84 GWag 4-lo won't engage

[turtlejoe]

My mom has an '84 GWag with I-6 and Selec-Trac. All of the vacuum lines appear to be solid, and the axle actuator is functional. The 4-lo however won't engage.

Being that the truck is 1200 miles away, I just wanted to gather up a few ideas to forward to the guy who lives across the street from her, who does all the work on both of my folks G'Wags.

Any help that can be offered will be greatly appreciated!

[ April 24, 2003, 07:17 AM: Message edited by: turtlejoe ]

[Franklinstein]

Turtlejoe: I bought my `84 in 2001 from a guy that had it sitting in a lot for 7 months. Had the same problem your describing, at first, and was very frustrated till I tried this old trick. First if its the same as mine you have that little vacuum box thingy. Start the rig, move it forward just a few feet, then switch the vacuum to 4X4 and shift the tranny to neutral. Try to engage the floor lever to 4 lo.
At this point, my rig grinded and whined a bit so I threw it in reverse, started backing up, and shifted to neutral. Tried the floor lever again and ...wa-la..it slipped into low. It may well be that its just stuck from sitting for a while or, may also be that its just stiff from not having been used in a while.

Thats been my experiance...good luck!

[Brown Bear]

just because they look solid, doesn't mean they are. There are lots of vacuume hoses on an 84....amhik....one thing that may be a prob, there is a vacuume hose that connects to the to of the transfer case. it could have come loose. What are her specific symptoms? Will it go into 4hi?

[AMC258]

Well, if nothing else, Franklinstein solved my problem, I was having the same problem, then I tried what he said, and it worked.

THANX Franklinstein

[turtlejoe]

Brown Bear - the truck shifts into and out of 4Hi with no problems. I will suggest that the associated vacuum lines all be replaced and to lubricate the appropriate parts of the linkage. I suspect it may be as Franklinstein offered, that something between the lever and t'case is binding. The vehicle hasn't been driven much the last 5 years, and since my dad passed away in December is hasn't moved once.

[Franklinstein]

Well, glad i was able to help out AMC258!