, just lock them before you go play in the mud, once you get stuck just shift the t-case to 4hi/lo, and climb out!

 

ok cool man I'm gonna give it a shot while rolling... My luck I'll pull it back going 10 or 15mph and tear the transfer case out LOL