4wd! Light on dashboard - 2007 Jeep Patriot Sport

yes , when its lit most of the means on

theres a technical probs,take to a repair shop and the check it out

Problem is in electrical control.
1. check computer codes.(turn ignition 1 click ON/OFF) do this 3 times quickly leaveing ON. Then read codes by odometer.
2.Check 12v power to 4wd switch at dashboard and tranfer case.If there is power to transfer case the control is bad. Check gear oil there may be a sensor stopping it.

This indicates that a problem exists in the control system of the 4WD system. This can be mechanical like a sticking clutch in the transfer case or electrical in nature. You need to have the dealer do special testing to determine what is the actual cause. If you have never changed the fluid in the transfer case do that and see if the light is mechanical in nature from dirty fluid and a sticky cone clutch

Two things happen when you select 4WD in this car. Moving the transfer lever physically selects the gears that will turn the prop shaft to the front diff. At the same time, a switch in the transfer box tells a pump to supply pressure to the diff engagement diaphragm in the front diff housing. This joins the diff spider gears to the front drive shafts. Once the air pressure remains fixed, the 4WD light on the dash will remain lit solid. Obviously, a number of problems could be causing your lack of 4WD. The most common would be the air line(s) from the pump (behind the front bumper, LH side usually) to the diff being pulled off, cut, or crushed during 4WD'ing. Failure of the pump, the relay control unit that powers the pump, the switch that turns it on and off are all possibilities too. As you have no 4WD lamp on the dash, you may have a blown globe too (unlikely) as this should flash if air pressure can't be maintained. You would still have 4WD! See if you can select 4WD with the ignition OFF and listen for any relay or pump noise. I'm not sure you can actually do this without the engine running, but it will be a lot easier to hear with the engine off. If you can hear the pump and everything else is OK, The problem may actually be in the diff. Good luck.

have the four wheel selector sensor changed(the sensor on the transfer case)

this is most commonly a electrical problem, does the speedometer read out correctly? if not it may be depending on if this is a Autotrak model, one f the two speeed sensors, or the acuator on the front diff, put the truck in 4wd, check the front dirveline to make sure it is engaing, if not your problem is in the t-case, if it does then move to the tires, if they are not engaged you have a problem with the actuator.

in most cases i have found the actuall 2wd 4wd switch to be the problem if you find that the switch is acting slow or you need to select the gear a few times before it shifts, then replace it these are very faulty

sometimes a fuse might be going bad.....thus leading to lights turning on...i wouldnt pay too muc attention to the light unless it comes on more frequently or stays on. if so definitly get it checked out.

There is a switch on top of the t-case that turns the light on when in 4wd. If the switch is bad, the jeep can be in 4wd and not show the light. Put the car in 4wd and make sharp circle turn, you can tell if the jeep is in 4wd.

I had the same problem with mine. Also, my lights on my 4wd switch would all go out intermittently. I replaced the switch on the dashboard (~$80 at the dealership) and have not had the problem since. I would try this before replacing the encoder motor, since that costs somewhere in the neighborhood of $350.