My 1994 Subaru Loyale will no longer engage into 4x4 mode , depressing the button on the stick fails to elicit any response( the display on the dash will not light up) this occurred quite recently and I have never had any problems prior .Could this be a simple electrical problem?
Any chance someone installed the FWD fuse under the hood? Don't know how the 4wd is activated but it has to be either vacuum or a solenoid. Probably need to get under the car and start checking for voltage if it's a solenoid activated or a leaking vacuum hose if the other way.
Just another thought. Check all your fuses. This circuit must have one. Also use a multimeter to check for voltage at the button. Problem could be as simple as a bad switch.
button on the stick fails to elicit any response( the display on > the dash will not light up) this occurred quite recently and I have > never had any problems prior .Could this be a simple electrical
Hi,
The light on my Loyale has a mind of its own. It will work for a while, then go on "hiatus" for months before it decides it's going to work again. I don't remember how I discovered this, but a shot of contact cleaner into the gap around the switch in the top of the shift lever sometimes revives things.
But, even when the light's on vacation, if I turn off "noisy" things like the radio and heater fan, I can hear a faint "click" from under the car as the 4wd engages. Can you hear anything?
My system (it's a '90) is vacuum operated, and there's a small vacuum line that operates everything from a dashpot near the front of the gearbox. It's hard to see (gotta crawl under there and look carefully w/ a good light) but it's a place to start looking if you DON'T even get a "click."
Good luck!
Rick
In addition to what others have said on this, the 4WD cars (as opposed to the AWD flavor) lack a center differential/clutch pack/whatever. This is at least true on the mid-late '80s cars I've owned and worked on.
In any event, you can always tell if the rear is engaged by making a series of sharp turns on pavement. When in 4WD, you will feel the drive train bind a bit as you execute the turn. You might give this a shot before you start digging into the vacuum operated linkages and such.
ByeBye! S. Steve Jernigan KG0MB Laboratory Manager Microelectronics Research University of Colorado (719) 262-3101
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