4wd not engaging

[pktzygt]

Excuse me for what might be the stupidest post of all time, but i need some help.

 

I recently purchased my 1990 pathfinder. It was the first car i ever drove (12 years old on the beach)and it feels like a piece of my childhood is sitting out back. BUT I don't think it is going into 4wd. I put it in 4hi and 4lo and tried to spin the tires on some gravel and only the rears spin. I put in 4hi, drove it about 30 feet, put the rear up on jack stands (which was also how i found out theat i needed to bleed the brakes) and only the rears spun.

 

I am obviously new to the whole 4wd thing but i have some mechanical ability. I was figuring that either the auto hubs are not working properly or I just don't know what i'm talking about.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[94extreme]

no clicky when you engage the 4wd?

 

if your truck is still on the stands, make it run and see if the CV axles are turning.

[unccpathfinder]

It was the first car i ever drove (12 years old on the beach)and it feels like a piece of my childhood is sitting out back

 

I know how that is...

 

Like MZ said...if you dont hear a click about 2-3 feet after putting it in 4wd then the hubs are probably not engaging...if the cv's are turning while its under power then the hubs are not locking and thats a pretty easy fix... if not then check the linkage for the TC...I would suspect its the hubs and depending on how long its been sitting it could be that the grease is dried out and keeping them from actuating or something like that

[pktzygt]

Thanks, I'm woking today but i'll check it out first thing on saturday. Cross my fingers and hope that the problem is old grease.

[pktzygt]

OK, I lifted the rear and put it in drive. The passenger CV is turning but the driver side is not. I assume that it because of whatever differential is in it.

 

So, i'm off to pull the hubs so i can clean them before the game and re-grease them afterwards. I'll do a search for grease reccomendations.

[unccpathfinder]

you did lift all 4 wheels off the ground right?...that could yield some bad results if not...

[pktzygt]

you did lift all 4 wheels off the ground right?...that could yield some bad results if not...

 

 

No, i only have 2 jack stands and didn't have the time to go to the auto hobby shop on base. But, at least i know that one of the cv's is turning. I'll clean and re-grease then take it to base and check it.