thought i had my 4 wheel drive fixed until i got stuck

[larsj]

I got my x stuck on a impassible if wet road. well it was wet and i thought my four wheel drive worked. not fun considering i was on a mountain road with no one in sight. i did see a laddie on a horse but she was no help. i had my x in the shop to get a code reader search and got my 4 wheel light to stay on and work. I thought. when i got stuck it turns out the my front drive shaft was working so my transfer case was working right. in my 95 i hear it has vacuum locking thing that locks the front in. if any one knows how to fix this problem let me know. what happened with me getting stuck, well after three hours all of my floor mats a moving blanket and a lot of two wheel love i got my self out did take out a fence and a little x pride. made it home.

 

[IZwack]

Well technically there is no such thing as a "4wd" vehicle because "open" differentials are like electricity and water, it will allow power to go towards the tire with the least resistance -- which is the one thats either slipping (which means little grip) or the one thats up in the air (which means zero grip). Having said that, most "4wd" vehicles are actually 2 wheel drive. The situation is a little better if you have a "limited slip" differential -- which makes the vehicle a 3 wheel drive (some would say 2.5 due to the limited slip differential's problems).

The vacuum disconnect can be tested by raising the front tires up in the air, switching the vehicle into 4wd, and turning one wheel by hand -- the other wheel should turn but in the opposite direction (natural for an "open" differential).

 

[410Fortune]

What makes you think it was not working?
You do realize that 4wd does not mean all 4 tires will move, all it means is that power is sent to the front and rear differentials, but with an open diff the tire that slips will get all the power and the other tire will not move.

So usually when people get stuck and say there 4wd does not work they are mistaken, because only one tire in the back and one tire in the front are spinning (the two tires that have no traction) they thin the 4wd is broken... it is not.

4wd does not actually mean true 4wd

 

[aleej]

you could solve that by intalling a locker or limited slip correct

 

[Ray Lobato]

Your 95 has auto 4wd, which means it might go into 4wd and them again maybe it won't. Did you put it into 4wd Lo? That is the only mode that your are certain that your truck should be in 4wd.

 

[aleej]

the auto 4wd mean when the truck sences the front tires are spinning at a diffrent speen than the rears then the 4wd will kick in... however like 410 was saying it only send power thru the path of least resistance.. which mean that only 1 tire on either axel really drives the truck... (no need to reiterate all he said u get the idea) the only way to truly check the 4wd is to get it into the air.. jack stands.. but not so safe a lift is preferred.. and put it in 4 hi or lo and give it some gas take notice if all four are spinning (this would work as well for the auto 4wd)

 

[larsj]

O how i Know

had it in 4 low 4 auto and there was no power to the front wheels. I know that 4 wheel drive really means one front one rear but there was no front and one rear. makes for a hell of a time. and correct me if i am wrong but you cant put manual hubs on a 95 because there is none.

 

[aleej]

i dunno much about the installation of hubs.....im sure you could retro fit em if u tried but its prolly a whole lotta work

 

[larsj]

let you know.

i just got myself a high life and i am going to let you know what happens when i jack up the front and spin my tires and see if i am locked in or not. one more thing has anybody had any problem with there heater controls going to hell on them. my fan stopped working and its not the motor it is in the controls i have the eddie b so its a rare find to get a new one. it's all electronic besides the fan control speed which is a vertical wheel that goes from low to hi. i think it is in that wheel that my problem is happening. any feed back would be appreciated.

 

[larsj]

ill be back in 10 or 20 min

 

[IZwack]

Did you put it into 4wd Lo? That is the only mode that your are certain that your truck should be in 4wd.

I'm not sure that's not necessarily true -- 4wd engagement on 2nd gen is still controlled via electromagnet and is independent of whether the transfer case's gears are in HI or LO range. We can verify this is true because a BWM can be performed on these vehicles leading to a 2LO configuration (transfer case in LO range, brown wire circuit "open").

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=203441

and correct me if i am wrong but you cant put manual hubs on a 95 because there is none.

You're correct -- the CV axle shafts at the front axle are direclty splined into the hub/bearing assembly and there is no "disconnect" mechanism at this stage of the driveline like the 1st gen's hub lockouts. The only disconnect upstream of the driveline would be the CAD (Central Axle Disconnect -- which is the vacuum mechanism mentioned).

 

[larsj]

got under the truck tried to lift it with the factory jack and low and behold the jack is not big enough to get the tires of the ground. super. i have had some issues with the 4 wheel drive lights flashing at me when i try and switch it in to 4 wheel drive both 4 low and 4 auto flash

 

[Mbrooks420]

That means there is a fault in the 4wd system. Get the codes scanned, and it will tell you where to start.