HELP! Done something to the 4x4 on the pajero...

[thomo_113]

Hi guys..

First post on here, although i am a regular reader. Just like to say i love the site, tech sections are tops!

I need help with the Pajero. Its a 1986 2.6 petrol, manual, long wheel base with auto free wheeling hubs. Anyway i went up to Double Island Point on the weekend with mates and the truck was going great all weekend, until a mate drove it and decided to drop it back to 2wd for driving on the hard sand. Anyway, him being a toyota driver, presumed he could just stick it back into 4H and drive on up through the soft stuff without reversing a few metres first. So yeah off he went and got bogged and after we pulled him out, realised it was only spinning the rear wheels and the 4WD dash light was off, despite 4H being selected. So now the 2wd/4wd transfer selector thing is completely stuck in 4H and we cannot budge it, however its only in 2wd....

Any pointers as to exactly where the problem lies and how to fix it. I presume its something to do with the transfer case, or is it associated with the hubs themselves?????

Cheers,

thomo

[WTF]

its not really my field, but from some old bit of memory, i thought u only had to do the 'reverse few meteres' thing, going FROM 4H into 2H? not the other way around?

as i said, i might be wrong, but thats what i vaguely remember from the old days i was younger and my dad playing with his landcruiser.

reversing every time u shift to 4h would be damn annoying especially if you had to do it prior to going 'woops, i need 4wd now'.

i always thought it was to help the front hubs unlock/unwind etc.

my guess is it would have to be the selector/transfer case since its the selector itself thats stuck.


mark

[-Scott-]

The "reversing" thing is to help the auto hubs unlock after changing back to 2wd. Nothing will be damaged by driving in 2wd with the hubs locked - they're a "saving wear" device, not a "preventing damage" device.

The dash light indicates the front hubs are locked. I can't explain why your transfer is stuck in 4H, because it sounds like the front hubs are NOT locked. I believe they're vacuum operated, so start searching there?

Good luck,

Scott

[88pajero]

I am not 100% sure about the 2.6l pajs but in mine you have to stop before selectin 4x4 so I am pressuming that your mate jammed it into hi4 from 2wd whilst driving along which could have caused some probs in the transfer case. Have you had a look at the linkages?

[thomo_113]

Yeah im positive you have to stop and reverse a little bit when selecting 4wd. I've been underneath and checked all the linkages and they all seem to be in tact. I'm not sure whether its meant to or not, but i can rotate the front axle with my hands. It will turn 180' each way. And when driving, the transfer case is not trying to spin the front axle, its definately in 2wd, but the selector is definately stuck in 4H. We tried hitting it with hammers and everything lol. My normal mechanic cant look at it till friday. Anyone know of and pajero experts in the inner/north brisbane area?? Or anywhere in brissie for that matter?

Cheers,

thomo

[-Scott-]

Anyone know of and pajero experts in the inner/north brisbane area?? Or anywhere in brissie for that matter?

Cheers,

thomo

Motorcare (inner Northside) or Bayside 4x4 at Capalaba. Both are owned by people who know Pajeros well.

[WTF]

Yeah im positive you have to stop and reverse a little bit when selecting 4wd.

weird.. never heard of that in any of my past cars. does the manual say that too?

as i said, only ever heard of that to 'unlock' the hubs when going from 4 to 2wd mode, never the other way around.

sounds like u might have killed the transfer case if its that hard to move!

[-Scott-]

Yeah im positive you have to stop and reverse a little bit when selecting 4wd.

weird.. never heard of that in any of my past cars. does the manual say that too?

He's mistaken - it's not required to reverse, but it IS required to stop - which I believe is more a case of "no synchro" in the transfer.

I'm guessing a linkage has disconnected in the transfer - it sounds vaguely familiar, probably triggered by shifting on the fly.

The "reverse" bit is to remove any load from the hubs and allow them to disengage after you have returned to 2wd. Same thing can be achieved by slowly (and gently) driving forward and turning from side to side. Even if they don't disengage, no damage can be done - it just means the front wheels will be driving the diff, which adds to fuel consumption and (slightly) to general wear and tear.