Well, just bought a 2001 used Sportage. Love it so far even though having alarm problems and O2 sensor issues, but working on them, and getting great help from people here.

So, next problem. The 4x4 does not work. I read all the stuff I could find here. The hubs work fine and does not appear to be the problem.

Here go how I diagnosed it.

Scenario #1 Put in 4wd drive - light on, Jack up both front tires, I can spin the front tires by hand (bad)û the axel CV shaft also spins(appears hubs are locked)(good), the drive shaft does not spin (bad). I can not spin the drive shaft, it appears locked in the transfer case. It appears to be an issue in the differential case.

Scenario #2 take out of 4wd drive, spin tires, front axel does not spin (good), drive shaft does not spin (good), if I craw upper and spin the drive shaft by hand, the axel CV shafts do not (bad)

Scenario #3 jacked the back end off the ground, put in 4wd drive with only the front tires touching the ground, and nothing, no tracking, no engagement (bad).

Appears to be the front Differentialààanyone every here of thisàany ideas, any suggestions. Nothing is ever easy, I was all set even excited to buy some warn hubs to fix it, but unfortunately thatÆs not the problem. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />

Looking for your help.
Dan

It certainly is pointing to a blown front diff.

Try Scenario 3 again. But look to see if the front driveshaft turns. If it does that rules out transfer case problems and nails the front diff as the problem, especially if the front axles DON'T turn.

If yoy have the front only off the ground with the 4x4 engaged you will not be able to spin the drive shaft because the front and rear drives are connected, if you spin one wheel the other wheel should spin becaus of the spider gears and the drive shaft is locked.

If you dissengage your 4x4 and turn your front drive shaft by hand the half shafts should rotate.

It is hard for me to believe that the diff is blown to the point that the pinnion is spinning free and not causing all sorts of noise and banging.

It is likely that your front vaccume hubs are not working properly.

Thanks so far for your help. It is hard for me to believe that a front diff it blown with out chunks blowing out the side of the case too. I hear nothing out of the ordinary with the 4 wd engaged, only the slight hum of more gears turning.

As for scenario#3 the front drive shaft turns but the front axel Cv or half do not. I do think the transfer case appears ok.

With the front lifted up I can spin the front tires and the axel/half shafts with them but I can not spin, by hand the drive shaft. If I spin one front tire in one direction the other front tire spins in the other direction, leading me to believe the spider gears are fine. And I hear no grinding noise. If I try to turn the tire back and forth both directions very quickly there appears that they are firmly engaged , they feel very solidly attached to each other.

I will do some more investigation tonight when I get home.

Thanks again for the help from you guys.

Dan
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Very special : indeed your scenario 1 is all normal, but with 2 and 3, I will wait to see what you are going to find there....may be the guy before has emptied the garbage off the diff. ...and lived happy with 2WD....
just for the record (no consequence on your findings at this point),it is still equipped with the vacuum hubs?

Well,

I am taking it abck to the dealer on Monday, we just bought it a wekk ago. Luckly this appears to be covered by that warrenty that came with it. But we all know how that goes at stealers. I'll keep you all posted.

Dan

Well, had it at the dealers, and it was the vacuum lines. They fix it for free and i tested it out tin the snow and it is working fine. I was sure glad to hear it was not the diff. I will soon replace the hubs with warns when i get time.


Thanks again <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Dan