Help with 4wd and my new Tranny for 98 Rodeo

I just put a new tranny in my 1998 Rodeo 3.2L 4WD. Now that it is in it will not engage in 4WD....the light just keeps blinking and the motor that engages sounds like it is working inside so I am baffled.....any help would be appreciated greatly........ [email protected] .... or post a reply thanks

There's two motors, an encoder motor for the transfer case and a SOTF actuator motor on the front axle. Which do you hear?

Joel

you can hear the motor on the transfer case engage, and i believe we could hear the other motor, i was in the car and my teacher was under it listening, the front hubs lock but you get no output from the front driveshaft....let me know what you think......

Did you keep the original transfer case with the transmission swap? Verify electrical connections are good. You do have to be moving for 4x4 to engage fully. The system looks at the (ABS) wheel speed sensors before it will engage/disengage. Most common source of 4x4 issues with the 1998+ is the electric SOTF actuator (on the front axle tube). The motor housing tends to hold moisture and rust up, loosing full range of motion, etc. Keep in mind the 'hubs' dont lock/unlock. 1998+ have drive flanges. The front axle in a sense does the locking/unlocking.

Joel

You do have to be moving for 4x4 to engage fully. The system looks at the (ABS) wheel speed sensors before it will engage/disengage.

I didnt know that. I've put mine into 4wd several times while at a stop. It seemed to me to engage and the dash light went solid.

I still cannot seem to get the 4wd to engage and the light continues to blink...what parts/motors/actuators are there on the transfer case itself that could possibly be wrong and how would you go about diagnosing them? Any input would be greatly appreciated. I do not think that it is the SOTF because before I put the new tranny in the 4wd was working...now that the new tranny (and transfer case of course) are in, I am not getting 4wd...

Get a manual with a good wiring diagaram and trace the power through. I know of 1 4wd control unit that has gone bad on an '01 rodeo after tranny replacement (protetype on planetisuzoo).

Try putting it into 4wd then even if the dash light is stil blinking try shifting into low range and see if it will go.

The system shifts the t-case in first, then once it is engaged the control unit should send a signal to the front axle actuator to lock in. In protetypes case, the t-case was shifting in and the control unit was seeing it but wouldnt send the signal to the front axle. The box was replaced and it works again.

I still cannot seem to get the 4wd to engage and the light continues to blink...what parts/motors/actuators are there on the transfer case itself that could possibly be wrong and how would you go about diagnosing them? Any input would be greatly appreciated. I do not think that it is the SOTF because before I put the new tranny in the 4wd was working...now that the new tranny (and transfer case of course) are in, I am not getting 4wd...

I used to have the same problem with my Rodeo. Keep driving, keep engaging/disengaging the 4WD and eventually it might begin working again. I think my SOTF actuator was sticking and by using the 4WD I got it to unstick itself.

I got a ? how fast can U run 4X4 high\low to be safe and not damage your transfer. I have a 1998 Rodeo V6.

Isuzu says you can shift in/out of 4H below 60mph so you can atleast go that fast, not sure of top speed of low range. Dont do it on dry pavement though (really not even just wet either) because it can bind the drivetrain and possibly break stuff. Just use it with dirt/snow/mud.

... top speed of low range.25 mph.

Thank U Guys!