The other day when I was changing the fuel filter on my new to me 96 1 ton, I found a vacuum line dangling. I posted the inquiry, and Tony helped me figure out where it went, and I hooked it back up. But Tony said some things that got me checking further. He said that vacuum line controls things like the cruise control, 4wd, and defrost control.
Well my cruise control still doesn't work (the light does, but thats it). My vents other than defrost do work, And I thought my 4wd worked, but now I am not sure. The 2wh/4wh/n/4wl level moves and grinds gears and engages when I pull it one way or the other. I checked that out when I bought the truck, and assumed that the 4wd was working. Now, as I look closer, I see that the 4wd light on the dash doesn't come on when I put it in 4wd, so maybe I only thought it worked. I haven't had the opportunity to take it on a gravel road and floor it to see if both front and rear light up if I get on it. My old ford 4wd kind of lurched at slow speeds and tight turning radius when in 4wd. This truck doesn't, which makes me think it doesn't work.
So what does the vacuum have to do with 4wd?
I bought a Chilton book for this truck. What a piece of crap. The vaccum charts on it are such fine print they are not understandable. Any better books out there so I can quit asking bonehead questions?

 

Your 4wd acctuator or CAD(central axle disconnect) is opperated by vaccume. Check and make sure all your lines are hooked up to the acctuator. The actuator is located on the backside of your frontaxle between front diff and passenger side balljoints. Hope this helps.

 

What is the purpose of the central axel disconnect? What does it do that the transfer box doesn't do?

 

central axel disconnect instead of locking hubs (i think)

 

Yes, its so you dont have to get out (like on fords) and lock the hubs. Get a vaccum gauge and hook it into one of the tees on the firewall and see if it holds/makes vac. Not exactly sure, how much vac. is normal. I will look in my FSM later.
Maybe infidel will chime in, its seems as though he has the FSM embedded in his brain.
You should go on genosgarage and order a Factory Service Manual. It is well worth the money.

 

As for your cruise control.. look under the drivers battery,, thats where the cruise is and I will bet you the vacuum line is rotted off. THis is a common thing as the battery drips some and it destroys the line. Replace the line and I will bet your cruise control will work again.

 

Was the Central Axle Disconnect an option or was it standard on all 4WD 96 trucks? Now I have to crawl under the truck again tonight......

AND I still haven't found any horns on this thing! a dehorned Ram, who woulda thunk it.

 

CAD is standard on all 4x4 trucks, Your hubs and outer axles turn all the time and when 4x4 is enguaged the shift fork inside the accuator slides over and connects the inner to the outer axle making it 4x4.

 

LOL, Horns are under the plastic front inner fender liner on the drivers side.

 

Thanks for the guidance - I'll look there again...I'm seeing a funny little something with wires coming out of them, one on each side, down on the splash guard/subframe, but they look more like a relay of some sort. All I know for sure is that the horn relay in the mains box works, but no horn noise comes out anyplace - not even a sick mud-choked squeak. Without a FSM for this truck I am flying quite blind - the aftermarket Haynes "service manual" is next to useless for this one.

Oh, I looked at your photos of the Nova, Patdaly - wowzers..... bet that little thing romps!