I put my truck in 4 wheel drive but the light does not turn on .I just cleaned my MAF but I doubt if that had anything to do with it. Any suggestions ?

 

Light burned out?

 

When I pull back on the lever I can feel it engage .

 

"Feeling it engage" doesn't really mean anything. Does it have ADD? The light comes on when it's *actually* all engaged. Check the vac hoses at the axle, then under the hood. Check the wires on the switch on the ADD at the axle. If you find nothing obvious, get a manual and troubleshoot.

 

exactly what he said... since you have add it is vacuum operated and if the light doesnt come on than there prolly is NO 4wd activation. Checking vacuum hoses/electrical clips is first step

 

Just checked all the bulbs .All are working properly .

 

I just cheked the manual and crwled inder the truck .It looks a bit too complicated for me to diagnose .I check all the connections are there .

I just checked my old bills from the dealer .I had the 4wheel drive swicth replaced 50 000 km ago. COuld it be broken again ?

The truck is now at 148 000 km .

 

Can't imagine why it should be broken (then or now.) Mine is original.
It isn't hard to trouble shoot. A simple test light is all you need. Without digging out the manual, If I remember how the circuit works, I would ck power going into then out of the switch on the Tcase. Then check for power into and out of the switch on the ADD thingie. Logic goes like this - if the power goes in and out of the Tcase switch and goes in but not out of the ADD switch, then either the ADD switch is bad or the ADD is not actuating. Checking for vacuum on the hoses will tell you if the solenoids (they are up under the hood) are working. If they aren't then ya gotta check them (power as well as vacuum.) If they are then pull the ADD mechanism and see if it works. That sort of thing... (like I said - dont' have the book in front of me.)

I *think* the power goes to the switch on the Tcase, from there to the ADD switch and the vacuum solenoids, so that the solenoids send vacuum on the line that actuates the ADD slider. When the slider has slid, the switch on the ADD thingie send the power to the light bulb, telling you it all worked. When in 2wd, the other vacuum hose on the ADD slider will have vacuum, keeping it securely UNlocked. Pretty simple system.

 

Update Novemeber 29 2005

I just returned from the dealer ship .The delear says the problem I have is a faulty shifter position switch .I was quoted part number 84222-12010 at $240 .I didn`t ask about how much to install since cash is tight .Is this switch a do it yourself job or do I need a garage to do it ?

 

I don't know about installation of that switch, but did you check the ADD sensor wire? Mine got disconnected some time ago and the 4WD light wouldn't come on even though it was in 4WD. I could not tell from the above posts if you checked that -- if you did sorry. It's such a simple thing that I didn't want you to overlook it. Would be just like a dealership to want to replace an expensive part when it isn't necessary (sorry to all you dealership mechanics out there, it's just been my experience).

 

dunno bout a 3rd gen, but on my 2nd gen i had to change the switch myself. mind you i only paid 70 bucks canadian at the stealership. anyways, it took me all of 5 minutes to change it. all i needed was a long-assed wrench to get in there...

 

The sevice guy told me the 4wd engages but the front differential does not lock . I think I will take your advice before ordering a new part .Especially when it`s the second time it needs to be replaced.

 

Is it a manual trans? The TC on an auto trans may be different than manual. It is on Gen II's. Auto Gen II's have a hydraulic pressure swith that sends an elctrical signal that activates the ADD. The 4wd position switch doesn't send a signal to add in autos. I think 97 is the same. I can check the fsm.

 

I have a auto tranny . I can`t figure out why the smae switch that I replaced two years ago is bad again .