Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

I am having the dreaded flashing lights (4H) when in 2H - again. After reading a hundred solutions to the problem on the different forums, I now have the following questions:

My vehicle seems to engage and disengage as normal from 4H-2H and from 2H-4H but the flashing lights is there even if I just switch the ignition on (not starting)the vehicle.

The vehicle is a 1998 3000 V6 SWB GLX

I cleaned all the connectors, inspect the vacuum system pipes - nothing wrong. NOW, when pulling the vacuum pipe (blue) from the actuator on the drivers side of the actuator, the pipe have a vacuum in 2H and 4H. The vacuum pipe (yellow) on the passenger side of the actuator have no vacuum in 4H or 2H. This sounds like and solenoid failure (yellow). But why does the blue pipe have vacuum in both cases?

Also why and how can the vehicle then engage 4H or 2H?

The actuator shaft is clean and well lubricated

I use the vehicle in 4H a lot - at least 200km a month.

Please any advise would be appreciated!

I had the same issue. It looked like the actuator was engaging up front, but it really wasn't moving all the way in or out.

In my case, the left front wheel never really engaged when in 4H. When in 2H, the sensor/switch detected that actuator wasn't fully retracted and the front lights would intermittently flash. After driving a while, the centre one would also flash, indicating an error.

All of this went away with new solenoids - which weren't very expensive either.

Jip, it sounds about right. I have now went through everything, wires, shaft, pipes, switches, sensors and solenoids. All work as they should. I however suspect that the 2H solenoid is not working as it should, "sticky" or something. It does make a clicking sound when applying 12v straight to it but it is not as "aggressive" as the 4H solenoid in it's clicking sound. When I pull the yellow pipe from the actuator it doesn't have any vacuum in H2 or H4 selection. There is however always a vacuum on the blue line.

There is however not one solenoid in SA from the dealers - 20 working days for an import from Japan. I have tried to get it from other places in the Cape Town area but could not find any.

If anybody know where I can get one in the Cape Town area it would be very much appreciated.

The actuator shaft move freely but because there is no vacuum on the yellow line and the blue line doesn't release, the shaft now sits in the default position.

What is confusing though is that the car still go in 4H and 2H (tested it by reversing uphill on sand in H2 and got it to get stuck, then engage 4H and it would just reverse out and further uphill with no effort, both front wheels seem to operate.)