Another 4wd engagement issue

[trackhound]

I have a 97 ssrx 3L td auto which I purchased a few weeks ago.

When I press the 4wd button I can hear the relays working but get the flashing centre diff light. Pipework/wiring looks ok. This is me moving slowly 20-30 mph. However when I go round a corner (either left or right) I get the click from the gearbox and it engages 4wd. Does anyone else have this issue? I assume it is not normal. Any ideas what the cause is?

Thanks

[Antshiel]

I have a 97 ssrx 3L td 3rd genauto which I purchased a few weeks ago.

When I press the 4wd button I can hear the relays working but get the flashing centre diff light. Pipework/wiring looks ok. This is me moving slowly 20-30 mph. However when I go round a corner (either left or right) I get the click from the gearbox and it engages 4wd. Does anyone else have this issue? I assume it is not normal. Any ideas what the cause is?

Thanks

What's not normal about it? You press button, second or two later you get 4wd. The flashing centre diff (and 4wd)lights mean its changing from 2wd into 4wd.
Perfectly normal. If you want it to change quicker, press the 4wd button and select neutral briefly.

[si tate]

Yep, nothing wrong there mate, like antshiel said just knock it in neutral then back into gear.

[trackhound]

Thanks guys - good to know that is normal.

[div3r]

I have found it’s a case of use it or loose it, you need to select 4wd on a weekly basis. It’s not so important to drive around in 4wd but to let the system cycle in and out of 4wd. try all the tricks that have been mentioned the other trick is to try blipping the throttle when in drive I have found if you select or deselect 4wd while coasting (in drive) this seems to work straight away (Four Greens) with no flashing lights.

Don’t drive for more than few hundred yards with the lights flashing or you will wind up the transmission, this is because of the slight differences between front and rear wheel transmission ratios. This is particularly true if a sharp turn is taken, as the front wheels will now be drawing a different arc to the rear wheels and therefore will rotate at a different ratio/speed i.e. the inside front wheel will turn slower than the outside front whilst the transmission is trying to make all four wheel turn at the same rate, until the centre diff is engaged (Four Greens not flashing) then you can turn the wheel to your hearts content as the front and rear wheels are effectively being driven independently of each other through the centre diff.

Note this only applies to a 3rd Gen

[Antshiel]

But the centre diff is only locked when in 4L.
How can transmision be wound up if he has selected 4H?

[stormforce]

i didn't think you could get wind up on the turd gens,only on the 2nd gens

[Antshiel]

i didn't think you could get wind up on the turd gens,only on the 2nd gens

Thats what i thought. I know the centre diff is only locked in 4HLock or 4Low. This is done manually with the HL selector (small lever) and 4H is unlocked centre diff with the 4wd button.

[stormforce]

the 3rd gens can use 4wd on tarmac as there is a centre diff,where the 2nd gens can't as there's no centre diff on them

[Antshiel]

the 3rd gens can use 4wd on tarmac as there is a centre diff,where the 2nd gens can't as there's no centre diff on them

I know, i think Ian(Div3r) is assuming the centre diff is locking when changing between 2 and 4wd.
This is not the case.
The lights only flash when you select 4wd to show that 4wd has not yet engaged but has been selected.
The centre diff can only be locked by shifting the H/L stick to 4hlock or 4Llock.

[div3r]

Think about this guys flashing lights are generally a warning that something is wrong not normal operation.

[Antshiel]

Think about this guys flashing lights are generally a warning that something is wrong not normal operation.

Flashing 4wd lights as said before simply means that 4wd has not yet engaged but has been selected.

The only way to lock the centre diff is via the H/L selector. This manually locks or unlocks the centre diff. 2 and 4wd is done electronically with vacuum pressure. Youd need a pretty big vacuum to lock the centre diff.

[div3r]

Let me tell you a story. When I first got my surf I was playing with all the buttons, any hoo I went for a drive whilst I was driving along at about 25MPH, happy with world I selected four wheel drive via the button and the lights started flashing, which I ignord and carried on my merry way after about two miles the sterring started to feel odd lukily, I was approaching a side road I slowed to about 5MPH to turn of the main road as I turned the corner it felt like the steering wheel was trying to push back against the turn at the same time it felt like the brakes were being applied the truck actually bounced back slightly when I stopped. I believe my transmission was wound up.

[Antshiel]

And you did what to fix it?
On a 3rd gen the centre diff can only be locked manually.
If however the H/L selector is in 4Lock you will wind up the transmission.
In this circumstance the 4wd switch would be ineffective anyway.

Are you sure it's not a 2nd gen you're talking about?

[div3r]

I got out the manual which luckily I had with me and it suggested reversing slightly, look I’m sure your all quite right and its me that’s got it wrong ( it wont be the first time).