Proper shifting in and out of 4 wheel drive and dashboard lights.

H

Hardluck Charlie

Member
First winter here in the Vermont snow. Wondering about max highway speeds in 4 wheel drive? Is there a max speed to shift in and out of 4WD?, Proper technique to get out of 4x4 mode - my "Wheel Lock" indicator light on dash stays lit after I shift out of 4WD (shifting out seems smooth and fine) but it seems I have to bump reverse to get light to turn off? any thoughts on proper technique will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
 
TL;DR:
-No maximum speed in 4WD.
-Only use 4WD on slippery surfaces where the front and rear wheels can rotate at different speeds if needed. No dry, grippy pavement!
-If the "wheel lock" light is off, only shift from 2H->4H when stationary.
-Once the "wheel lock" light is on, you can shift between 2H and 4H and back at any speed (but try and be below 30mph to make it easier on the gearbox).
-Only shift between 4H and 4L when stationary.
-To unlock the auto hubs, shift to 2H and reverse until the light goes out. (If you were driving in reverse in 4WD, you'll have to drive *forwards* to unlock the hubs)

And now, from the owners manual:
4WDp1.jpg
4WDp2.jpg
4wdp3.jpg
 
so i can switch out of 4H while still moving preferably under 30 mph? I always thought i had to be stationary for any switching and I thought I had to reverse to unlock my hubs. I'm such a newb
 
CodyHennigan said:
so i can switch out of 4H while still moving preferably under 30 mph? I always thought i had to be stationary for any switching and I thought I had to reverse to unlock my hubs. I'm such a newb
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As long as the hubs are locked, you can switch between 2H and 4H and back again freely, at any speed, but doing it at lower speeds is better for the transfer case.

Once you're completely done with 4WD you have to reverse to disengage the hubs. You could drive home in 2H without unlocking the hubs if you wanted, but the wheels would be turning the front axle and driveshaft, wasting fuel.
 
I've been getting to utilize the 4WD more now that there's snow on the mountain! Today a new light came on when I put it in 4WD. Usually I've been seeing the "wheel lock" light when the hubs engage but today I also got a green light that shows the drive-train. It was under the OD/off light. Wondering if the light has a short and just wasn't coming on before or if it's trying to tell me something different.
 
That light is supposed to come on whenever your shift lever is in 4H or 4L. It's driven by a pair of switches on the right side of the transfer case, in the same housing the driveshaft goes into. They are connected in series with red wires.
The most common fault is the wires breaking off where they enter the switch; oil and exhaust heat make the insulation brittle, and vibration finishes the wires off. Since yours are intermittent it might be an internal break and you might be able to rescue them by carefully degreasing the switches and wires, then using a blob of grey silicone sealant (the high-strength, stiff stuff) to shore them up and prevent them from vibrating any more.

20171125_170217.jpg
If the wires actually break off, you'll have to use a dremel or similar to grind the plastic back so you can solder new wires onto the stubs.

The switches sometimes get gunked up inside- that usually results in them getting stuck in the on position though. Still, they're esay enough to remove and flush out with gasoline.
 
My wheel lock light has never functioned on the dash. Does anyone have insight on where the fault may be? The hubs are clearly locked as the 4x4 works great.
 
smappelbaum said:
My wheel lock light has never functioned on the dash. Does anyone have insight on where the fault may be? The hubs are clearly locked as the 4x4 works great.
Click to expand...
If it’s not the wires on the transfer case as above, the bulb behind the dash may be blown
 
smappelbaum said:
My wheel lock light has never functioned on the dash.
Click to expand...

Hub lock sensor is on the other side of the transfer case, at the back of the front driveshaft. There's a round, donut-shaped cover held on by... 6? 8? bolts, it has the sensor screwed into it. Same thing happens there: the wire insulation becomes brittle, the wires break. (Some Delicas don't have a hub lock light though).

Good point about checking the bulb first, though!
 
Rookie question about 4WD Low: If i'm parked in 2WD, can I shift into 4WD high, then shift into 4WD low, all before I've moved? Or do I need to shift into 4WD high, drive the van a bit to get the hubs locked and things situated, then stop and attempt 4WD low?

The reason I ask is I pulled into a sloped, snow covered, parking spot in 2WD. Went skiing for the day. came back and attempted to back out and the rears spun. So I popped it into 4WD high. Wheel lock light came on. Put it in reverse and before I moved I thought, "good opportunity to try 4WD low" so before I moved an inch I tried to put the lever into 4WD low. Would not budge. lever would not move into 4WD low position. Possibly because I was in reverse and not park or neutral? Thankfully I was able to back out just fine in 4WD high. But what if I had needed 4WD low? Am I missing something here?
 
detroadster said:
Rookie question about 4WD Low: If i'm parked in 2WD, can I shift into 4WD high, then shift into 4WD low, all before I've moved? Or do I need to shift into 4WD high, drive the van a bit to get the hubs locked and things situated, then stop and attempt 4WD low?

The reason I ask is I pulled into a sloped, snow covered, parking spot in 2WD. Went skiing for the day. came back and attempted to back out and the rears spun. So I popped it into 4WD high. Wheel lock light came on. Put it in reverse and before I moved I thought, "good opportunity to try 4WD low" so before I moved an inch I tried to put the lever into 4WD low. Would not budge. lever would not move into 4WD low position. Possibly because I was in reverse and not park or neutral? Thankfully I was able to back out just fine in 4WD high. But what if I had needed 4WD low? Am I missing something here?
Click to expand...
You must always be in park/neutral to engage/disengage 4Lo, and for initial 4Hi engagement. If in 4Hi, you can then shift between 2WD and 4Hi while in gear/moving.
 
sk66 said:
You must always be in park/neutral to engage/disengage 4Lo, and for initial 4Hi engagement. If in 4Hi, you can then shift between 2WD and 4Hi while in gear/moving.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Ok. Gotta try that out. It sounds like I was locked out of moving into 4 low because I was in reverse. I recall trying 4 low out when I first bought the van so I know it works. I figured it was just operator error.
 
detroadster said:
...It sounds like I was locked out of moving into 4 low because I was in reverse.
Click to expand...
Yup, the transfer case shifter sometimes won't move if there's torque on the drivetrain. As long as you're stationary, you may shift into any mode you like and start driving. It's perfectly acceptable to go directly from 2H to 4L, I do it all the time.
 
Sputnik said:
FWIW, this a screen capture of the sticker for shifting instructions in English from an Australian L300 at this Insta account:
Click to expand...
The auto hubs are "free wheel hubs." Some L300's had/have full time locked hubs...
 
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