hello everyone

I am new to the forum and to dodge. I have inherited a 2001 dodge ram 1500 4x4 with the 5.9 V8... I have never owned a 4 wheel drive so I dont have much experience with it. the issue i am having is that the 4 wheel low works fine but I have no 4 wheel low when i got under the truck i found that the vacum lines were disconnected the was my grandfathers hunting truck and is still in good shape just some minor issues. the 4 wheel drive has a shifter in the floor the but the truck is automatic. should there be a light that shows on the dash that lets me know when i am in 4 wheel drive iether in low or high? any help getting of info on this would be helpful.

 

Yep.
The vacuum lines run from the transfer case to the front axle CAD (Center Axle Disconnect). The CAD actually fully engages the front axle into the whole system. By having the vacuum lines missing, your t-case is spinning in 4WD, but the axle is not engaged.

Hope that answers part of your question and WELCOME TO DF!

 

thanks for the reply

Do the vacum lines run it in both 4 low and 4 high or is that just for 4 high? I connected them up the problem is I don't know which one goes to witch metal line there is a red vacum line and a black one with rubber push on vacum connectors. I plan on getting the manual to it soon a break down book of everything. i had the typical blend door problem with ac switching to hot cause the door was broke and found the quick fix for it so i didn't have to get into the dash. Now it's getting the 4x4 straight. again thanks for the replies

 

Everything you didn't want to know about dodge four wheel drive.

You can download the 01 service manual from the faq section here.

At the front axle, the outboard line should have vacuum in two wheel drive, inboard should have vacuum in 4 Hi or Lo. There is a light in the dash that comes on when the front axle engages to tell you that things are hooked up.

Welcome to DF.

 

I have bought a 2800 page manual offline that is a more in depth manual to the one here.... I thank you for the help but I did not find a fuse for the 4x4 and i hooked the vacum lines up but still no 4 wheel drive or light on the dash just confused where the darn fuse is it's driving me nuts. i've never had one so i would like to get it off road LOL. thanks for the help I love the forum.

 

Apparently, there is no fuse for the 4wd switch. Voltage is sent from the ABS controller, to the switch. When the circuit completes, the switch simply grounds the wire..... so, the abs controller gets a clue. There is a driver in the I/C for the lite..... the wiring diagram looks kinda bizarre. I am not entirely sure just how that system works......

Need to verify your vacuum at the cad. Outboard port in 2wd, inboard port in 4wd. (either flavor, hi or lo.) If you don't have that, nothing else matters. If you DO have that, need to pull the cad off the axle, and see if the shift fork actually moves, and is engaged properly in the collar that locks the axles together.

 

Did you check vacuum at the 2 lines that go to CAD per the link that was posted?

 

I have not checked the line pressure on them yet plan on doing that this afternoon. Been busy with things. I am figureing that the cad might be locked up from not moveing for 6 years LOL. but I am am going to check the vacum lines they have been unhooked for 6 years also so it's a throw up of which I will get back to here with results. thanks for at least getting me in the right direction.

 

Check the vac at those 2 lines first. Per the link. May just be the switch on top of the transfer case.

 

thanks for the info I have not been able to check yet but the lines i found loose are from the transfer case side I am hoping that is it I have not had time to check been getting other things cleaned and fixed first seein 4 wheel is not a big deal right now but soon it will be thanks sorry for long delay I love all the help and people here