4WD / 4WD Lo Lights Flashing

[Cheddarhead]

'97 Sport w/three position (Auto / 4WD Hi / 4WD Lo) rotary switch on the dash.

Vehicle is used sparingly...less than 100K miles in total. I've owned it for 4 years / 30K miles.

Feels like / seems like the transfer case is engaging 4WD with no inputs from me. I can "feel" resistance when steering (especially right turns into parking spots etc) and the dash (warning) lights will flash (6X), the stop and repeat within a couple of miles.

One other note: I recently had front brake pads and rotors installed by a local mechanic. Probably 500 miles on the truck since the brake work was done. I did notice "shuddering" when steering immediately after the brake work was done. Mechanic claimed that this was caused by air in the steering lines which would clear up within a day or two...and it seemed to get better as predicted.

So...what thoughts on this? Is it a case where the Automatic Hub(s) need cleaning / lubrication...or something else? Is it OK to drive this the 30 miles or so needed to bring it back to the mechanic who did the brakes? Are these two situations unrelated (if so, I'll bring it to a trusted mechanic closer to home...)?

Tried searching the Forum to locate a similar circumstance...no luck!

Thanks in advance for any / all guidance you can provide!

 

[natenkiki2004]

Your post will probably get moved since it's not applicable to our 1991-1994 section, however I'll still throw a few ideas.

The couple 2nd gens I've seen are "AUTO", "4x4 Hi", "4x4 Lo". I'm not super familiar with the "AUTO" function but if it uses ABS sensors at all to detect wheel slip and lock up a particular hub, I'm betting that your mechanic either broke a sensor or installed the wrong rotor. Kind of a coincidence that this all started with the brake work.

 

[Cheddarhead]

Your post will probably get moved since it's not applicable to our 1991-1994 section, however I'll still throw a few ideas.

The couple 2nd gens I've seen are "AUTO", "4x4 Hi", "4x4 Lo". I'm not super familiar with the "AUTO" function but if it uses ABS sensors at all to detect wheel slip and lock up a particular hub, I'm betting that your mechanic either broke a sensor or installed the wrong rotor. Kind of a coincidence that this all started with the brake work.

I think you're correct...that I (probably) have the switch position descriptions incorrect.

Hopefully we'll see more responses / feedback. I'd like to bring this vehicle back to where the brake job was done...but not sure if I should be driving at freeway speeds for 35 miles to do so...

Thanks again for weighing in!