front wheels not engaging?

[1990 surf]

hey guys, i have a manual 1990 2.4l diesel turbo surf. tried getting onto muriwai yesterday for a bit of a drive. but when i pushed the button on the smaller shifter. the front wheels didnt engage, and got bogged out in the loose sand.

just wondering if anybody has had the same problem and knows what the problem is??

cheers, Jay.

[tweake]

can be a few things.
first thing to check is if both front wheels are not getting drive or just the right hand one is. if only one its an ADD problem. check the vac hoses coming up from the diff.

if neither work then check that the driveshaft actually turns the front wheels.
make sure its not a broken diff.

failing that you looking at the transfer motor and/or 4wd ecu.

[Kumarakid]

I'm no authority on such things but i have had the same problem. It was just the wire that connects to that small shifter button had come off under the gear stick covers. Check first that you can hear it clicking when depressing the button firstly. Someone else may clarify this for you.

[1990 surf]

cheers guys. when i push the button i can hear something making a noise but the 4wd light on the dash doesnt come on and its definatly doesnt go into 4wd.

[tallsam66]

First check all the vacuum lines that go to the VSV 's (vacuum switching valves). Will be 1 from reserviour them some to ADD .
If they arent intact the diff wont engage.
Next check the 2 plugs that are on the ADD, 1 of them is a switch that engages when ADD is engaged allowing the transfer case motor to operate .
Check all plugs are in place on transfer case.
When transfer case engages you should hear the motor wirrr.
You could also have a faulty 4wd computer , its a small brown relay box that controls 4wd.