Power only from one wheel on front wheel drive

Depends on what sort of set up you have.

If there's a transfer case - it's like another gearbox on the transmission - it's the transfer case (I.e a gearbox..) that supplies power to your front wheels.

The transfer case is itself powered by the transmission. You will have a propshaft (driveshaft) running from the transfer case to the front differential.

awd drive cars have a differential action between front and rear wheels and there should be a switch that allows you to lock up that action for adverse conditions
if the rear wheels are not working , it is because there is no drive action to the front wheels ( front wheels spinning or broken drive shaft to the front)
all wheel drive means that in normal driving when there is traction on all 4 wheels that the power is transmitted evenly to all 4 wheels
It is not 4 wheel drive where power is applied to both axles or in the event of one axle loosing traction the other axle still drives

If the shaft is powering out to rear end then internal on rear possibly broken differential. If no power from case to rear then broken in case.

Technically you do not have 4 wheel drive, you have two wheel drive (possibly three-wheel drive). When you engage 4WD you direct power to the front and rear differentials. The front differential is an open style which means that only one wheel will drive, and the rear differential is likely the same type which means that you will only have two wheels driving the vehicle (one front, one rear). If the rear differential is a "posi-trac" or "limited-slip", then both axles should lock and drive the vehicle (hence, three-wheel drive), but this style differential is not as common as it once was.

no, there is no "drive shaft" on a 94 oldsmobile. It is front wheel drive. you have a CV shaft from trans to left front wheel and a separate CV shaft from trans to right front wheel.

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5029875_frontwheeldrive-work.html

Generally, trucks, vans and large cars with big engines will have rear-wheel drive. Smaller, economy and compact cars are most often front-wheel drive. But you don't have to guess which one you have - find out for yourself.
jQuery('.intro .thumbnail').each(function(i,e){ jQuery(e).find('img').one('error',function(){ jQuery(e).remove(); }); }); Instructions

1. Understand that front-wheel drive means the power from the engine and the transmission goes to the front wheels; rear-wheel drive means the power goes to the rear wheels. Four-wheel, or all-wheel, drive means all four wheels are powered.
   

2. Open the hood.
   

3. Find the front of the engine. The front of the engine is always where the belts are located.
   

4. Look to see if the front of the engine is by the fender (side of the car). If so, then you have front-wheel drive.
   

5. Check to see if the front of the engine is by the radiator and the grill (front of the car). If so, then you have rear-wheel drive.
   

6. Look under the car near each front wheel. If you see an axle with a rubber boot (called the CV boot) on either end going into the wheel, then you have front- wheel drive.
   

7. Look under the car between the rear wheels. If you see a large, metal, pumpkin- shaped thing (it's called the differential) with two axles coming out either side, then you have rear-wheel drive.
   

8. Check both under the hood for the position of the engine and under the car for the axles to be sure, because not every car follows the rules for engine position and front- or rear-wheel drive (see Tips below for examples of cars with variations on this rule).
   

Good Luck

Depends on what model and components you have:

{ ...
ENGINE TORQUE DISTRIBUTION – DIRECTING THE FLOW OF POWER
In an all-wheel-drive vehicle, engine power can be directed to all four wheels. Subaru Symmetrical AWD differs slightly from model to model in how it directs power to the wheels, depending on its transmission.

MODELS WITH FIVE-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION – CONTINUOUS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE: A viscous-type locking center differential and limited-slip rear differential help distribute torque – normally configured at a 50/50 split front to rear. If wheel speed differs between front and rear axles, the center and/or rear differentials lock up to help distribute power to the wheels with the most traction.

MODELS WITH FOUR-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS – ACTIVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE: An electronically controlled variable transfer clutch and limited-slip rear differential distribute power to where traction is needed. Sensors monitor parameters such as wheel slippage, throttle position, and braking to help determine torque distribution and direct it to the wheels with optimum traction.

MODELS WITH FIVE-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION – VARIABLE TORQUE DISTRIBUTION ALL-WHEEL DRIVE: As with Active All-Wheel Drive, an electronically controlled variable transfer clutch distributes power, but through a planetary-type center differential and a viscous-type limited-slip rear differential. Torque distribution is normally configured at a performance-oriented rear-wheel-biased 45/55 split front to rear. Sensors monitor the same parameters as for Active All-Wheel Drive.

WRX STI, WITH SIX-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION – DRIVER CONTROLLED CENTER DIFFERENTIAL (DCCD) ALL-WHEEL DRIVE: The STI uses an electronically managed multi-plate transfer clutch and a mechanical limited-slip differential in conjunction with a planetary-gear-type center differential to control power distribution between the front and rear wheels. Featuring manual and three automatic modes, DCCD is normally configured at a 41/59 split front to rear. Sensors monitor parameters such as wheel slippage, steering angle, throttle position, and braking to help determine torque distribution and direct it to the wheels with optimum traction. DCCD also features a limited-slip helical front and Torsen® rear differential. ... }

And what are the symptoms? How do you know the coupling to the rear is not working?

maybe a vacum line has come off.

on the front diff there is a small little senser that goes out