I have a '90 Jeep Cherokee, 4 L Straight six, 4x4 two door 5 speed.

It has 210,000 miles on it and I just had the Clutch Fixed ($500), got it home and
it then snowed 1.5 foot of snow (Eastern Washington State).

Just when I need 4x4, the bugger won't go into 4x4 - no indicator light - no action.

It went into 4x4 when it was driven home last week - so the Clutch Shop did not
screw the 4x4 up.

Now it snows and no 4x4 when I need it - typical automobile style.

Any ideas?

I have no idea what to do or the order to do it in....

I know this Jeep has vacuum hoses on the front axle.

Do those vacuum lines control the light on the Left Dash?

Would the light go on it the vacuum on the front axle hoses were leaking?

HELP......help......

DoctorBill

i had the same problem on my 89 cherokee, it was a disconnected vacuum line coupler. that is in engine bay under the heater blower motor(pass side), check all your vacuum lines for breaks and cracks, its possible that when clutch was replaced that the lines were not securely put back together, good luck!

P.S.
Do those vacuum lines control the light on the Left Dash? YES, jeep won't go into 4x4 ig vac lines are bad/unhooked.. so light will not go on.

Would the light go on it the vacuum on the front axle hoses were leaking? probably not.

I finally was able to get into town (30 miles away) when the snow melted enough.

The Clutch Mechanic looked at it and in 3 minutes found one of the four colored
vacuum lines was missing a 3 inch section! Up inside the black wraparound
protective covering just out of the Transfer Case!

He spliced it with rubber Fuel Tubing and all is now well in 4x4 land.....

I cannot find what size those colored plastic vacuum hoses are!

Spokane Chrysler Parts can't find a damned thing about them in their computer!

Lord God - what bull crud!

Even my Jeep Shop Manual I bought years ago says NOTHING about them!

Anyone know the size? They are plastic.

I can go to "Spokane House of Hose" (yes - that's the name of it!) and buy
25 feet of it to replace the 18 year old tubes coming apart...if I knew the size.

I can't get under there right now to measure it myself - 3 feet of snow and wet.

DoctorBill

Not exactly sure because I don't have vacuum disconnect anything on mine but just guessing they're prolly either 1/8 or 1/4 ID hose most likely 1/8 but don't take my word on it wait for aloha to chime in and he might know or be able to measure and let you know that way.

If you haven't found out by Saturday, I will go out and get under my '87 and see what size they are. I will also check my repair manual and see if it says anything, but I can't look at that until Saturday either.

I think it is 1/8 in..

I thought I posted a diagram for you. Just apply vacuum directly to the front actuator and you will have 4 wheel drive. That what they did to a Jeep that lost its 4 wheel when I was at the Jeep Jamboree and he was able to continue the run the next day.

5/32" gas line hose is a common slip over fix, cut out the bad section(s) and slip the gas line over it, then zip tie it at both ends, good luck finding replacements, i'd hit up a napa store if you have one near.

does anyone have a diagram of how this all connects to the canisters under the hood of an '86? I have an '86 Cherokee and no 4x4 working either. I found the vaccum lines that this thread are talking about and both the red and blue ones are cut off or have been broke off. There are no hoses on the two canisters either. Does anyone have a diagram of how to connect all this that is understandable??

Thanks a ton!!!

FOrget the vacuum lines and invest in the cable disconnect that replaces the troubled vac. lines. YOu can find it at Quadratech.

FOrget the vacuum lines and invest in the cable disconnect that replaces the troubled vac. lines. YOu can find it at Quadratech.

I think I found what you are talking about on the Quadratech website...not exactly sure what it is that I am looking for though...how are is this to put in?

This is what I found..."OX Locker Actuator 90" Cable"...and I would have to get the OX Locker Kit too? If this is it, I will have to wait a while, dont have the 700.00 laying around to get the whole kit...

No, it should be a cable to replace the vacuum disconnect on your axle. Its called 4x4 posi-lock @ about $219. This will eliminate your problems and never again wonder if your axle is engaged or not.

There's also other cheaper ways of accomplishing the same thing. I've seen it on google a few times about people using a bike brake cable and a few other parts to do the same thing for alot cheaper.