'92 Dakota front diff. lock

From : tr008

Q: the last few times that ive engaged my 4wd on my 92 dakota the axle refuses to disengage. i try all the tricks -- back up power on power off etc. and eventually i have to get under the truck and remove the four bolts holding the disconnect housing cover pull it out a little and manually sliding the shift fork & collar over -- disengaging the axle. needless to say id like to find a little easier way to disengage it. is there a history of a particular trouble spot that i should look at first i thought that i would start at the vacuum can. that is supposed to pull the collar over automatically. in my book it is called the shift motor assembly. just to clarify one thing -- my problems is not with the disengagement of the transfer case but rather the front drive axle. help .

Replies:

From : kennythekid

i have a similar problem with my 1987 dakota 4x4 it will go into 4-wheel drive but wont come out unless i stop kill the engine and wait several seconds. the transfer case was recently re-built and they should have discovered this problem had they properly road- tested my truck which they obviously didnt. they want an additional $350 to replace the vacuum actuator switch. they claim this will fix the problem. what do you think tr008 wrote the last few times that ive engaged my 4wd on my 92 dakota the axle refuses to disengage. i try all the tricks -- back up power on power off etc. and eventually i have to get under the truck and remove the four bolts holding the disconnect housing cover pull it out a little and manually sliding the shift fork & collar over -- disengaging the axle. needless to say id like to find a little easier way to disengage it. is there a history of a particular trouble spot that i should look at first i thought that i would start at the vacuum can. that is supposed to pull the collar over automatically. in my book it is called the shift motor assembly. just to clarify one thing -- my problems is not with the disengagement of the transfer case but rather the front drive axle. help .

From : dick puter413atyahoo com

dakota discontinued that good feature. anyone know the last year that had it is axle lube toped off & good the last few times that ive engaged my 4wd on my 92 dakota the axle refuses to disengage. i try all the tricks -- back up power on power off etc. and eventually i have to get under the truck and remove the four bolts holding the disconnect housing cover pull it out a little and manually sliding the shift fork & collar over -- disengaging the axle. needless to say id like to find a little easier way to disengage it. is there a history of a particular trouble spot that i should look at first i thought that i would start at the vacuum can. that is supposed to pull the collar over automatically. in my book it is called the shift motor assembly. just to clarify one thing -- my problems is not with the disengagement of the transfer case but rather the front drive axle. help .

From : ed

more knowledgable people may correct me but i think that the mechanism is controlled by engine vacuum you might look for a vacuum leak throughout the system. the last few times that ive engaged my 4wd on my 92 dakota the axle refuses to disengage. i try all the tricks -- back up power on power off etc. and eventually i have to get under the truck and remove the four bolts holding the disconnect housing cover pull it out a little and manually sliding the shift fork & collar over -- disengaging the axle. needless to say id like to find a little easier way to disengage it. is there a history of a particular trouble spot that i should look at first i thought that i would start at the vacuum can. that is supposed to pull the collar over automatically. in my book it is called the shift motor assembly. just to clarify one thing -- my problems is not with the disengagement of the transfer case but rather the front drive axle. help .