Problems With My 4wd...
12-15-2003, 08:24 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Cowgill , Missouri
Posts: 370
As most of you know i have an 1989 S-10 Blazer 4wd with the 2.8l V6, as some of you might of also read, it SUCKS bad in snow and ice, well after making my friends come out and watch me Sat. afternoon (it snowed 5 inches Fri night), i have decided that the 4WD is NOT going in, it's kicking in the transfer case (i think) but not the wheels, now after getting stuck in front of my parent's house tonight and being embarrased to no end...my dad pushed me out with his ESCORT.........on the way home, i got to my road and said, **** it, It's my beater, and tried shifting it while i was moving (i was also under the impression that you shouldn't try to shift it into 4wd while moving), and Lo and Behold, it worked (i felt the front wheels pulling at full lock, where i didn't feel it before when it was "in")so my question is what is the proper way to put it into 4wd and the way i did it, moving, will it hurt the truck? it has a mechanical selector if that helps, no push button a stick right beside the stick (5-speed)...thanks in advance for ANY help :P
Sean
also, sorry it's so damn long, just trying to get in all the details, if you need any more info, i'll be glad to provide it, i won't have to worry about snow till next week (hopefully) , but the sooner i figure this out the better
Sean
also, sorry it's so damn long, just trying to get in all the details, if you need any more info, i'll be glad to provide it, i won't have to worry about snow till next week (hopefully) , but the sooner i figure this out the better
12-15-2003, 08:35 PM
#2
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: NJ
Posts: 4,981
to go into 4wd "hi" you can do it stopped or at any speed below 30. to go into 4wd "lo" the trans must be in neutral and the truck completly stopped.
Does the indicator light up when you put in in 4wd? ( you know that stupid diagram of the drivetrain next to the 4wd stick?)
If you are having problems try this. with the truck stopped put it in 4wd"hi" the light should come on. then drive backwards a few feet, then try and go forward. Sometimes that will help if the system is "hanging up" a bit
Does the indicator light up when you put in in 4wd? ( you know that stupid diagram of the drivetrain next to the 4wd stick?)
If you are having problems try this. with the truck stopped put it in 4wd"hi" the light should come on. then drive backwards a few feet, then try and go forward. Sometimes that will help if the system is "hanging up" a bit
12-15-2003, 08:41 PM
#3
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Cowgill , Missouri
Posts: 370
no, it seems the logicon(is that the correct term!?) light are burn out..or fuse blown, never really mattered enough to me to check it out, as posted before i have never been able to get it in from a stop, only while moving, i assume this could be a big problem 
Anyone have any idea why it only goes in while moving? Might try the backup and try thing tomorrow morning, we'll see how it goes...but like i said it "feels" as if it is in, even when i stop and put it in..i can't start in 3-4 gear in 2WD, but when i have 4WD "in" i can start in 3-4 gear, but my back tires just spin and the front don't move....done a shitload of searches on google, but only thing i get is problems with vac hoses (i don't think my 4WD is vac-activated or assisted, i could be wrong, since i don't have the book on the truck )
Sean
Anyone have any idea why it only goes in while moving? Might try the backup and try thing tomorrow morning, we'll see how it goes...but like i said it "feels" as if it is in, even when i stop and put it in..i can't start in 3-4 gear in 2WD, but when i have 4WD "in" i can start in 3-4 gear, but my back tires just spin and the front don't move....done a shitload of searches on google, but only thing i get is problems with vac hoses (i don't think my 4WD is vac-activated or assisted, i could be wrong, since i don't have the book on the truck )Sean
12-15-2003, 08:58 PM
#4
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: NJ
Posts: 4,981
s-10 forums
well the truck does use vacuum to work the 4wd. I know there is a switch on the transfer case, and some "thing" by the battery.
Check this forum out, there are plenty of "help my 4x4 don't work right" threads, the guys there are usually helpful.
well the truck does use vacuum to work the 4wd. I know there is a switch on the transfer case, and some "thing" by the battery.
Check this forum out, there are plenty of "help my 4x4 don't work right" threads, the guys there are usually helpful.
12-15-2003, 10:52 PM
#5
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Marysville WA.
Posts: 1,847
Yea, check the vacuum lines to see if they are cracked or brittle. I have found if you don't use the 4wd very often it will not engage right away if you do. Its best to use 4wd at least once every couple of months to circulate the grease in the front driveshaft. If it works like the ones on the YJ's the vacuum will force a collar over the split in the axle locking them together. When the truck is stopped its likely the axles aren't lined up for the collar to fit over. If your system is aging and can't build up the pressure like it did, it may not have enough force to slide the collar all the way over after you start moving. So when you are moving and applying throttle the axles are more prone to line up right away even with less pressure? I don't know, just a thought anyways. I ditched the vacuum actuator on my Jeep for a cable operated one so I didn't have to worry about it anymore.
12-16-2003, 10:45 PM
#8
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Wayne, NJ
Posts: 4,837
just caus ei wanna be a *****:
turbovr6 - the speed a truck can shift in 4wd hi is determined by the abilities and strength of the driveline, my jeep could (and was even in the owners manual) as being able to be shifted into 4wd at speeds of up to 55mph.
my durano was up to 45mph i think.
muahaha, come on bash me.
kevin.
turbovr6 - the speed a truck can shift in 4wd hi is determined by the abilities and strength of the driveline, my jeep could (and was even in the owners manual) as being able to be shifted into 4wd at speeds of up to 55mph.
my durano was up to 45mph i think.
muahaha, come on bash me.
kevin.
12-16-2003, 10:49 PM
#9
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Amityville, New York
Posts: 12,288
considering TurboVR6 has pretty much the same truck, I think thats
what he based his advice on the speed at which to shift
in/out of 4WD.
So in other words Teknics, your
you might as well tell the guy what speed you can shift a duece and a half
in and out of 6 wheel drive as it would help him out just as much
what he based his advice on the speed at which to shift
in/out of 4WD.
So in other words Teknics, your
you might as well tell the guy what speed you can shift a duece and a half
in and out of 6 wheel drive as it would help him out just as much
12-17-2003, 07:42 PM
#10
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 23
Start the truck in 2wd. Pop the hood and look at an actuator (canister looking thing) on the pass side fender. It will have one vacuum line running to the front and a cable from the rear. Have an assistant pull the 4wd selector into 4wd hi. You should see the rubber diaphragm retract. Have the assistant put the truck back in 2wd and you should see the rubber diaphragm pop back out. This engages the front axle. It will not engage until the teeth of the gears line up, hence, you must move the front wheels forward or backward to get them to line up. I’m not sure what the max speed of engagement is, but I’ve done it at 70mph many many times w/o issue. Just DON’T attempt to engage 4wd when spinning the rear tires.
If the actuator does not retract: pull the vacuum hose off the front and put your finger over it. It should generate a strong vacuum. If not the hose is cracked (very common) or there is a little valve on the transfer case that tends to go bad.
If the vacuum checks out then disconnect the cable on the other side. Make sure it moves freely. It could be bound up or even broken.
To disengage 4wd, you often have to back up a couple feet. This is to release the tension on the front gears so they can disengage.
4lo, put the trans in neutral and give the shifter a good yank. Don’t be shy about it. It goes engages a lot easier if you are drifting 1-3 mph.
I owned one for years. What a ******* worthless piece of ****. It was always broke. Hell, I had to rely on my RX-7 for reliable transportation. Having said that, when it did run, it went anywhere. We got 165 inches of snow 2 winters ago. I had to cart people around all the time because I was the only one that could go anywhere regardless of road conditions.
If the actuator does not retract: pull the vacuum hose off the front and put your finger over it. It should generate a strong vacuum. If not the hose is cracked (very common) or there is a little valve on the transfer case that tends to go bad.
If the vacuum checks out then disconnect the cable on the other side. Make sure it moves freely. It could be bound up or even broken.
To disengage 4wd, you often have to back up a couple feet. This is to release the tension on the front gears so they can disengage.
4lo, put the trans in neutral and give the shifter a good yank. Don’t be shy about it. It goes engages a lot easier if you are drifting 1-3 mph.
I owned one for years. What a ******* worthless piece of ****. It was always broke. Hell, I had to rely on my RX-7 for reliable transportation. Having said that, when it did run, it went anywhere. We got 165 inches of snow 2 winters ago. I had to cart people around all the time because I was the only one that could go anywhere regardless of road conditions.