4WD Low light fails to come on

I am switching my 2008 Gen3 4x4 system over to a manual hub system (decision was made for me by the Jimny...). Earlier thread of mine: 4x4 light came on and just flashed, implying vacuum leak. I got under vehicle to test vacuum system integrity and pulled off the 2 short vacuum tubes linking the vacuum piping on the front axle with those leading to the engine bay. Problem was they came off with bits of the front system pipes in place. Rusted rotten. Source of the leak...So I plugged the pipes leading to the engine bay and tested. Flashing 4WD symbol gone!

So back to my problem:
Vehicle in neutral and engine running. Select 4wd (press button). There is a clunking noise and the 4wd light comes on, stays on, solid. Select 4WD low, a beeping noise for a few seconds, but no 4L light (the light works, I see it on startup). Disengaging the system in reverse works. 

Driving the vehicle over a short distance (currently not insured so no roadwork), I detect no difference between high and low so I am suspecting Low Range has not been selected. 4WD engages and disengages BTW. tested the prop shaft.

Any idea why the 4L light fails to come on and 4WDlow is not selected?

Thanks in anticipppppp...ation (Rocky Horror, OK so Im not a kid anymore...)

Julian





 

Hi,

Check the wiki on 4WD-L

www.bigjimny.com/mediawiki/index.php/4WD..._from_4WD-H_to_4WD-L

It suggests you are getting the bleeping because either the clutch is not pressed or you are moving. Try it in neutral, or with the hand brake on or clutch pressed or combination of all three.

I know mine doesn’t want to engage one of the modes if the clutch is pressed but can’t remember which it is. I have manual hubs but like yours it is all working correctly as I blanked off the vacuum system.

Hope that helps

Robin

Waaah what a fountain of knowledge!.. Thanks!.. I am such a chop.. I forgot to press in the clutch. That simple.. Yep, I got me a 4L light!. Looking forward now to ordering and fitting the manual hubs on my next trip back to the UK. Then re-insure ( I was with Marshmallow and had a massive policy increase to nearly £600 a year, so I let it lapse and will find someone more reasonable.) and a bit of a road trip before winter returns.

Good news you have fixed it and don’t worry about missing the clutch we have all been there and got the t-shirt.

My vacuum lines became blocked last December and after two sessions trying to blow them through I went for manual hubs, intending to go back to the vacuum system at some stage. However, I don’t think I will bother, with manual hubs you know they are engaged, unlike the vac ones, I would sometimes get a steady green light but no drive to or bothfront wheels, I assume the hubs can stick and not engage.

Manual ones aren’t really a problem, if you think you are going to need them engage them before setting off and then just switch the transfer box between 2 and 4 wheel drive when required.

There is another advantage,you can engage the low ratios in 2wd, handy if you are dragging a heavy boat out of the water on a slip way where you can’t really use

Insurance wise I pay £170 for my 2011, fully comp with break down cover, it’s on limited mileage, about 7,000 miles, I only have 3 years no claims on this car as I have two cars and you can’t share no claims bonus across policies. I always look on compare the meerkat but my renewal was sensible last year so stayed with the same company.

Robin

Robin

Thanks, back in South Africa I was a Land Surveyor and had all sorts of 4wd vehicles, starting with a series 2 swb landy, oh do I wish I still had that one. All my 4x4 vehicles had manual hubs and I really liked them. They also had a manual transfer box, so there was no doubt at all about what gear or config you were in. This Jimny is 4x4 no 8 if I count correctly, and is by far the most fun one I have had. Only the swb landy had as much character. I use this just for work here in the UK, and average under 1500 miles per year, 40 years no claim, yet after 2 years with Marshmallow, year 3 had this whopping jump in premiums. For a vehicle that sits stationary 99% of the year?? Crazy.

So thanks for the other advice, I will try the compare website and find something more reasonable.

Back to Germany & the Balkans for 3 weeks and when I return I will fit the hubs, insure and enjoy!

Julian