...and it took driving about a block and a half in 4Hi until it would shift back into 2wd. Rocking backward and forward wouldn't unlock the 4wd. Is this normal?

I'm also thinking perhaps I might want to drain and refill the tranny with some Redline or Royal Purple prior to Ol' Man Winter squeezing his fist around the Rockies. Would this be a good idea?

My 80 4spd D/R once got stuck in low range and no matter what I did I couldnt get to to shift into fwd. so thinking my tranny was done I got another. But before swaping it I found oit that I had only lost a bolt in the end of the shift linkage that connects to your 4x4 lever. You may check this linkage its located on the drivers side if the tranny you can see it from the engine bay. I was lucky and I just had to replace the bolt in mine and its now been a year down the road and shes still moving. Knock on wood haha now that I have said that ill probably blow my trans on my way home from work tonight. Good luck.

...and it took driving about a block and a half in 4Hi until it would shift back into 2wd. Rocking backward and forward wouldn't unlock the 4wd. Is this normal?

I'm also thinking perhaps I might want to drain and refill the tranny with some Redline or Royal Purple prior to Ol' Man Winter squeezing his fist around the Rockies. Would this be a good idea?

 

If this was on a paved/hard surface it will do this. Next time it happens jack up one tire and you can get it in fwd. You have loaded up the driveline with a lot of torque so the gears wont unload to slide.

haha now that I have said that ill probably blow my trans on my way home from work tonight. Good luck.

 

Lmao I hear ya

Nipper has the correct solution. You should not be in 4WD on dry pavement. Only should be used in slippery conditions: in mud, snow; I'm not even sure you should use it on wet pavement. Also, all four tires should be close to the same circumference.

They're all the same (175/70R13 Winter iPikes). It's fine now and I now know better lol. I had driven it a few weeks ago up a short uphill paved road near my house in 4Lo to check it's function and it slipped right back into 2wd no problem is all, just kinda had me wondering yesterday.

 

What about opinions on refilling the case with expen$$$ive fluid?

Not a bad idea if you know you wont be leaking it or changing it too soon. It can help with the overall shifting. It would not make 4wd bind less or more likely, as this is directly related to when and where you engage the 4wd.

 

Some folks have used ATF to clear up sticky synchros. Suppose you could run ATF to flush out old fluid, and then go for expensive.

 

my opinion on the higher quality or synthetic fluids is most beneficial for fluid life and oil change duration, basically more miles or years before you have to worry about it again.

That's where my thinking was heading on the oil Miles. My 5sp d/r shifts just fine (well, it's a *tad* notchy going into second, but I'm used to that being the case with all older trannies-Nissan, Toy, and Subes I've owned). Would be doing it for a 'preventative measure'.

 

And Miles.....GO KOMETS!!!

GOing in a straight line with 4wd is no problem, so if you live in a square state....

GOing in a straight line with 4wd is no problem, so if you live in a square state....

 

well......Colorado is sorta square. Rectilinear.

When was the last time the transmission oil was changed? If you don't know, it's probably more than 50K miles. If that's the case, you might treat the gearbox to Redline 75W90NS. The NS is important since it's for older gearboxes with "notchy" 2nd gear shifts. All my older cars get that except my Impreza daily driver which gets the Subaru extra S gearoil.

Thanks for the input Edrach, that's what I'll go with sometime soon.