4wd Light flashing while engaged

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4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby Sloth on Mon Jul 04, 2011 1:34 pm

Hi Guys,

The ML's 4wd light on the dash just continually flashes when attempting to engage 4wd.

About a month ago i was towing the camper trailer in 4wd up some steep dirt roads, got back to the bitumen and disengaged. All normal. Then the following day went to engage again and just the continual flashing.

It does have bash plates fitted and put her on the hoist to have a peek. The actuator has not had a hit and the plates are still like new. The actuator looks to be working so the next step was jacking all 4 wheels off the ground and engaging/disengaging etc.

All four wheels spin in 4wd like i'd hope but the light never makes it to solid. Any ideas?
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby Lee-thal on Mon Jul 04, 2011 1:41 pm

Could be one of the switches failed, or the vacumn solenoid not working right.

Just have to test it and see why.
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby aiden71 on Mon Jul 04, 2011 1:41 pm

Mine flashes when 4wd is not engaged but stays steady when engaged. Replaced actuator diaphram and now given up as long as the front wheels engage when selected who cares :?
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby kimber260 on Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:29 pm

Mine did this ages ago when I damaged the switch on the front diff that tells the system it is engaged. 4WD works perfectly, just don't get the "solid" light.

You might have just had one of the wires broken internally from the vibration.
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby NTBB on Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:38 pm

aiden71 wrote:Mine flashes when 4wd is not engaged but stays steady when engaged. Replaced actuator diaphram and now given up as long as the front wheels engage when selected who cares :?

Mine to...been doing it for a year and a bit.....it works sometimes after driving through puddles for a week.... :)
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby mickkk on Mon Jul 04, 2011 4:41 pm

Seems a common problem. Mine has done the same since I got it a few months ago. I was a bit worried the first time I went off road, but all seems to work ok. It definitely engages 4wd, that's all that bothers me. I put it down to a faulty light.
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby trickydevil on Mon Jul 04, 2011 8:02 pm

I had this happen about a year ago. Went in for the 90000km service, had a abs light on. They did the service, and told me that the 4wd sensor was faulty. It was working fine before they got it. Told me they would order one in and it would covered under warranty. They fixed it no charge to me, just the loss of the ute for the day.

If you need a part no let me know and I'll see if I can dig it up.
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby Sloth on Tue Jul 05, 2011 7:13 am

Thanks Guys, that's good news.
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4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby Diablo on Wed Jul 06, 2011 5:54 am

I have a similar problem with mine at the moment. But it won't stop flashing when I disengage 4wd now. After the last few trips a blast with the gerny to clean the mud away seemed to fix it but not this last trip with Fridgie :lol: I will be getting the sensor replaced at next service
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby bill65 on Tue Aug 23, 2011 7:49 pm

trickydevil wrote:I had this happen about a year ago. Went in for the 90000km service, had a abs light on. They did the service, and told me that the 4wd sensor was faulty. It was working fine before they got it. Told me they would order one in and it would covered under warranty. They fixed it no charge to me, just the loss of the ute for the day.

If you need a part no let me know and I'll see if I can dig it up.

i have just got my 90klms service now i have the flashing 4wd light??????f##k will not be getting no more services i will be working on my car from now on
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby Sloth on Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:55 am

Just to update to help future searches

It was a faulty sensor the same as trickys
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby SinWolf on Fri Jun 14, 2013 8:17 pm

Any Pictures or indication where this switch is located exactly ??

Thanks
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby Shady on Sat Jun 15, 2013 10:04 am

Which light is the 4wd light?
I just engaged 4wd for the first time on my new (2nd hand) MN and the four wheel lights on the dash were all green but the 'centre diff' light was flashing orange. Is this the 4wd drive light mentioned previously in this thread? Considering the I purchased the car from a dealership a fortnight ago I best take it back to them.

Will any damage be caused by 4wd'ing when this light s flashing orange?

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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby Cowboy Dave on Sat Jun 15, 2013 10:09 am

Try reversing a couple of metres and see if it fixes itself. Then forward in a straight line. Then neutral and in and out of low range and back/forward again. Mine does it occasionally but usually kicks in eventually.
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby fridgie on Sat Jun 15, 2013 10:11 am

No mate, that's the centre diff lock.

Front wheels light up when 4wd engaged, centre light will light up when centre diff lock engaged. I don't think you have a problem there ;)

(just guessing though as don't have that setup, happy to be corrected ;) )
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby Cowboy Dave on Sat Jun 15, 2013 10:14 am

Yeah that's the centre, but you want it either solid on or solid off depending what gear you're after.
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby fridgie on Sat Jun 15, 2013 10:21 am

Ok, there's my new thing I've learnt today :oops: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby Shady on Sat Jun 15, 2013 11:52 am

Thanks guys.

All 4 wheel lights are solid green but it's the centre light that was flashing orange. I only went for a 500m drive and didn't try going back and forth, will try it again tomorrow. Will any damage be done if I engage 4WD low range and the orange light keeps flashing? I was planning a day trip up to the coxs river and 6ft track tomorrow, not that I expect to need low range as I've been told a 2wd with high clearance will get through but it's nice to know if I get stuck I can use low range without damaging anything.
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby Shady on Sat Jun 15, 2013 12:00 pm

fridgie wrote: centre light will light up when centre diff lock engaged. I don't think you have a problem there ;)

(just guessing though as don't have that setup, happy to be corrected ;) )


Thanks, Does the centre diff lock automatically?
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby Shady on Mon Jun 17, 2013 8:10 pm

Cowboy Dave wrote:Try reversing a couple of metres and see if it fixes itself. Then forward in a straight line. Then neutral and in and out of low range and back/forward again. Mine does it occasionally but usually kicks in eventually.


Bingo, back and forwards a tad and solid as a rock.
Went in and out of low range a couple of times yesterday and again back up a tad and all good.

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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby Cowboy Dave on Mon Jun 17, 2013 8:46 pm

Sweet, been there done that. :D :D
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby gls_triton on Sat Jul 20, 2013 5:59 pm

Okay,

So I snapped the plastic end of my actuator a year or so ago and I have just replaced the actuator. I have left it in 4H (Super Select) and it has been all sweet.

I cleaned the vacuum hoses and make sure everything was all sweet, but now I can't get the lights to stop flashing when I shift back into 2H.

When I do have it in 2H (Lights Flashing) I notice that it feels like the front wheel locks and then one of the rears will spin.

Any ideas?
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby fridgie on Sun Jul 21, 2013 9:02 pm

With Diablo's car, same symptoms, I found that the rubber cap on the thingamajig at the firewall where the suction lines goes through was full of crap. With the cap off it worked fine (open to atmosphere) but as soon as it was refitted the light flashed.

Cleaned the cap out and all good.
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby Chef_Dave on Sun Aug 04, 2013 7:41 pm

Haven't engagded 4wd for close to a year! Tried it out tonight on the way home and found that 4h would flash intermiditly but 4L would lock in without fail.

Any suggestions?
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Re: 4wd Light flashing while engaged

Postby fridgie on Mon Aug 05, 2013 8:03 am

Just use 4l?? :-P :lol: :lol:

Sounds more like a sensor than vacuum related....
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