Jump to content

Part Time 4WD Light Issue


Recommended Posts

I have a '90 with the 4.0L and 4WD.

 

Recently, the Part Time 4WD light has not been coming on while in 4WD.

 

Yes, the 4WD engages and disengages as it should and the CAD is factory untouched. 

 

Where should I start my troubleshooting?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

logic would be to 

1. test the bulb

2. test the power to the bulb with 4wd engaged

 

wiring indicates a vacuum operated switch sends the signal... 

possibly on the transfer case, though I cannot determine its location 

 

makes a difference in connector number ... automatic versus manual transmission.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Gojira94 said:

Might be helpful, this guy @WAEMID IVis a Cub member. One of the best dissertations on CAD, its vacuum, and indicator light I've ever seen:

 

4x4 dashboard light

Thanks for posting the video. The white line is what attaches to the vacuum switch mounted near the firewall by the passenger side and it appears as if I don't have any vacuum on the white line.

 

I pulled the hose off that switch and ran a new hose from the switch to my vacuum pump and with the 4WD engaged and engine running, the PART TIME light came on. 

 

From that video, the blue line hanging empty in the picture is normal because that is how the system releases vacuum.

 

However, there is an open female port under the truck near the CAD and in the same passenger area near the blower motor. Can anyone confirm if these two ports should be open?

 

 

20250907_182927.jpg

20250907_182540.jpg

20250907_174126.jpg

Edited by robfg67
forgot a picture
Link to comment
Share on other sites

STATUS UPDATE:

 

I ran a new 1/4" line from the vacuum switch under the coolant bottle to the white male port coming off the shift motor at the axle and the PART TIME light did not come on with engine running and in engaged in 4WD.

 

I tested the hose at the vacuum switch with engine running and 4WD engaged with a digital manometer and it is pulling vacuum, but not much. It was about .024" of water column. Again, when I tested the vacuum switch with a vacuum pump a couple days ago (which pulls a lot deeper) it turned on the PART TIME light.

 

I also removed the transfer case vacuum plug and the pintle seemed to move freely to me.

 

Lastly, although this Jeep is 35 years old, it only has 40k original miles and is in MINT condition.

 

Any thoughts?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, robfg67 said:

Is that port on the shift motor? If so, would that be the front port?

 

 

shift motor.jpg

No, the vacuum should be coming from a port on the engine, then likely going to a vacuum canister, and then to the transfer case. I would check it at all of those points. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ilhat, yes there are troubleshooting instructions on those pages and no, I haven't followed them yet.

I want to know if the system has enough vacuum first.

799279533_Screenshot_20250909_165844_SamsungInternet.jpg.e33db22e4c6c18393fa2c796ed40614f.jpg

799279533_Screenshot_20250909_165844_SamsungInternet.jpg.e33db22e4c6c18393fa2c796ed40614f.jpg

89MJ, not sure where to test for enough vacuum. I placed my digital manometer on the vacuum motor in front of the airbox and got 0.0. 

I know there is vacuum because I have no idle issues, the hvac works, and it shifts in and out of 4WD. 

The truck doesn't have cruise control. 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 minutes ago, RG67MA said:

89MJ, not sure where to test for enough vacuum. I placed my digital manometer on the vacuum motor in front of the airbox and got 0.0. 

I know there is vacuum because I have no idle issues, the hvac works, and it shifts in and out of 4WD. 

The truck doesn't have cruise control. 

There are vacuum ports on the intake. One of those should be for 4wd. I don’t know which one, you’ll have to trace your 4wd vacuum lines to a vacuum canister and then from the canister to the engine. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

there is a vacuum line on the passenger fender,  at one spot will have a 'tee' for cruise control....

and it supplies vacuum to the hvac box

it follows the fender behind the battery down to the canister on the bumper.

 

Question........  when you have your heat  or even A/c operating, and you hit a hill or accelerate,  does the air output 'switch' on its own to the defrost ducts on the windshield?

If it does, that is a sign of weak vacuum/ cracked canister, or a hole in the hose... 

Otherwise I'd think you would have enough vacuum supply for the shift device and associated parts...

 

On the intake manifold there's probably at least 3 sources of vacuum... as seen above..  

supplying the fuel pressure regulator and in combination supplying the EGR

supplying the rear CCV fitting on the valve cover

 

that rearmost fitting is probably the source for the rest of the vacuum systems....

 

on the other schematic,  there's the switch on transfer case... should be a vacuum supply to it, as that switch re-directs vacuum based on shift position....

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

27 minutes ago, llhat said:

there is a vacuum line on the passenger fender,  at one spot will have a 'tee' for cruise control....

and it supplies vacuum to the hvac box

it follows the fender behind the battery down to the canister on the bumper.

 

Question........  when you have your heat  or even A/c operating, and you hit a hill or accelerate,  does the air output 'switch' on its own to the defrost ducts on the windshield?

If it does, that is a sign of weak vacuum/ cracked canister, or a hole in the hose... 

Otherwise I'd think you would have enough vacuum supply for the shift device and associated parts...

 

On the intake manifold there's probably at least 3 sources of vacuum... as seen above..  

supplying the fuel pressure regulator and in combination supplying the EGR

supplying the rear CCV fitting on the valve cover

 

that rearmost fitting is probably the source for the rest of the vacuum systems....

 

on the other schematic,  there's the switch on transfer case... should be a vacuum supply to it, as that switch re-directs vacuum based on shift position....

 

No,  the hvac has never switched to defrost on its own.

 

When I apply vacuum from my vacuum pump to the hose that attaches to the vacuum switch, the PART TIME light on the dash comes on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...