Extreme Terrain
4x4Wire Trail Talk Forums: Jeep, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Pajero, Isuzu, Kia, 4WD, 4x4, SUV, Off-Road and OutdoorWire Forums


Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Center diff won't lock up on my 96 SR #933497 02/28/09 01:22 AM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 650
Kirk Offline OP
Rock Warrior
I just acquired a '96 SR to replace my '95. (I've been away far too long. Hopefully I can get back on the trail soon)

When I shift into 4 hi locked the center diff won't lock up. The orange light on the dash never stops blinking. I've tried letting off the gas, giving it gas, while moving, while in neutral, etc. I've also tried shifting into 4 lo. That doesn't help either.

It has 110k miles and it's possible that it's never been put in 4 hi locked before.

Any suggestions of what I should look for?

Thanks,
Kirk


'96 SR, 35's, body lift, arb front bumper, Custom rear rock bumper, rock sliders.
'89 Raider V6 w/ SR rear axle & locker
Kirk's Montero page but not updated in forever
KJ6GVJ
Re: Center diff won't lock up on my 96 SR [Re: Kirk] #933498 02/28/09 07:27 AM
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 7,309
PHIL_ Offline
Trail Leader
*****
Hiya Kirk... nice to see you on here again...

Start with this:
http://4wd.blogeasy.com/article.view.run?articleID=318776

The orange light is covered in there somewhere too...


1991 HZJ77, 1999 KZJ90, 1999 UZJ100, 1992 M101CDN2
https://www.thegearheadproject.com/category/jdm-journeys/

Re: Center diff won't lock up on my 96 SR [Re: Kirk] #933499 02/28/09 01:55 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,006
P
pcc Offline
Body Damage is Cool
Quote
Any suggestions of what I should look for?Kirk


My light blinks as well BUT the center diff lock does engage the 4Hi/4low Lock. If you have all wheel drive option and can engage that with no blinking light then the front diff engage switch should be OK. On mine I traced the problem to a switch on the top of the transfer case. It's hard to get to without a hoist. I suspect because of non-use the switch contacts are corroded.


92 Montero LS 3.0L V6 Auto, Stock, Original owner, 185,800K miles
Re: Center diff won't lock up on my 96 SR [Re: pcc] #933500 02/28/09 04:01 PM
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,269
justice Offline
Roll Me Over
*****
If the TCase is going into low range and drives fine, I dont think its mechanically possible for the center diff to NOT be locked. I think your looking for a switch/inicator problem.

My 2 cents.


99 Gen 2.5, fixing blown head gasket
89 SWB- 33's, ARB Front locker, SR rear locker/axle, SR F brakes, winch, WST Offroad Armor all Around, 2.85 Aussie T-case Gears (SOLD)
Sold: (2) 95 SR's, 86 SWB, 90LWB, 91 LWB
-Can Change a timing belt in my sleep..
Re: Center diff won't lock up on my 96 SR [Re: justice] #933501 02/28/09 06:05 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,356
MontyMcV Offline
Trail Leader
I'm with Justice. Easy to test. Go to a parking lot and put it in 4Lo. Then see how tight a circle you can turn. It should bind up pretty good when the turning radius gets small.


Big Truck: 00, 3.5, Endeavor, 5-Spd drive line in hand!
Little Truck: 87, 2.6T I/C, MT, LSDs, Tonneau Top
Her Truck: 03, 3.8, 20th Anniv, 65k
Daughter's: 06 Eclipse, Keeping it Mitsu!
FSMs: MitsubishiLinks.com
Re: Center diff won't lock up on my 96 SR [Re: justice] #933502 02/28/09 06:35 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,690
87Montero Offline
Trail Leader
***
Quote
If the TCase is going into low range and drives fine, I dont think its mechanically possible for the center diff to NOT be locked. I think your looking for a switch/inicator problem.

My 2 cents.


That was the issue I had with my '94 SR, it was definetly a switch issue because I'd wiggle the t-case selector to make it turn solid. Then it'd let me engage the air locker.


1999 Mitsu Montero - Crappy Weather
1992 Isuzu Pickup - Zombie Apocalypse
2008 Saturn Sky Redline - Nice Weather
Re: Center diff won't lock up on my 96 SR [Re: 87Montero] #933503 02/28/09 11:07 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,356
MontyMcV Offline
Trail Leader
Ah, good point on the locker...


Big Truck: 00, 3.5, Endeavor, 5-Spd drive line in hand!
Little Truck: 87, 2.6T I/C, MT, LSDs, Tonneau Top
Her Truck: 03, 3.8, 20th Anniv, 65k
Daughter's: 06 Eclipse, Keeping it Mitsu!
FSMs: MitsubishiLinks.com
Re: Center diff won't lock up on my 96 SR [Re: MontyMcV] #933504 03/01/09 01:26 AM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 650
Kirk Offline OP
Rock Warrior
Thanks, I'll try the circle turning and lever wiggling Sunday. It may be locked as you say but I still need to get it to recognize that it's locked so I can engage the rear locker.


'96 SR, 35's, body lift, arb front bumper, Custom rear rock bumper, rock sliders.
'89 Raider V6 w/ SR rear axle & locker
Kirk's Montero page but not updated in forever
KJ6GVJ







4x4Wire Social:

| 4x4Wire on FaceBook |


OutdoorWire, 4x4Wire, JeepWire, TrailTalk, MUIRNet-News, and 4x4Voice are all trademarks and publications of OutdoorWire, Inc. and MUIRNet Consulting.
Copyright (c) 1999-2019 OutdoorWire, Inc and MUIRNet Consulting - All Rights Reserved, no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without express written permission
You may link freely to this site, but no further use is allowed without the express written permission of the owner of this material.
All corporate trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3
(Release build 20190728)
PHP: 7.4.33 Page Time: 0.012s Queries: 15 (0.009s) Memory: 0.6244 MB (Peak: 0.7236 MB) Data Comp: Off Server Time: 2026-07-15 17:41:30 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS