4 wheel drive will not engage. help!

[mikeguess]

just got an 84 woody with the 360 and the crystler tranny. the 4x4 has not been used in 9yrs, and will not engage. what could the problem be here? what might it take to fix this?

thanks,
mike g

[LRRH]

vacuum leak. i'll assume that you have a switch on the dash. there are lins that run to the transfer case and the front axle. check there first and if they are nasty/rotted/missing replace as necessary.

report back with findings =)

[joe]

Vacuum line leak is guess one. Not having been switched into 4WD for 9 years...frozen vacuum motor on the front axle and/or the one on the tcase is guess two. Odds are 50/50 for either scenario.

[mikeguess]

how much would these problems cost to fix, if you have anyidea?

[andy d]

5-10 $ worth of vacuum hose , a can of Pb blaster, some elbow grease. thats assuming it is just a bad vacuum line and stuck linkage. which chances are it is.

[joe]

Vacuum hose is about $0.27-$0.50/ft depending on size. The motors if rusted up/frozen are from whatever you can find them used for up to about $90 each new. I'd start with checking/replacing the vacuum lines between the vacuum reservoir/dash switch/front axle/tcase first. Once you get this solved switch between 4WD/2WD once a month or so to keep the motors from rusting up. If used occasionally there's no reason for the vacuum motors to go bad but 9 years w/o use is a stretch...but in a dry climate like most of AZ has you may get lucky.
If you need the diagrams for the vacuum lines email me and I'll send them you ya.
Oh yeah Mike, welcome to the IFSJA forum/site. You're starting out in the right place. ;)

[Its all about the Jeep]

I have an 86 wag with the same system, and had the same problem. My wife took it to a mechanic while I was in Iraq, and he charged her 15 bucks for the job. He replaced all vacuum hoses related to the actuator, and checked a wire somewhere behind the switch. Try the hoses first. At least then if you have to by a new switch or actuator you'll know it's not the hose.

[monty97]

Mike,I have an 84GW with the same problems your having.I had to replace the actuator motor on the front diff,replace vac. lines.I need a switch on the inside now,all cost me about $40,i found the motor from this site,If anyplace can help you it's this place.These guy's know there s!#*.Good luck.

PS if you can find more than one vac. motor they are not a bad thing to keep around.

[mikeguess]

thanks for all the help guys! i would have been lost without this forum.

mikeg

[M4203]

My 86 had the same problem, I checked the 2wd/ 4wd lever it wouldn't hold vacuum. Also the vacuum switch on the transfer case was leaking. Found two used ones at the bone yard.

[Dragon wagon]

Joe

I would like some diagrams for the vacuum lines on a '75 Wagoneer if you have some. I have not really looked at it yet but I get no response when I switch the glove box control.

Tyler

[83 WagDriver]

Also there are two what we would call coffee cans on the left fender under the hood. Make sure that those lines are connected as well. And welcome to the forum

[joe]

I'll send it to you Tyler but the QT system is pretty simple. The middle line from the switch goes to the vacuum reservoir in the eng bay and the other two go to the vac motor on the tcase. The drivers side outer one on the switch goes to the outer nipple on the motor to disengage and the pass side hose goes to the inner nipple to engage E-drive.