so being new to 4x4s..... yeasterday after i checked and changed the fluid in the front diff and transfer case i locked (manual) the hubs and played around with the gear box (5spd too) for the 4x4 and....well, as far as i could tell i managed to get it into H4 and drove around and it did feel different so i'm assuming it was in 4x4 but i heard that low 4 feels slow and you can't go fast so i'm pretty sure that was not it. also, when i was sitting still and thought i shifted it into low 4 the car would not go anywhere. it was weird. it was in first and low 4 but would not go anywhere. is that possible? whats going on? am i missing low 4x4? this all may sound stupid so i appologize.

 

Never feel bad for asking questions: that's my opinion anyways.


Sounds like you didn't get all the way into 4L. When I had my manual 85 it was stubborn sometimes but if I kept after it, it would finally go into gear.

Your transfer case is gear driven so there would be something even if the gears were broken, so it sounds like it isn't engaging. try rolling backwards for like 10 feet and then trying to engage it.

Simple question - you are applying the clutch when trying to shift the t-case right?

 

right, i don't know why but it made sense so ya, i pushed the clutch pedal in, shifted into what i thought was high 4, the light on the dash lit up, then into first and off i went.

then i stopped, tried to get it into low 4, thought i did, then first and....no go. stand in place. it seemed weird to me that i had it in first but wasn't going anywhere and weird that it worked in high 4 but not low.

 

Its just cause your hitting nuteral, Keep at it, They can be a bear to get in sometimes.

wade

 

ya, i feel like i'm rocking and flexing the whole truck while trying to shift, putting all my weight into it thinking i'm gonna bust the knob off!

i guess i'll try and see if i can break something after work today!

 

Sounds like you found the neutral position between H4 and L4. One thing might be the shifter is binding up on the rubber boot, especially if the truck has a body lift. Try removing the rubber boot (held down w/ 6 screws) and see if it shifts easier (plus you can see if the front driveshaft is turning). Also, leave the front hubs unlocked and then you'll just be in 2WD and not have to worry about driveline binding if you are on a high traction surface.

 

4crawler, thanks for chimeing in on this one....you've given me a ton of good info so far, i appreciate it.

but, you lost me with the leaving the hubs unlocked thing and being in 2wd.
so u're saying that even if i shift into low 4 but don't lock the hubs i'll be running in 2wd? ok, why would i want to do that as opposed to just being in what ever the gear is that you're supposta be in when in 2wd (high two, right?)

ok, maybe you can give me a basic break down on using 4wd? though it was pretty easy after reading the sticker on the glove box but now... ugh. plus the shift pattern pic seems diff from the actual pattern, unlike a regular H patern 5spd tranny.

 

i think he means just for testing purpose, its not necessary to actually achieve 4wd. if the boot is off, you can see the drive line spin even with hubs unlocked.

4lo is usually not an issue for me, but it has fooled me a couple times, i get the high rev and no go when i apply gas, then take the time to properly engage transfer case, then i'm off to the races

 

Unlocking the hubs and shifting into 4L will still allow you to make sure you can shift into 4L, but won't put added stress on the drivetrain. If you've got the hubs locked, and drive on a hard surface (asphalt/concrete) in 4L, it's VERY hard on the vehicle.

The hubs lock the front axle shafts, and allow them to turn the wheel. So if you just unlock the hubs, the front axle shafts will turn, but they'll just spin without spinning the wheel.

Does this make sense? I hope I didn't confuse you more. We just don't want your truck busted because you're playing with 4H and especially 4L on a hard surface.

 

ya, no kidding...thats why i'm here... i don't wanna bust it either. but.... i thought 4h was ok on hard (meant for sno, ice and rain?)?

 

Those are LOW traction hard surfaces....
If its just dry pavement then it is a HIGH traction surface and 4WD is a no no, especially 4L.

 

Here's a little nugget for ya.


I know that when I shift into 4low in my 1984, the 5 speed shifter must be in neutral. (Don't ask why, couldn't tell ya) Try it in neutral.

I'm also pretty sure that I didn't need to use the clutch for t-case shifting, as long as my 5 speed tranny was in neutral.

If my shifter isn't in neutral though, I could push on that bad boy all day and it won't go anywhere.

 

my buddies dodge ram does the same thing, he's asked tons of people about it and no one knows.....im glad mine works.....best of luck to ya

 

so, if i "think" i'm in L4 and i KNOW i'm in first how come i am not moving at all? i'm still in first in the main box.

 

between H4 and L4 is N. You are not getting into L4, so your truck is in nuetral, and you are not moving. You have to push the lever further to the floor for L4

 

that makes sesne but.... the main gear box is still in first so, theoreticaly should i not still be driveing forward in first on the main box and neautral on the transfer case (if in fact i'm just in neutral vs. L4 like you guys suggested)?

 

No, because if the transfer-case is in neutral, none of the driveshafts are turning. Power goes from the transmission, to the transfer-case, which turns the driveshafts. If the transfer-case is in neutral, you're not going anywhere under your own power, regardless of what gear you're in for the transmission.

Now this post implies that you are not moving when you think you are in L4:
However, this post implies you ARE moving when you think you're in L4:
So, when you "think" you're in L4, are you moving at all, or do you just sit there?

 

sorry for any confusion.... i am NOT moving at all when i think i'm in L4. i'm in first, easting foot off clutch, revs go up and i'm jus sitting there. transfer case in L4 (or, apperantly not). the 4x4 light is lit up on my dash though...is that lit even if you're in neutral in the t case?

 

Yes, 4WD light is on any time you are in 4H, N, or 4L. Note that Neutral on the t-case is not a true neutral in that the front and rear driveshafts are still connected, just that there is no connection to the engine. Sounds like you are not getting into 4L.

One thing to check, assuming the shifter boot is not preventing the shifter from reaching 4L, is to pull the shifter base off the t-case and see if the shifter end is properly engaging the shift rails. It is possible to have that end installed improperly and not be able to reach all the gears. In 4H, both shift rails should be lined up and you want to stab the end of the shifter into the two aligned slots.

 

Could that be in issue with the Synchros? I'll try that with my 89, although it does seem to go into gear, but it seems more like 4-HI than 4-low