Auto 4x4 Won't Disengage
 

Today, I headed up to the mountains and at one time had to use my 4x4 since I was driving on an unmaintenanced gravel road. My Auto 4x4 never engages when I turn the 4x4 switch. I always have to manually lock my hubs. However, once I cleared the bad section of the road, I stopped and unlocked the hubs.

My 4x4 light was still lite on my dash even after I turned the switch from 4x4 high to 2wd SEVERAL times. Although, I am not literally in 4x4 now, all my front drive axles are moving. I even checked to verify this by moving them by hand (its locked). I spent nearly 30 minutes driving around this parking trying to get it to come out. I tried backing up several times, forward, flicking switch back and forth thousand times, nothing. I jumped out of the truck and was listening to see if I could hear any clunking when I moved the switch... Nothing. I even crowd under the truck and wiggled the wires.. nope. I was going to pull the connectors feeding into the 4x4 engagement motor but I need a screwdriver and temps were below zero negative 22 wind chill... FORGET IT.

I drove about 80 miles back home with the 4x4 locked. Luckly, when I switch my hubs to Auto, it doesn't work so tech. I did not have all the tires moving but all the driveshafts were.

Any ideas on where to start on how to disengage the 4x4? I can't be driving around with the front end moving. My inner axle hub seal is leaking slowly and really prefer not to further wear it out... until it is replaced in the spring.

I've never had a problem with the 4x4 engaging and disengaging while the hubs were locked. Everything up until now has worked smoothly.

I can't turn my on, and you can't turn yours off...

Doc.

I don't know if this same procedure will work for the Manual hubs, but is should:
http://guzzle.rbmicro.com/allube.html

The problem really isn't the hubs. The hubs work great (the vacuum system for the auto doesn't, not worried about it). I'm having trouble actually disengaging the 4x4 from the inside of the truck.. where you turn the 4x4 selector switch. I think the problem lies either in the Electric shift on the fly motor or possibly a blown fuse? There is no noise coming from the Transfer case when I flip the switch back the 2x4.

Does Low work? Then again, I don't know if I would try it (if you already haven't) especially if you need to drive the truck. Getting it stuck in low would be horrible.

I was telling a PS owner abuot my 4X4 not working and he said that there are 2 relays under the hood next to the fuse box. i went and bought a relay and tried swaping it out to see if that was the problem. It wasn't the problem on mine, but it might be on yours. I'm going to pull the switch out next and see if that is the problem???

Anyone every have a 4X4 switch go out???

Doc.

The hubs lock with the vacuum system but the transfer case position is changed with a servomotor. I don't know what fuse that runs off of but it should be in your owners manual.

I do not want to even touch the 4x4 low switch.. however, I did accidently flip it to the low and nothing happened. Its like it lost power to it. The 4x4 light is still on in the dash. I really need to get it disengaged asap.

My 4x4 doesn't like to disengage, but I think that'll turn out to be a hub lube broblem as well...

Anyone else? I tried again today and have no luck on disengaging it. I don't have an owners manual so I can't look up the fuses. I do have a hanyes service manual but it for the most part is hopeless....

There is no noises coming from the engagement motor, as if its not even getting power to it?

Do you have a multi-meter? You could pull the plug off and see if it is or isn't getting power.

Oh, sorry I forgot to update.. I got it out of 4x4. It was snowing pretty good the other day I lucky the 4x4 was still engaged, although I had the switch on 2x4. I was blowing up this step hill with about 8 inches of snow on the road and it came out of 4x4 on its on.

I got to the top and switched it back to 4x4 and it worked. Switched it to 2x4 and it came out. I did this about 10 times and it seems to be working good. Not sure what caused it to not work the other day.

dr. joe.... your problem mite be vacuum leak in your hoses that go to your knuckle.. if you turn it to 4 High turn on you a/c and if your defrosters come on then you have a vacuum leak somewhere

Could have been that he had ice buildup in the system.