4wd questions

[rcoll90]

Hi all, I am new to Jeeps and 4x4's in general. I got a couple questions about the 4wd in my 89 cherokee with the 231 t-case. When i engage 4wd, it feels like it might have engaged but the part time light does not come on. I know the front shaft is turning in 4wd and not in 2wd because I marked it to make sure. How do I know if I am actually in 4wd or not? Also if I am in 4wd, does anybody know where the part time lamp fuse is or how to change the bulb?

[richpinkham]

The lamp is in an information panel on the left side of the gauge set. you might be able to reach it from the back, but I take the front off the dash to get to it.
Goos Luck

[jaarcher]

the first thing i would check is weather or not you have on of two axles in your jeep, either a dana 30, or the dana 30 with the vac disconnect, if you have the vaccum dissconnect you may be having a problem with the accuator in the axle housing, the transfer case will turn the drive shaft no matter what, but, the passenger side axle may not be engaed you see the axle is actually in two pioece on that side and needs a couping ring to connect the two together, your problem may be that the accuator is not working properly and not engaging the 4wd, check the vac lines to the t case they my be cracked or broken all together, i had thsi problem and just replace the garbage system with a one piece axle form another cherokee or you can buy a mechanical system from

http://www.4x4posi-lok.com/

hope this helps

[rcoll90]

thanks for the tip. the vacuum line looks fine, commected at both ends and no cracks or holes that i can see. When i put it in 4wd hi or low the whole jeep seems to get sluggish and produce higher revs for lower speeds. this sensation goes away when i put into 2hi. Does this sound like i am in 4wd?

[marcoleo]

to see if the vacum shifter work fine, disconnect the air pipe from the shifteer, open the shifter cover, removing the 4 screw from the shifter to the axle, be carefull come out oil, reconnect the air pipe and put the shifter on the floor, engage the 4wd and look if the shifter moving.
The sensor, in my model ('91 TD2.1 Italian), is on the left side of the motor when you look in front of the car, it's a small vertical cylinder on L support with an air pipe and a wire, (I guess brown) you can check if it work with a ohm meter, it open/close circuit when you engage/disengage.
I've somewhere a pdf with the US electrical diagram, send me an email if you need it.
Good luck, Leo.