Help Please I’m Stuck

In 4wd that is ....

2003 hardtop twin cam engine standard no mods.
I went out this afternoon to see how the roads were around me, found an empty car park with a little mound. Put the Jimmy into 4wd drove up the mound no problem had a couple of circuits went to come home moved gear leaver out of 4wd (leaver is fine) but ‘dash’ says ‘4wd’ & no clicks of the hubs.
I tried everything in the book regarding wheels straight, rocked back & forth engine off etc.
I drove gently home through the lanes on the ice as it’s only a mile.
Thinking this maybe temperature related, I left the engine running for a short while, still no joy.
I have attempted to get out of gear a few times this afternoon with out success.

The car in its present condition is un-drivable, fortunately I do have use of another car.
I would be most grateful for any suggestions where to start

R u sure its still in 4WD ?? if stick is in 2WD then pretty sure it will be possibly the switch that indicates in 4WD has not retruned and is possibly stuck in chances are it also uses the signal from that switch to engage hubs also so if its stuck light will be on and y hubs will be engaged

Tadpole wrote: I have attempted to get out of gear a few times this afternoon with out success.

Do you mean the main gearbox is stuck in gear???

If you turn the engine off on the vacuum operated hubs, do they unlock or does it hold the vacuum and thus hold them locked??? If it holds the vacuum and holds them locked you could pull one of the vacuum pipes off the inside of the hub to be sure they are not being held on lock by vacuum.

Or if Dave cc's thinking is right, pull the plugs off the switch on the transfer box.

I wonder if the transfer box is somehow stuck in 4wd, despite the fact you have pulled the lever out of 4wd and you have wind up causing you to not be able to get it out of gear?!?!?!???????

Perhaps if you jack it up and see if the wheel you lifft up spins out the wound up tension in the transmission as soon as it lift off the ground, and then if it will come out of gear.

Did it feel like you had wind up??? Car shaking a bit and steering a bit heavy etc?

Kirkynut

Dave cc wrote: R u sure its still in 4WD ?? if stick is in 2WD then pretty sure it will be possibly the switch that indicates in 4WD has not retruned and is possibly stuck in chances are it also uses the signal from that switch to engage hubs also so if its stuck light will be on and y hubs will be engaged

Thanks for the reply Dave
First of all let me say I have no experience of 4WD prior to ownership 4 months ago.
I have read quite a lot on the forum but do not have that ‘feel’ of 4WD related issues.

It is definitely stuck in 4WD, all gears work including reverse.
I have just reversed 20yds to see if it may 'unwind' no joy.

I feel your diagnosis sound about right Dave although I will tomorrow, attempt to look at the other suggestions, thanks guys.

Do you mean the main gearbox is stuck in gear???
No just 4WD

If you turn the engine off on the vacuum operated hubs, do they unlock or does it hold the vacuum and thus hold them locked??? If it holds the vacuum and holds them locked you could pull one of the vacuum pipes off the inside of the hub to be sure they are not being held on lock by vacuum.

No clicks when engine turned off so will try this tomorrow.

Or if Dave cc's thinking is right, pull the plugs off the switch on the transfer box.
I will also look at this tomorrow, thanks.

I wonder if the transfer box is somehow stuck in 4wd, despite the fact you have pulled the lever out of 4wd and you have wind up causing you to not be able to get it out of gear?!?!?!???????

Perhaps if you jack it up and see if the wheel you lifft up spins out the wound up tension in the transmission as soon as it lift off the ground, and then if it will come out of gear.
Again something to look at tomorrow.

Did it feel like you had wind up??? Car shaking a bit and steering a bit heavy etc?
Never experienced ‘wind up’ no shaking car as smooth as ever, steering only heavy when turning as you would expect on tarmac’

Thanks for your suggestions Kirky

Don`t worry too much, as long as the lever on the transfer box moves from 4wd to 2wd you have physically disengaged 4WD.
My light works properly now I have fitted manual free wheeling hubs, go figure