The 4x4 indicator light started staying on in my Dakota when the lever was moved
back to 2wd a couple of weeks ago. My first though was it's just a sticking
switch (my friend that was the original owner stated he had the switch replaced
twice) and I did not worry to much about it.
When I was under the truck checking out the axle for my upcoming replacement of
a CV I noticed a vacumn solinoid and switch on the axle. I did a little reading
and discovered that there is a vacumn switch on the the transfer case that
routes vacumn to this solinoid on the axle to move a coller back and forth to
disconnect the axle from the differential when the transfer case is moved in and
out of 4wd.
A quick check seemed to indicate that as I moved the Transfer case in and out of
4wd I was not getting any vacumn at the axle to activate the solinoid.
Since my gas milage has dropped off a couple of mpg I am now wondering if the
axle is infact in the 4wd postion and the switch is functioning properly. If I
am turning th axle differnetial and front drive shaft even when the transfer
case is in 2wd this could accont for my mpg drop.
My question to the list is; Has anyone had any experience or problems in this
area that would help locate the route problem?
I plan on installing the new (rebuilt) axle this weekend and I am also going to
take the opportunity to replace the axle seal on the right side.
Dave Clement
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