Fellow 12V 4x4 owners

I just had some questions and a concern about my 4wd system in the truck. How often do you all use your 4wd on the truck is question number one? is it ok to engage it once a month? or once a week at that to make sure that it is working? or is it best to just use it when you need it?

This came about because today i lost my 4 wheel drive. not a good week so far.. I decided to head to the pens and there is a really sharp gravely turn that will not forgive you, i was forced to take it due to all the semi's that were switchin cattle. No problem i shifted into 4wd, no indicator light came on, hmm maybe it needs to be driven a lil ways for it to engage, as i have had this problem before. It didnt engage and almost wound up stuck in a nasty gravel area in the pens..

Now im certain that this has somethin to do with teh vaccum pressure not engaging the 4wd, the light didnt come on, I just got my truck home and parked it in teh garage, I had replaced ONE HOSE, the one that reaches some breather by the lower left hand corner of the chassis, and goes around towards the top of the transfer case around the electronic(?) hookup present at the top of the T case. Yall know that three or four prong dealy that hooks to the top?

My question is, am i missing a hose on here? Im not familiar if there are TWO HOSES present on the transfer case or just that one that needs replacing? Is there a fuse for 4wd? Remeber i have a dud pcm right now and my new one will get here on wednesday. Or is the actuator the one that went bad? If im not mistaken isnt the actuator the one on the passenger side of the axle with a hose (air or vaccum) leading up to somewhere in the engine?

I shifted into 4 wd and listen hard, i kinda heard a hissing sound like the pressure was tryin to be created. I went down and grabbed the "breather" hose and it felt very minorly pressurized.. I tried to spin the t case, and it wouldnt move so easily as when it was off 4wd. I have all afternoon tomorrow to work on this, I just use my 4wd once at random, (not so often as random during deer season or when it rains in south tx, which is few and far between) and this is the first time it has failed on me this way.

Have i lost vaccum pressure? should that hose be replaced? or has my actuator hit the sticks.. Any ideas fellas? thanks!

Your friend

Tx

 

guys?

anyone have any idea or suggestions? Help..

Tx

 

My truck isa 98, but most likely about the same ???? It is at home with the wife today, so I'm going from memory. First, the T-case is manually shifted by the lever. There should be two hoses going to the vac motor on your front axle. That connection, at least on mine, has proven to be a little bit of a booger. You might check that.

I use my 4x4 every couple weeks or so at the very least. Sometimes, it seems to be a little slower than others.

If you can't get any for sure routings and answers, I'll be glad to check tonight when I get home.

Won't be able to get on the computer at home. Still rounding up parts since a BIG lightning hit.

If you want, PM me a phone and I'll get back to you. Would be around 7 pm my time.

Ed

 

From the T-case selector switch I have 2 vac lines that go to the front axle shift, and 2 that go to the eng comp and one of those is a vac source, I think the other line is probably a vent to a clean area. If you hear a vac leak just track it down and fix it. The light for 4x4 is turned on by the switch on the front axle. Hope this helps

 

Hmm comp?

that explains ALOT.. my pcm just got shot...

Tx

 

Sherod..

You were right about that connection. I get vaccum from both of the little hoses on the transfer case that connect to the steel lines, MY PROBLEM WAS i was not gettin any vaccum at the little motor.. I did find a leak which happened to be at the steel lines, the lower one is somewhat rusted enough that it has already been damaged...

Im not gonna mess around with fixing an unreliable system. Being as my deer lease is a sand bowl, and for my job with usda i run across the occasional bad road.. its a good thing i found it didnt work right now, i still need to install a comp, but I already found for 200 bucks that posi lock kit on summit racing thanks to a fellow member who has it already. Im gonna look into buying that and doin away with the goofy vaccum action.. and i get a 2 low option as well.....

Ill let u guys know how it turns out when i order it and install it.. thanks!!

Tx

 

where can you get the posi lock kit from???

 

Summit racing has them, have a good day and thanks!

Tx