Jimny O2 JLX soft top, 2004

Hi, I am totally new to the Jimny and 4WD world and went for a test drive today in the above, am keen to buy it, good condition, good price, 60 000 miles, but it sometimes seemed hard to get into 2WD (I wanted him to show me how the drive system worked, appreciate you're not supposed to drive in 4wd on tarmac) and occasionally when it was in 2WD the light came on indicating it had slipped into 4WD. The salesman said it was because it had sat on the forecourt for a month or so (!). Does it sound like something major, or just simply something I need to get the hang of? Any ideas greatly appreciated, thanks, trying to get an idea if I should walk away, or something that I can get resolved easily if I buy it

Changing into 4wd in mine takes a concerted effort. I'd be concerned if it kept dropping in by itself!

Check for a broken transfer box mount underneath. Cheap to fix but you might well get the garage to do it.

If you don't notice it slipping into 4WD whilst driving along on tarmac, the Jimny will be fkd in no time flat. This needs to be fixed. As Jimnyash said, going into 4WD should be an effort (not much on mine), but a deliberate move - not a mistake!

Sorry for not being on the site for so long. I bought this Jimny and love it. The transmission concern never materialised, it has never slipped out of 2WD unintentionally, and it moves nicely between 2 and 4 wd. Annoyingly it does have a slight death wobble but as I live on the IOW its hard to get over 40 anyway so I can live with that. Its a great car, soft top. Its the only car I have ever owned since motrorbike days as a teenager that I actullay go for a drive in purely ofr the sake of the drive! The wife hates the bouncing around in it, but I love it. Great cars.

Check your tyre pressures as the Jimny shouldn't really bounce. The tyre placard has the recommended pressures but generally speaking 22psi front 24psi reamr if on same tyres as original. Otherwise, bounce each corner and see if the vehicle immediately returns to non-bouncing. If it doesn't then shocker is probably shot.