SOURCE: four wheel drive wont engage
If you have push button 4-Wheel Drive, it is recommended that you use it every once in a while, in order to keep gunk, rust, and corrosion to build up on moving parts. The mostly likeley (though not definite) reason would be that you let the 4-wheel drive unused for so long that corrosion has built up on the parts and the actuator that engages the 4-Wheel Drive doesn't have the power to engage it past the corrosion.
You'll need to take it in to be cleaned, or to have parts replaced. In the future, every month or so, engage 4-Wheel Drive and drive around in some mud, grass, sand, or any other loose ground for a bit, just to keep the parts moving and clean.
The service Four wheel drive light is to alert the operator the system is not being read properly by the ECU.
If the ECU loses contact with or position of the Transfer case actuator motor the service light will come on. Same thing goes for the front diff actuator.
So it may be a bad switch, sensor, or an actual problem in the 4WD linkage. This is not a Oil Change light that you can ignore a few extra weeks - it indicates a problem that should be taken care of ASAP to avoid costlier problems down the road.
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SOURCE: four wheel drive wont engage
I fought with this problem every year since I had the Sportage. And it was so frustrating to find out just when you really needed it, that you did not have 4-wheel drive. I replaced the hubs with manual hubs and I wish I would have done it at the beginning. They work great and are 100% reliable. Bottom line.. the vacuum hubs were a great idea that just plain did not work reliably. Save yourself alot of grief and money and just replace the hubs. Less than $200 including paying someone to put then on and I now can rely on my Sportage when I need it.
SOURCE: 4 Wheel Drive Problem
Put the key in the run position and turn your 4wd on and off to listen for the electronic acuator to engage and disengage. If your can hear it then it's macanical and a Quick fix. On top of the transfercase on the driver's side, your going to find three vacuume tube connected to a cauume switch that may have gone bad. There common to go bad and there not the bad of a price at the Auto Zone. Check for any cracks on the vacuume line first then get your hands dirty. Good luck and keep an extra switch in your glove box.
SOURCE: 1999 jeep grand cherokee all time four wheel drive will not engage
Sounds like the splines on your transfer case gear are ground down
SOURCE: four wheel drive will not engage
I found a very informative tech article at f150online.com that explains how to troubleshoot and diagnose the situation. The common thread to every story I've found is rain shorting out the soleniod on the firewall. I got mine working again.
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