4WD Not Disengaging.

[Bessie the Mud Slayer]

I did a somewhat thorough search and didn't find an answer that satisfied me. So here goes.
After coming off a snowy side street, I hit pavement, and pulled it out of 4hi. I was moving straight, about 20km/hr, but it didn't disengage 4wd. The light on the dash went out, but I could hear/feel that the 4wd didn't disengage. Tried putting it back in 4hi, and out again, but nothing. After a few tries, I eventually pulled over and reversed, and after the hubs unlocked, it came out of 4wd. I tested and repeated this a few times, so it seems that my bus gets stuck in 4wd once engaged. What could I do to fix this? Or any other thoughts?

[drrod]

I think the proper technique to unlock the hubs (and the only way) is to shift out of 4wd and then back up. I know that is the only way to unlock our hubs and I am pretty sure that is the only way to unlock them.
Rod

[jessef]

That's normal.

To disengage the auto hubs, you have to reverse the Delica until the wheel lock light turns off and you'll feel them disengaging too.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Like Drrod says: Come to a stop; put transmission shifter into Neutral; then engage the transfer lever from 4H into 2H; put transmission shifter into Reverse and back up ten feet or so then stop; put transmission shifter into Drive and you should be on your merry way... smiles.

Falco.

[konadog]

I think BTMS is saying the transfer case didn't disengage when he shifted it into 2wd, right BTMS?. You should be able to drive in 2wd and keep the hubs locked so when you turn off a cleared main road onto a snow or ice covered side road you can simply pop the transfer case back into 4h. I do it all the time.

[Bessie the Mud Slayer]

I think BTMS is saying the transfer case didn't disengage when he shifted it into 2wd, right BTMS?. You should be able to drive in 2wd and keep the hubs locked so when you turn off a cleared main road onto a snow or ice covered side road you can simply pop the transfer case back into 4h. I do it all the time.

Yup.
I've had this bus for a couple years now, maybe 3? and this isn't normal for me. I know all about the auto hubs and how to engage/disengage 4wd, this isn't one of those posts. The transfer case (I guess its called) does not disengage at all. There's an obvious tension and different noise, like there is when I;m in 4low, if I keep moving and go back to 4hi, it sort of 'snaps' the shifter into place.
I can usually tell the exact moment the transfer case lets go shortly after shifting into 2hi, the steering slops up a bit and the noise from the front end decreases slightly. Neither of those happen...

[FalcoColumbarius]

Here's a question for you, Bessie ~ when was the last time you changed the fluid in the transfer case? By the way... I knew when I was typing that, well, I know you've been here for some time and this isn't likely the issue but with the information we had we had to start somewhere .

Falco.

[Bessie the Mud Slayer]

Here's a question for you, Bessie ~ when was the last time you changed the fluid in the transfer case?
Falco.

Oh, that, well that'd be never. Unless it was part of a maintenance that the mechanic did, but I've never done it or requested it done for that matter......hm....

[CVI]

Preventive maintenance suggestions....replace all your fluids every 2 years. ie. engine coolant, rear differential fluid, brake fluid. Transfer case and front differential fluid - I would check the condition first because unless you use your 4WD everytime, there's no need to replace that every two years. Transmission fluid, I base it on the color of the ATF fluid...which means you have to maintain that pinkish color at all times. Keeping the fluid clean assures you a very healthy transmission saving you a couple of thousand dollars on repair. Having said that, it's all about preventive maintenance and fluid changes to get our delica as reliable. Most important of all, regular check up of your engine oil and engine coolant assures day to day trouble free driving.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Here's a question for you, Bessie ~ when was the last time you changed the fluid in the transfer case?
Falco.

Oh, that, well that'd be never. Unless it was part of a maintenance that the mechanic did, but I've never done it or requested it done for that matter......hm....

Butch says it all. I was shifting into 4H one day and I started hearing... shall we say a noise... it wasn't quite grinding but it was coming from beneath me and it was coming up to the two year mark so I went to CVI to get all the fluids changed. I asked how the old fluids were and the front diff was a bit cloudy and other than the oil, glycol and ATF ~ nothing had been changed for years. After the change the "noise" went away.

Falco.

[Bessie the Mud Slayer]

Thanks for the good advice all. We're pretty heavy on the 4wd from spring to fall, x3 seasons, probably adds up to an overdue change.

[nxski]

It might be time to get that done myself. I have a slight noise coming from mine which I thought was normal but appears not to be.

I did notice though that somehow while being parked for several hours the vehicle had somehow switched itself into 4X4. I noticed this when I took a fast corner on tarmac, the wheel lock light came on and I felt a lot of tension building up. I stopped, put it in neutral, changed out of 2H (the stick was still in the appropriate position), put it back in 2H reversed and nothing happened. In the end I had to clear some space behind me and put my foot to the floor in reverse for about 50 feet then gun it forwards as well, I heard a clunk and all has been well since.

[thedjjack]

Change fluid and check the linkage. Forward control shifters maybe out.

[elger]

thanks for all the info, I didn't know that auto locking hubs had to be reversed, but I will now always shift into reverse before continuing. thanks again.

[TardisDeli]

Hi Elger, welcome to the Cult (I see this is your first posting). Hmmm, sounds like you need to join in one of our Deli Mini-Meets so you can get lots of info and advice on your Delica. I should be planning a get together in the next couple weeks, or if you're in Burnaby we live just a couple minutes south of the Gaglardi Freeway Exit and we're always happy to spend an evening hour crawling all over someones deli telling them everything they need to know. Cheers, Christine.