[JohanV]

Went to Dewildt yesterday for some off road training with Engel from the 4x4community forum. Everthing went well but now and again specially on some tricky cross axel twisters and climbs it would seem that the center diff will disengage it self.

This happened while in low range. No lights were flashing at all but even with 3 wheel on the ground the front wheel in the air will be spinning and receiving all the power and you can hear what seems to be the gears trying to engage again.

Swambo managed to get a picture of that instances it did it.
3 Wheels on the ground Low range engaged and rear diff lock also and one wheel spinning in the air.

shifted the 4x4 selector box a few times and next it just climbed out off the hole like the obstacle weren't even there.

On other occasions on same obstacle I have no problems.
Where and what can I start looking at to solve this?

3wheels on the ground, 1 in the air spinning with lowrange and rear diff lock engaged

Driving out after selector box shifted a couple of times

[4ePikanini]

looks like the actuator (not sure if it's vacuum or electrically operated) is misbehaving. I suspect the only way to fix is to open the transfer case.

[JohanV]

i suspected that but still hoped it wouldn't come to that.

I recon to take it to a gearbox specialist would be then my first course of action. until then no off road for me.

[cloyd]

JohanV,

Very important and I do not know if Pajero owners are aware of it: Each time you drive your Pajero, go through the selection from 2H to 4H to 4Hld and back (whentravelling in a straight line!). When I take my Pajero out, within the first 200m I have gone through the procedure. The actuators get dry and need to work to keep them loose and lubricated. When I park the pajero at home, I select and deselect 4Lld a few times and each time drive forwards and back for a few metres just so that it can kick in.
Before going the overhaul route, try it a few times.

Cloyd.

[JohanV]

Cloyd,

I dont think that not using them is the problem here. Trust me when i say i use them whenever and where ever i get the chance and not just in my drive way. i work on the mine and weekly go out to the open pits and shafts using the haul roads.

This problem has been with me since i bought the PJ a year ago, same sound every time and no momentum, its just the we actually figured out what was going on this weekend. Because as luck would have it, it did it with witnesses around and only for that brief moment. not like all the other times before.

We did the whole Dewildt trail on saturday, and at that last play pit it did it for the first time during the day.

During other 4x4 trips it might also do it just once or twice and it so happened that i did the whole 350km battlefield trophy over the whole long weekend that includes about 150km off road, of which were the 3 Provinces trail of 20km with some serious places with out this problem showing its head.

Whats bugging me is its not doing it every time, we can go now and i will want to show you what it does and like "murphy's law" will have it, it will not act up and that's the frustrating part.

[4ePikanini]

before I strip the gearbox I would go for a good long drive to heat the oil in the gearbox and transfer case.

Ten stop, drain and refill with new fluids.

[llec999]

This thread refers as well: https://www.pajeroclub.co.za/forum/view ... nsfer+case

I have a similar situation: It has happened only twice but it worries me know, as the last time was on a test drive trying to sell my vehicle (Murphy's law).
Explanation:
When selecting 4llc the 4 lights and centre diff licks starts to flash. You then drive for a while, moving the gear lever all directions and also reversing several meters. It does net engage the 4x4 system and NEITHER does it go into low range. (checking revs). Then suddenly when you move the gearlever from D tot N and to D there is big clunk and suddenly you are in low range and all licks engaged.
NOW getting it out from there is the same problem. Go to Park but in 2H go to D or R - 4 greens light flash, but you stay in low range. Then you drive several km's and then suddenly it lights stop flashing and only rer 2 are lit and you ar in 2H.
I have taken it to 2 dealers: both confirmed all vacuum piper are fine, pumps working - pressure correct and actuators actuating. Also no computer errors on diagnostics.

one thing else to mention: At once stage it was as if the transfer case was in neutral - you could press the accelerator while gearbox was in D but no power to wheels.

ANY IDEAS?? I do quit a bit on necessary 4x4 in my work and don;t want to be caught of guard.

Could it be a mechanical problem inside transfer case?
COuld it be an oil problem? Does the transfer case share oil with gearbox?

[llec999]

Sorry forget to mention at once stage it was as if the transfer case was in neutral - you could press the accelerator while gearbox was in D but no power to wheels.

[4ePikanini]

This works for me. Let it roll in drive at about 5km/h go to 4LLc/4HLc and then flick the gear lever to neutral. Roll to a halt without brakes while wiggling the steering left and right.