Hi there,my front diff. on my Jimmy won't engage. The actuator is working. The cable from the actuator is connected. The light on the dash says it is working and the tansfer case is engaged. I can't turn the drive shaft going to the front diff. when the t-case is engaged. How do I test to see if the front diff. is working properly?
If your sure that the actuator is working then try this test. Put it into 4WD. Trans in PARK, Now jack up the RIGHT front tire so it is off the ground. Try to rotate it. If it rotates you have a problem with the cable,the shift fork or the sleeve inside the disconnect, or possibly damage in the front differential itself. To figure out if it is the shift fork or sleeve you will need to take it apart.
The cable is only held into the shift fork with a small wire clip. That clip may have broken. Or the cable itself may be bad. Not real hard to check/change if it is the problem. First release the clip that holds it to the vacuum actuator so the end is free. Then you need to jack up the front end. Secure it with jack stands. Now you need to decide if you want to just check the cable OR if your going to check and replace it yourself? To just check and see if it is connected you can unscrew the nut that screws into the shift housing and see if the cable is still connected inside. If not then look at the end and see if it is broken or worn. If it is connected and doesn't pull out then the problem is farther in.
If the cable isn't connected and it appears OK then the clip is probably bad. Dealer part.
Then remove the bolts that hold the shift cable housing to the axle. Pull the cable/housing out and you will find the clip. Replace it and reinstall the housing, bolts get torqued to 36 ft.lb. Then slide the cable end into the hole and push it in until you feel it snap into place. Then screw the housing nut back in (I put a small amount of never seize on it just in case) Reconnect the upper end of the cable and test it.
Thanks for the input, tried everything. I think the front diff is #$@ %* Do you have any schematics on the front diff??
It is nothing special. Just an open differential with the left axle split for the selector sleeve. The catch is that there is no cover to pull so you can look inside. However you can also pull it out to work on it and still be able to drive the vehicle.
Thanks, MERRY CHRISTMAS
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