Reading everything I can find here on 4wd and can't seem to find an answer to my problem. 96 Jimmy won't go into 4wd. Lights are working properly, vacuum is great, cable retracts on pushing 4hi, vent by trans dip-stick twirls and looks clean. However, I jacked up front in 4hi and the wheel spins freely along with drive shaft into front dif. Any suggestions? Is there a problem with the front dif?

 

I pulled the battery and tray and the rubber, everything looked intact, cable seemed to move ok. Put it back together, started and held a mirror under bat and diaphragm squashed down nicely. This afternoon I will check the fluid level in the TC. Not sure what to check from here?

 

When you select 4WD, (engine at idle, trans in park or neutral) and the actuator under the battery pulls the cable, and the right front wheel turns freely by hand, the problem is with the actuator mechanism in the right front axle tube.


EDIT: Items 9 through 23:

 

This doesn't sound good, or am I wrong? Are we talking down time or a possible easy fix? I can only do easy fixes at this stage because I can't afford down time. Can I pull the #18 switch and figure it out or will that create a bigger problem?

 

The switch tells the TCCM if the linkage pulled back, not if #9 & #23 actually engaged. If you can rotate the RF wheel in 4WD, 9 & 23 are not engaging.

 

Thanks for the response! Now, can I pull the three bolts next to #18 to look for binding or broken parts? Could it be a stretched cable and how can I tell?

 

Probably not a stretched cable, but it could be disconnected. Just have to explore until you find the problem. Fair amount of work to remove the tube, the half shaft must be removed first. Could you see the actual cable move at the actuator, or was just the diaphragm moving? Might want to explore that first.

 

When I pulled the battery and tray, I manually moved the cable and it moved about 1/2 inch. I truly can't afford down time to pull a shaft so this one will probably go to the shop. Thanks for the response but if any other ideas are out there, I am listening!