First time she has ever let me down!

[hellmett]

Hi All,

Talk about being embarrassed!

Went out to leave the kids to school this morning and couldn't get up our hill because of the snow.

For some ###### reason the 4WD just wouldn't engage.

I had a queue behind me and the Surf was sliding about all over the place.

I RARELY ever use 4WD and the Surf is very well maintained.

I'm guessing that there is something amiss.

I engaged the manual hubs and I could hear the "clunk" when I engaged the button but the back wheels were spinning and the arse of the car was sliding all over the place.

General Grabber AT2's all around didn't help at all either.

Even shitty cars like Fiestas and Skodas made it up the hill because they are so light I guess.

I am ###### annoyed, the one time when I thought that having a 4x4 would have been a blessing turned into a nightmare.

I am guessing that because I never use 4WD that this is the problem.

Gary

[Paul G]

Sorry to hear it, I think you you should use 4WD at least every thousand miles just to keep the Transfer box cogs well lubricated.
Try putting the box in 4 low and and keep trying first and reverse, it worked on mine when i bought it, now i use 4WD as much as poss

[hellmett]

Re

Sorry to hear it, I think you you should use 4WD at least every thousand miles just to keep the Transfer box cogs well lubricated.
Try putting the box in 4 low and and keep trying first and reverse, it worked on mine when i bought it, now i use 4WD as much as poss

Could you elaborate a bit Paul?

Did you have this problem as well then?

I don't think it is anything too serious probably just "lack of use" as you suggest!

[stormforce]

Gary just keep trying it mate and it should work its way.Put in 4wd from a stand still then press the throttle hard to give the diff a hard shock which may help to release what ever is stuck.Do it in reverse aswell but it should work
I would advise just putting the truck into 4wd every couple of months or 1000m like paul says.You can put it into 4wd on tarmac as long as you have a straight stretch of road and don't turn just to keep the 4wd moving.
(note... this is just to test the 4wd and not to be used for more than 100yds or so in a straight line) hope this helps a bit Gary

[Diezel Weazel]

Have to agree with what Paul says !!
FYI..
(Wifey's Mitsi SWB 88, Auto Hubs) manual says engage 4WD once a week...
Good Luck

There's always a Payback .. Cos ya don't know where n ya never know when !!

[hellmett]

Re

Cheer for that fellas!

I "think" it's working now!

I took it onto a flat straight bit of snow covered road and got the wife to see if the back wheels were spinning.

She said there was no wheels spinning when I accelerated hard so I guess it has engaged the 4WD.

I'll do as you suggest and run it up and down the road a few times in 4WD every few weeks or so.

Why does this happen?

Does something stick?

Gary

[stormforce]

there is a collar inside the diff that slides across to engage 4wd and if its not used for a while then i think its this collar that sticks

[Diezel Weazel]

"Use it or loose it" springs to mind !!!!

There's always a Payback .. Cos ya don't know where n ya never know when !!

[BUSHWHACKER]

Do this modification and it won't let you down again....
http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/forums/sh...&postcount=116

[Ava_Banana]

Do this modification and it won't let you down again....
http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/forums/sh...&postcount=116

Are there any disadvantages to this mod at all?

[PDR]

Are there any disadvantages to this mod at all?

Increased wear of the front prop shaft (and possibly increased vibration) as it will always be turning even when the vehicle is in rear, 2 wheel drive.

[dieselboy]

Gary, I've found that sometimes you need some space to drive into, to get the truck in 4wd. If you were spinning on the spot then i've found that 4WD doesnt seem to engage until you are moving forward (or backwards) a metre or so.

Did the light come on when the wheels were just spinning? When i've noted the above, the 4WD green light was not illuminated.

I'm not sure if it's a delay thing. Saying that though, sometimes I've been able to engage 4wd stopped at traffic lights. May be it depends on the current position of the transfer box (or what ever engages)

[hellmett]

Re

Gary, I've found that sometimes you need some space to drive into, to get the truck in 4wd. If you were spinning on the spot then i've found that 4WD doesnt seem to engage until you are moving forward (or backwards) a metre or so.

Did the light come on when the wheels were just spinning? When i've noted the above, the 4WD green light was not illuminated.

I'm not sure if it's a delay thing. Saying that though, sometimes I've been able to engage 4wd stopped at traffic lights. May be it depends on the current position of the transfer box (or what ever engages)

I engaged the manual hubs, got in and pressed the 4WD button then rolled out of the drive turning up the hill.

The light on the dash was on and I heard the clunk.

As I accelerated the arse was sliding about and the back wheels started to spin so I stopped and let her roll back.

Same thing again and again a few times.

I don't think I even progressed forward at all!

I never put her in reverse as such just let her roll down the hill.

I let her roll down to the bottom and managed to get up it after a good run at it, back wheels spinning etc.

When I got to the top I just parked up, disgusted and ran into the house to avoid the neighbours, lol!

You are probably spot on with your diagnosis, the 4WD probably didn't get a chance to "kick in" properly.

When I get a chance later I'll run her back and forward a few times to loosen the system up and send some oil around it.

Cheers!

Gary

[yoshie]

Or did you turn the manual hubs off, then jump in?

[hellmett]

Or did you turn the manual hubs off, then jump in?

Nope, I checked twice incase that happened!

Luckily there are direction arrows on the WARN hubs!