Here's an unusual one, my 4x4 has not worked for quite sometime and as the vehicle is going up for sale I decided to try to find out why and get it fixed. I can hear a clunk from the gearbox when the button is pressed but no light comes on on the dashboard. While fiddling I accidently hit the air-con button then low and behold the 4wd engaged! I can only turn the 4wd on and sometimes off while the air-con is on. I have also noticed that there appears to be a vacuum pipe missing from a small black box located by the air filter. Is this anything to do with the 4x4? Where should the missing pipe go to? The outlet on the box faces towards the rear of the car. It is a 1990 diesel if that helps. Any ideas?
With thanks
Phil - (#2292) Phil, 20 Feb 02

There should be two solenoid valves under the air cleaner (roughly) and the vacuum feed should go to them in series, and, via a "T" piece, to the hard pipe that goes to thew rear for the 4x4. Those valves are for idle-up, and aircon idle-up, and one of them has a filter on one of it's connections, rather than a hose, IIRC - (#2300) david miller, 21 Feb 02

This might help, might not. But it's worth knowing.
When I took the facia off to mess with the radio I unplugged everything in sight, confident (wrongly) that there would only be one way to put everything back. All seemed well except the 4WD and Arcon was all mixed up. Look again and behold! the connectors for the back of the two switches are interchangeable, and interchanged. I'd missed the fact that the Aircon ones are all blue. Swapped them back to full colour co-ordination and grateful no damage appears to have been done. - (#2307) Dave Mason, 21 Feb 02

i have been told, trough this site, that it is possible to change into 4wd on the go. i have a 2.0l td auto townie. the 4wd is selected via a switch on the dash. i decided to try this on a straight road and got an awful grinding sound!
i decided not to try again in case i cause any damage.
did i do something wrong? or is it not possible to change to 4wd without coming to a halt first? - (#2645) eddie arrowsmith, 4 Apr 02

Eddie, your front hubs must be locked to use the switch on the fly 4x4 facility. Oh and don't use it on dry roads, there's no centre diff... - (#2647) david miller, 5 Apr 02

David's right, if you try to put it into 4x4 'on the fly' you are expecting the front prop shaft, diff & driveshafts to start rotating instantly, which doesn't happen, so you get the gear graunching sound because it all takes a finite time to start rotating, if you have the front hubs locked then the drive train is already running at road speed so when you engage 4x4, it is simply slotting into the drive from the gearbox, but as David said, don't do it on tarmac as you will wind up the diffs as there is no centre diff to allow for the differences in speed of the front axle to the rear axle, especially if you turn the steering wheel slightly. HTH. Regards Rob. - (#2655) Rob Drinkwater, 5 Apr 02

Just got my Townie this weekend - given the confidence by the great info on your sites! Thanks so much.
Is there anyway I can tell if its 2 or 4 WD? There's an orange switch on the steering wheel column left of the hazard warning lights. Sorry its a Townace Super Extra 2litre TD automatic. It hasn't got any outside "labels" stating as such.
Also, weve never had an automatic so could you tell us what the "2" and "L" are for on the shift box?
Sorry for so much ignorance

Pam and Wayne, South Wales

- (#3290) Pam Clarke, 9 Jun 02

A few things should give you a clue as to whether it's a 4WD or 2WD model, firstly most $wd models have it plastered all over the bodywork, in the side stripes etc, then you'll find there is a second gear lever to the left of the main gear lever, then you'll see a switch on the dash marked '4WD' just under the rear wash wipe switch. Lastly you'll have big blach 'free wheeling' hubs protruding through the middle of the front wheels. If you are missing the above then you are the owner of a 2WD model, if you have the above then you are the proud owner of a 4WD. The auto transmission will normally choose the correct gear for most situations, so leave it in 'D' most of the time, but if you are on a steep down hill gradient, especially if towing you might want to select '2', this will mean that the gearbox will only choose first or second gear, if you select 'L' then it will hold it in first gear, additionally you will see a switch in the lever itself, this is the 'overdrive button', pressing this will illuminate the 'o/drive off' light on the dash, this will mean that in 'D' the gearbox will only use first, second & third gears, this will prevent the gearbox from hunting between third & foureth gears, say when climbing hills. Normally though, you would use 'D' with O/D engaged & let the 'box do the rest. See the info on the transmission on this Ace Answers website for more info. Let us know when you discover if it's 2WD or 4WD. HTH Regards Rob.

- (#3291) Rob Drinkwater, 9 Jun 02

Hello everyone.....
Does anyone out there have experience driving in 4 wheel drive for long periods of time? The reason I'm asking is because winter is in full swing here in Russia with snow and ice everywhere. I have really been enjoying the 4 wheel drive. When other cars are are sliding of the road and there are traffic jams due to wrecks, I just get off the road and go around all the mess. Are townies made to run in full time 4 wheel drive or can it be harmful to the system. I usually keep the hubs on the tires locked and then use the 4-wheel drive button on the dash as needed. Thanks for any input.
Mervin

- (#6097) Mervin, 13 Nov 02

You're using it the right way, Mervin. No centre diff in the townie, just a lockup coupling. You'd probably break a hub or driveshaft driving on a clean, metalled road in 4x4.
Having all four tyres the same size (type and wear level) reduces strain on the system, too.

- (#6098) david miller, 13 Nov 02

Finally got round to jacking up the front and rear of the townie today to test the 4WD. Started up and put it in drive the rear wheels turned, locked the hubs and tried again 4WD only problem was the switch on the dash was not depressed. It was in 4WD regardless of the position of the switch.
On the dash the warning light(symbol shows 4 wheels connected by a centre circle (located at far left of instrument cluster)) remains illuminated all the time regardless of the position of the 4wd switch.
Obviously I will be unable to use the 4wd (no I am not expecting bad weather) as I am unable to switch in and out of it without getting out and unlocking the hubs.
Has anybody any ideas on where to start?

Steve

Ps removed starter, cleaned solenoid contacts and replaced today, also added another cable so that if I need it I can flash it across the glow plug relay. So far fingers crossed problem solved.

- (#6510) Steve Taylor, 27 Dec 02

Sounds like either a duff solenoid valve or a disconnected vacuum line. There's a vacuum feed that connects in to the various valves beside the airfilter, and heads down under the floor, via a storage chamber, to a pair of solenoid valves in the pillar between the rear door and the wheel arch on the LHS.The valves changeover the vacuum between the front and rear of the actuator on the rear of the transfer box. The light being on signals that the transfer is indeed in 4x4.

Pull the vacuum hoses off the actuator, and test for a vacuum at one, then the other, as you cycle the switch. Also suck or blow into the actuator to confirm that it's diaphragm isn't perished.

Take it from there!

- (#6511) david miller, 28 Dec 02