Regarding 4hi/lo when real wheels are spinning

[jrivs4x4tb]

So this past weekend I was driving through what looked like an ice filled mud puddle when my rear left wheel broke through a big piece of ice leaving it just hanging there. So of course having an open diff my rear wasn't going anywhere so I put it in neutral and 4low and that did nothing , then 4 hi and still nothing... I'm pretty new to offroading so I don't know why the front wheels never moved as the rear left just spun up mud and that's it.. so yeah is there a problem with my front diff or is this normal

[Grimor]

I could be wrong but I think you have a problem. maybe your front disconnect? I tested my 4wd buy jacking the rear completely off the ground and then dragging the truck forward with only the front wheels.

When you switch to 4wd, does the switch look like it's working? flashing then goes solid?

[ErikSS]

http://www.offroadtb.com/articles/tech- ... wd-system/

[jrivs4x4tb]

Yeah it makes the mechanical sound and I can hear it click in and out of 4wd when I change it all lights indicate proper function and when it is in 4wd it definitely feels like it is (harder to accelerate while doing sharp turns etc

[jrivs4x4tb]

When I got my flat tire out in az it was in 4wd when we changed it and the right front was off the ground and when I went to pull the lug nuts off It only moved maybe an inch and then it locked up so I'm pretty sure the 4wd engages

[jrivs4x4tb]

New lead! It will go into 4 lo but not 4 hi.. any ideas?

[DirtyBacon04]

have you followed the flow chart that Erik posted? your first post sounds like your disco is inop. but your 2nd and 3rd post sounds like it's engaging.
If it's correctly engaging in 4lo, but not 4hi; I'd suspect your 4wd switch. leaving the truck off, turn it from 2hi to 4lo about 20-30 times to clean the contacts.

[jrivs4x4tb]

No I can hear it engage at 3 very setting, doesn't the transmission go to a low gear in 4 low? Giving it the illusion that 4lo work when it really doesnt?

[jrivs4x4tb]

Every setting*

[ErikSS]

The transmission does nothing different when you are in 4lo. The lower gear ratio happens in the transfer case.

[jrivs4x4tb]

Ok so the transfer case seems to be working well because I can definitely feel it..

Looks like I'll be doing the awd mod so that this doesn't happen again
http://m.ebay.com/itm/281524568830?nav=SEARCH

[Trail X]

Do everything in the original link provided by Eric. Follow the flow chart, and report back your findings. Evidence that your 4WD was working in the past has no bearing on your 4WD system not working in the present. "Feeling" the system engage has no bearing on it actually engaging. Go test your system, and follow the flow chart exactly and report back - otherwise we cannot help you.

[jrivs4x4tb]

Ok so I lifted both front tires and put it in 4 hi/lo the drivers side did not rotate when I spun the passenger side, and when I spun the left and right tires the prop shaft did not move either. . So this does narrow it down to the disconnect right?

[jrivs4x4tb]

Wanted to be sure because I'm about to order the Awd disconnect

[Trail X]

Ok so I lifted both front tires and put it in 4 hi/lo the drivers side did not rotate when I spun the passenger side, and when I spun the left and right tires the prop shaft did not move either. . So this does narrow it down to the disconnect right?

Well, it doesn't sound like you really followed the directions. You're supposed to only lift the passenger tire off of the ground because its forces the prop shaft to spin. You kinda skipped some steps it sounds like.

Regardless, based on what you said, it does sound likely that your disconnect is toast.

[BWGuy]

Don't know if it's a popular option, but I removed my disconnect motor and just have a bolt threaded through a nut welded to a flange that screws to the disco with the motor screws. I leave the disconnect engaged 99.9% of the time because the motor couldn't push it into engagement after the lift (even after rebuilding disco with fresh bearings).

If I ever need to disconnect, I can just reach in and back up the bolt. It's convenient-ish. Cheaper than AWD sleeve. Plus I think it's cool having 2-LO if I want it.

[Trail X]

That's a good solution Matt. Similar to the poor man's disconnect mod, but much better.

[jrivs4x4tb]

I don't have access to a welder so is there a way to permanently have the collar engaged