I have a 2002 F250 V8 4X4. i was pulling a Chevy out of the dirt (true story) and i noticed only my back wheels were spinning. i had it in 4H and 4L but only the back wheels spun. how can i tell if my 4 wheel option is working?

first time used 4WD on this car?????
what transfer case is there,? key fact #1 not told
JF1A<<< my guess this.
NOT TOLD YOU WHAT THE TIRES ARE ROLLING ON
PAVEMENT, DIRT, OFF-ROAD.. ICE, SNOW OR WHAT.
THE CAR IS NOT AWD
THE CAR IS NOT FULL TIME 4WD
IT IS PART TIME 4WD.
THE USERS MANUAL TOLD YOU THIS


Four?wheeldrive models-Toyota rec-
ommends not using four?wheel drive on
dry hard?surfaced roads, because four?
wheel driving wil l cause unnecessary
noise and wear,and poor fuel econo-
my.

WHAT HAPPENS IS DAMAGE TO THE TRANSER CASE MAIN CHAIN OR FAR FAR WORSE.
or
google
"what part time 4 wheel drive means."
it means there is no center Differential to have AWD

SAME GUIDE SAID

Four?wheel DriveSystemWarning
Buzzer(four?wheel drive models)
This buzzer reminds you that the transfer
mode is not selected correctly.
If the buzzer sounds when you shift the
transfer from "2 WD" to "4H", "4L" to "4H",
"4H"to "4L",or"4L"to "2WD"mode,follow the instructions in"Four?wheel drive
system"on page 239 in Section 1?7.

TO EXIT 4WD, IF SELECTED INCORRECTLY ON DRY PAVEMENT.
GET 1 TIRE OF THE TRUCK ON LOSE DIRT ,GRAVEL ,GRASS. AND SHIFT TO 2WD.
AND STAY OUT OF 4WD UNTIL LEARN HOW PART TIME WORKS.,

4WD IS FOR
DIRT
FOR ICED OVER WHAT EVER.
FOR PACKED SNOW OR DRIFTS.

NOT FOR DRY PAVEMENT AT ALL. OR EVEN WET

02 , just sold mine, best car ever. had, of many.

how do you know that.?

and what are the tires, touching, (dirt, snow,ice, grass , pavement)

what?

this car has part time 4wd, it is not AWD

its not a Grand cheerokee with AWD.

engaging 4wd on ice free pavement is wrong.

http://www.rubicon-trail.com/4WD101/driveline-bind.html



and my fsm states.

read the operators guide in the glove box, it will say....

"2WD is intended to be driven on normal street and highway conditions, such as HARD surfaced roads."

Then

"4H & 4L positions are intended for loose slippery road surfaces only and not intended for normal driving" (They assume paved streets are normal.)

"Driving in 4H or 4L positions on hard surfaces roads, will cause, increased tire wear, and damage to the drive line components."

Unqual tire sizes, will do the same damage. "circumference mismatched"

Last: "do not attmpet to make a shift, while only the front or rear wheels are spinning" No transfer case synchronizer exists and damage will result." (kill the gear dogs, you will)

Using the shorter gear leaver in the samurai, the gear choices are arranged in a simple U fashion. They are arranged in sequence. At left top, bottom, right middle and right top you have 2 high(2H), 4 hight (4H), neutral(N) and 4 low (4L).
2H- Engages rear wheel drive only.
4H- Engages all wheels in 4X4 mode.
N- Disengages all wheels (if you gonna tow your vehicle)
4L- Engages all wheels in 4X4 mode with 50% more torque but you cut your top speed by an equal amount.
If you have the OEM gear knob the diagram of the layout of the transfer box should be imprinted. 2 high should be used on dry and mildly wet paved roads. Using 4L or 4H in these conditions may result in damage to your transfer box. You may use 4L or 4H in any other road conditions.

the samurai doesn't have 2L it has 2H.
there are 4 modes on the transfercase. 2H, 4H, N and 4L.
2H engages the rear wheels only while 4H and 4L engages all 4 wheels. N disengages all 4 wheels, useful for flat towing.

Yes the light should be on when it is in 4 wheel drive, either 4h or 4l, to engage it into 4h you need to lock the hubs then select 4h while moving. Now if u want to put it into 4L you need to first stop the truck, put it into neutral and then select 4L

Try replacing the switch, they fail often.

4L only to be used in extreme condtions
N
4H for off road/snow/ice
2H - normal driving

when switching to 4H vehicle must be stationary, as when changing from 4H to 4L
but it is possible to change from 4H back to 2H while in motion.
when 4wd is engaged a lamp will illuminate on dials telling that the hubs are free wheeling, when changing back to 2H you must press corresponding switch to dis-engage this function

If it is automatic transmission you must stop vehicle put it in neutral or "n" then put shifter that is indicates 2h 4h and 4L pull down to 4h if you are driving on highway or pull down then over and up to 4L if you are not going to be driving faster than 30mph.
If manual put in neutral also and do the same process as automatic there will be a light on dash board indicating that it is in 4wd also put transmission back to drive on automatic or shift to first gear on manual

Neutral is only used when you need to tow the jeep. Normal two wheel driving is done in 2h. To engage 4wheel drive keep rolling slowly and engage either 4h or 4L. Generally 4L is almost never used as it is for pulling weight like a vehicle stuck in a snowbank. If it does not return to 2h when you go back into two wheel operation, many times it will if you back up about ten or twenty feet. Don't engage 4 wheel drive while standing still. and never force the lever if you hear grinding.

2H is neutral because only 2 wheels driven....the rear ones.....transfer case is free-spinning with non-driven front wheels now....maybe the light bulb burned out?