ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

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ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby ML4ME on Sun Jun 14, 2020 10:29 am

Hi Guys I'm very new to here (have read many posts to try and solve my issue, but now I'm a member) My ML wont go into 4wd. I replaced the front diff actuator and solenoid valves like has been suggested on here and YouTube thinking that this would fix my issue, but it didn't.
Since then, i've found randomly(mainly after a drive, stopped , then drive again,,,but not always, but mainly) the 4wd light flashes while driving in 2wd. I select 4wd H and it stills flashes, 4WD L makes the light stop flashing. I then put it back into 2wd and drive off and sometimes (60=70%) it starts flashing again..after a few times of pulling over and placing into 4wd L it will stop flashing all together or if I keep driving and it eventually stops flashing.
But from a standard start to engage 4wd H or L there is no light flashing or on at all...only randomly after a stop start driving... but as i said not always just randomly 10% of my driving times ????
Weird but really want my 4wd system to work...can anyone help or know what is wrong ??
Please help !!! thanks :)
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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby grox on Sun Jun 14, 2020 12:32 pm

First step do you have super select or the older easy select. If you dont know do you have the ability for a 4wd option on your lever without locking the transfer case ie 2wd 4wd 4wd hlc 4wd lrlc . It will be in 4wd without orange light on in middle or 4 green lights when you start your car as this is default and then the vacuum will use actuator to pull into 2wd. Need to know more to help.
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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby ML4ME on Sun Jun 14, 2020 12:38 pm

thanks for your reply, I think all I have is a 2h x 4h 4l gear stick/shifter...no other switches on my dash of such ??? it's a 2007 GLXR if that makes sense
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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby ML4ME on Sun Jun 14, 2020 12:50 pm

i have replaced both solenoid valves and the front diff vacuum actuator, as my research told me these are they main issues
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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby ML4ME on Mon Jun 15, 2020 2:43 pm

it did it again today can anyone help me ?? thanks
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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby NowForThe5th on Mon Jun 15, 2020 4:51 pm

ML4ME, please keep discussion to this thread. If it turns out that the issues are the same as the other thread then I'll merge the two.
Chris

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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby L200Shogun on Mon Jun 15, 2020 6:55 pm

switches on transfer case?
holes in hoses?
working safely under your 4wd is the actuator actually working?

Provided lever is in 4H or 4L more than likely you are in 4wd the flashing light means nothing, The work ML was like that for years
Last edited by L200Shogun on Mon Jun 15, 2020 7:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby ML4ME on Mon Jun 15, 2020 7:07 pm

thanks nowforthe5th... i think they look like they might be the same problem...i'm very new to this forum discussion type .... and you guys have been so helpful, i've replaced most of the possible common issues and have only had one person (not even mechanics) suggest the gearbox switches could be the fault...at least i have brand new solenoid diff valves and a front diff actuator hehe :)...so far still no 4wd just a random 4wd green flashing light in 2wd... does that mean when the 4wd light flashes it's engaging in and out of 4wd while 'm driving ??
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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby ML4ME on Mon Jun 15, 2020 7:38 pm

ive got a lot of forum reading(been reading more threads on the same/similar issues)... thanks nowforth5th... it looks like this has a lot of common issues
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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby RHKTriton on Mon Jun 15, 2020 10:06 pm

I've had the four wheel light flash at times in the past.

I found dropping in and out of 4x4 a couple of times while driving along seems to fix the issue for a long time.
Don't let the b'strds get you down!!
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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby grox on Tue Jun 16, 2020 12:29 am

Sorry i meant to get back to you sooner . Have you jacked the front of the car then tried it. Are you saying you have no physical 4wd or just the light indictor is not functioning. All the 4wd actuator does is pull a small rod so you can peel back the cover and help it even a few mm makes a difference it also helps free it. Any leak from the hoses will also make it weaker.
I have a ml with super select so 4wd on road is no problem . With your easy select you should only engage it on loose surfaces or you will bind the diff. As RHK above said normally after a few cycles it comes good. With no load on the front diff it should engage. Make sure wheels are straight plus try slow reverse then foward on a lawn . As you have replaced other things im hoping this is your problem especially if you dont use 4 wd regularly.
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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby ML4ME on Tue Jun 16, 2020 12:35 pm

yeah thanks grox for your help,i have tried most/ all that, put it up on 4 stands engaged 4wd no success, replaced the front diff actuator ...tried idle in 4wd, moved on the grass all no success each time I drive on acreage and on my grass driveway just to check it now and than. Not long ago I pulled up on a street, got back in the car approx. 30mins later in 2wd but the light started flashing, turned at the end of a road and felt the diffs bind up, so it must of been in 4wd... reversed back and made like a 8 point turn not to bind the diff...drove for awhile with it still flashing then it just stopped while i was driving...I've been reading on here and other sites and my next will be to code read any errors and see it it's the transfer switches or maybe the vac lines (after the rain we have here today).. I really hoped replacing the front diff actuator and both solenoids would fix it.... the journey continues... thanks guys for all your input...reading on here it is a very common problem(multi problems) with different variations of solutions
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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby ML4ME on Tue Jun 16, 2020 12:43 pm

note: no 4wd at all, light never comes on when I engage 4wd and have been bogged twice on my acetage on wet muddy grass rear wheel drive only..maxtrax to the rescue... once I was stuck and went to pull it out with a tractor, my wife was in the car and as i went to pull the ML out it suddenly must of locked into 4wd and started to move as I just about starting to pull it...it looked really weird it coming out of the bog with a slack rope but in step with the speed on the tractor.... :roll:

Just thinking about it, i've owned it for about 3-4 yrs now and approx.18mths into it I got a mechanic to replace the front bearing/hub... maybe that might have a link to the issue... It's hard to think back if it the 4wd was working as I don't test it that much...I think it was because i did use it when my property has had a ot of rain and the grass quickly turns to boggy wet grass... not sure really
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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby Thongsbot3000 on Wed Jun 17, 2020 1:18 pm

Your issue might not be related but a possibility.

I couldn't engage 4WD in my ML for years and could not work it out. I took to a MM only to be told that the front diff must have taken an impact and bent the actuator push rod inside the diff. From there i had to take it to a Diff specialist so they could drop the front diff out to replace rod...

The only tell tail sign i can give of a bent rod, is it pushes actuator mounting plate backwards, whilst trying to engage inwards the diff.
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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby grox on Thu Jun 18, 2020 1:47 am

If your not sick of it can you try actuating the 4wd yourself ie remove all solonoid/ hose etc variables. Jack it up peel back the dust cover on actuator you will see a shaft joined in the middle. (Have a look at your old actuator if you still got it.) Undo it at joint and push shaft towards passenger side wheel. This should be easy remember a tiny amount of vacuum does this. This is 4wd position . Pulling it back towards driver side is 2wd. If this is not easy the problem is likely in the diff maybe exactly what thongsbot said. Eg your mount for actuator has moved or something in the diff is stopping it engaging. Your suggestion as well if some wierd binding is happening on one side.
Im pretty sure the light situation will be ok when the selector has proper movement. I smashed my actuator when remote and changed it by crawling under car and used tie wire to use 2wd by holding it back.
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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby ML4ME on Thu Jun 18, 2020 8:41 pm

thanks guys, i will try that this weekend and put it up on 4 stands and try to manually move the new actuator itself and see what happens

Thanks everyone for their input...

Thongsbot3000 did you get a new diff and it worked ok after that ??
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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby Thongsbot3000 on Fri Jun 19, 2020 2:31 pm

ML4ME wrote:
Thongsbot3000 did you get a new diff and it worked ok after that ??


Nah, no Diff replacement, just the labour of dropping Diff out to get access to the Push Rod. From memory repair was $600- $800 Labour and Rod was like $40~.

As grox mentioned peel that actuator boot back and see if Rod pushes in. Before you do that get someone (or film on phone) and activate 4WD and have a look if Actuator is trying to push rod in. If the Mount Plate pushes back then a bent rod is a possibility.
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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby Noriek on Mon Aug 10, 2020 9:02 pm

Hi all if it helps , I had something similar years ago, dealer unable to help.i found that the original sump bash plate had taken a hit and one of the vacuum hoses for the select had taken a hit. Was cut, shortened the hose by a cm ,problem fixed
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Re: ML 4wd not working replaced all valves flashes in 2wd ??

Postby TimsTriton on Mon Sep 21, 2020 7:40 pm

I'm having similar issues, though with me the 4WD dash light is not coming on at all now - before it flashed.

I have an Easy Select and was wondering if anyone has a combined wiring and vacuum line drawing showing the locations, connections and functions of the multiple sensors, solenoids and the ECU etc please?

I presume the dash light is controlled by a combination of these sensors - or is it just the front diff sensor?

Also - how far should the front diff actuator selector rod move to engage 4WD? I can feel it moving by squeezing the rubber bellows cover (don't need to peel it back) when my wife moves the selector in the cab.
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