can anyone help please. The further saga of my 4wd, to cut a long story short, when i first got my 4wd 2.0td auto, the 4wd worked then it stopped working. I took it to my local garage today, when the wheels were locked and the front prop shaft turned so did the front wheels, the switch has power in it(4wd switch on the dash)but mechanic said it seemed that it was seized in the transfer box, strange as he put it as it is full of oil, but h>l4 stick wouldnt move, so we decided to leave a deeper investigation until the bank account was more fluid preferably with money flowing in and not out!!!
Anyway like an idiot when I got home I fiddled and pressed the button. mistake. low and behold the light on the dash illuminated, great thought i i then locked the hubs even better 4wd worked put in n and the lever slid back, there is a God thought i, I jacked it up f and b both wheels under power.
Then I tried taking it ouit of 4wd, wheels unlocked etc button pressed but the light on the dash stayed on repeated pressing and reversing of proceedures light is still on, jacked up button out free hubs seems to be in 2wd but did notice behind f offside wheel the rubber gaiter is rotating slowly but wheel not engaged so it is not rotating.
Is there a problem here i should be very worried about, if light on dash is on is 4wd engaged all the time even with huds set to free, what is the reason for the gaiter moving. PLEASE someone advise me.
- (#3032) Marc Hamilton, 20 May 02
Can't be fully sure about your problem, but let's try to fathom out by logic, you should never run in 4wd with front hubs locked on tarmac, Townies don't have a centre diff & so therfore you can damage all the transmission if you do so. To enter 4wd press button on dash, after a few seconds the symbol on the dash should show green, if it doesn't then 'rock' the car back & forth using 'D' & reverse, the 4wd is engaged by a solenoid, but the light will not illuminate until the solenoid has managed to engage the gear in the transfer box, once the lamp is illuminated then the front propshaft & driveshafts are powered from the engine, if you also have the front hubs locked then you have true four wheel drive. If front hubs are not locked then you only have rear wheel drive, with the engine also driving the front prop & driveshafts. With the dashboard lamp illuminated & gearbox in neutral, you can now move the 'H/L4' high/low ratio into low ratio, this effectively gives you the same four gears, but in a crawler gear selection, for steep gradient/slippery driving, this lever is locked in position, unless you select neutral. Whilst in neutral & 4wd pressed, you can move this lever easily, return it to 'H' then press the 4wd button to disengage 4wd, the dash light will go out, again if it doesn't go out, try engaging 'D' & 'R' to get the solenoid the disengage the gear. Hopefully the more you use it, the easier it will work, try running it in 4wd with hubs unlocked occasionally, and without 4wd, but with the hubbs locked as well, so as to ensure that all the running gear is kept lubricated & free running, also use the low ratio as well, again to keep all of it working. If after all of this it still won't engage properly, and the switch is giving power to the solenoid, then you have to suspect that the solenoid is seized, possibly replacement being the answer. Hope this helps, regards Rob.
- (#3033) Rob Drinkwater, 20 May 02
Thanks Rob that helps a lot but part of the problem is that I just cannot get the dasboard light to go out, could this be because of the solenoid?
Marc
- (#3035) Marc Hamilton, 20 May 02
The indicator is operated by a switch in the transfer box. The box is actuated by a pair of solenoids supplying vacuum to an actuator. The engine has to be running to make the vacuum, and any vacuum leak could result in the actuator moving slowly or stopping partway. As Rob says, any bind will result in no 4x4 until you move slightly, and you MUST be in 4x4 with the light on to operate the lever. DO NOT press the button if you're already in 4L!!
- (#3039) david miller, 21 May 02
As David points out, the actuators are controlled by vacuum, from the servo/vacuum pump, to check if you have leaks on the vacuum circuit, you could see if the 'idle up' switch actually puts the idle up, or the air con switch causes a slight increase in revs, if neither raises the revs then you probably have a vacuum leak on one of the pipes, or a disconnected pipe. If the 'idle up' switch does just that, it is unlikely you have a vacuum leak. When we got our Townie the vacuum hose that comes over the top of the rocker cover next to the oil cap was hanging loose, this should go to the vacuum sensor under the air filter hose at the back of the engine as a result, no 4wd, no 'idle up' & no air con - idle up, reconnected & hey presto all working again, it appears very easy to knock off when filling up the oil. HTH regards Rob.
- (#3046) Rob Drinkwater, 21 May 02
Yes, but there could also be a split hose somewhere between the engine bay and the transfer case...
- (#3048) david miller, 21 May 02
David, to my knowledge (correct me if I'm wrong) there isn't a non return valve in this circuit, so any loss of vacuum on the long pipe from the engine bay to the transfer case would have the effect as above, obviously if there is a non return valve it could effectively be a separate circuit to all the other vacuum operated items.
- (#3049) Rob Drinkwater, 21 May 02
There is a valve, according to the cd- just at the inlet to the vacuum tank. Plus the pipework is rather small bore, so even a disconnection shouldn't result in a total loss of vacuum. The pump will easily replenish vacuum from a leak that small- the servo needs MUCH more air moved than could ever leak down an eighth pipe.
- (#3051) david miller, 22 May 02
Thanks guys you have been a great help
- (#3054) Marc Hamilton, 22 May 02
We have purchased a Master Surf 1991 4wd 2.00l Diesel with skylites. Does any one know how we can order a towbar, twin electrics. We want to tow a 24foot caravan. Is there anyone else out there who tows with there Townie??
We had ebough trouble trying to insure the thing, no one seems to know what model it was. Can anyone help on the correct name and model?
Thanks
- (#3711) Shirley, 8 Jul 02
Shirley,
If you start a new thread, see notice at the start of this one on how to, or indeed follow the advice and have a look at Townace.com you will find an answer there.
- (#3717) clive, 9 Jul 02