I recently bought a '92 Loyale wagon, auto tranny.  It is FWD with selectable 4WD, but the 4WD doesn't work.  The dash light tells me it's engaged, but the rear wheels don't get power to them.  Where do I start on troubleshooting?

I would start with vacume lines.

I would start by checking if a fuse has been inserted in the fuse holder near the wiper motor, under the hood. A fuse is inserted here to disable the 4wd (mainly for purposes of being towed) so if there is a fuse there, remove it. Cover on the holder should be marked with 'FWD'.  

I would start by checking if a fuse has been inserted in the fuse holder near the wiper motor, under the hood. A fuse is inserted here to disable the 4wd (mainly for purposes of being towed) so if there is a fuse there, remove it. Cover on the holder should be marked with 'FWD'.  

 

Thanks for the info, but I'm not finding the fuse box.  Can you point it out?

 

Edited June 25, 201312 yr by pablo83

If it's anything like the legacies that do this, it would be by the passenger side. Legacies didn't have these in the fuse box, they were just a single fuse holder over in front of the fire wall on the passenger side - usually labeled 2wd.

 

I didn't think that a loyale ever had this option.

Edited June 25, 201312 yr by AdventureSubaru

I was going by my Haynes manual for the 80-94 1800's. It says "before towing 1988 and later models equipped with an automatic transaxle, (blah blah blah)" and tells you to do what I said earlier. The illustration (not picture) shows the area in the picture Pablo posted.... 

 

So, all I can say is check around the engine bay near to the towers and firewall and see if you can hunt it down. Unless someone who owns an auto 4wd Loyale can chime in with better knowledge.

Edited June 25, 201312 yr by SmashedGlass

I believe the autos use a sort of clutch pack arrangement to engage 4wd.  If these are worn out you won't get any drive to the rear end.  How ever if you get one that's never been used offroad they're pretty bloody tight when engaged in 4wd!

 

As for the wiring, make sure everything on gearbox is connected and undamaged - one broken wire and the system won't work as I'm sure it's all electrical even with these old non TCU operated autos.

 

Cheers

Bennie

you know, the vacuum solenoids  are usually behind the drivers strut top.. but I don't see them in the pic/

 

 

also in that pic i see the green connectors are plugged together.. unplug those. they are not suposed to be plugged together normally. they are used for setting the timing.

 

 

The green and white connectors in that pic should not be plugged together. ones for setting the timing and the other is for clearing codes.

Edited June 25, 201312 yr by AKghandi

Good eye Akghandi. Looks like some cherry pits or pine cones also in the pic.

SET SOME RAT TRAPS. The varmits will eat your wires.

this is what the vacuum soleniods look like, on a push button 5 speed anyways, as i recall they are the same on an auto with 4x4...

 

 

 

 

and this is where and what the 2wd fuse is

 

 

I dont have the fuse inplace because i have a D/R now and my 4x4 is lever operated.

 

 

 

 

Its possible you don't have a 4x4 trans but instead a fulltime awd trans, and the button might be the Manual button. which explains the lack of vacuum soleniods.. we need more pictures, like one of the entire engine bay and the outside, the emblems and such, and one of the shifter. this will help us figure his out.

Edited June 25, 201312 yr by AKghandi

 

 

 

 

 

you know, the vacuum solenoids  are usually behind the drivers strut top.. but I don't see them in the pic/

 

 

also in that pic i see the green connectors are plugged together.. unplug those. they are not suposed to be plugged together normally. they are used for setting the timing.

 

 

The green and white connectors in that pic should not be plugged together. ones for setting the timing and the other is for clearing codes.

 

Thanks, I'll unplug those wires.

Good eye Akghandi. Looks like some cherry pits or pine cones also in the pic.

SET SOME RAT TRAPS. The varmits will eat your wires.

 

Those are rocks in the driveway.

this is what the vacuum soleniods look like, on a push button 5 speed anyways, as i recall they are the same on an auto with 4x4...

 

 

 

 

and this is where and what the 2wd fuse is

 

 

I dont have the fuse inplace because i have a D/R now and my 4x4 is lever operated.

 

 

 

 

Its possible you don't have a 4x4 trans but instead a fulltime awd trans, and the button might be the Manual button. which explains the lack of vacuum soleniods.. we need more pictures, like one of the entire engine bay and the outside, the emblems and such, and one of the shifter. this will help us figure his out.

 

I think that's it, Ghandi!  Here's mine:

 

 

I'll pull it out and go do some 4 wheelin.  Thanks again, Ghandi.

auto scary check actuation of the 4x4 soiliniod should push your finger away when turned on the little brass plunger make shure it isent bent or sticking have seen a few failed. Think thats the ac fuse wrong direction also check for bad rear axle. That trans is the only one that dosent have a 4x4 senser on trans the light is turned on by the switch not by trans phisicaly going into 4x4 so it may say 4x4 on dash but switch nevr moved on trans have fought this before

I took it out to some local trails.  4WD is definitely working now.  I tried to park it on a steep slope for a picture, but the parking brake is useless.  What's with the front wheel parking brake?

 

Anyway, thanks for all the help.  That's by far the cheapest 4x4 repair I've ever done.  Now on to the next issue:

 

I could also swear that fuse (in the pic) was actually the a/c fuse..... Scratching my head on this one. But you got it working anyhow.

Edited June 26, 201312 yr by SmashedGlass

glad you got it figured out.. i still see the white connector plugged together, though i'm sure you unplugged it after that picture.. as far as the ebrake, stomp the brakes once then yank the ebrake, then yank the ebrake and stomp the brakes.then hold the ebrake and pump the brakes then vice versa. this will adjust the ratchet mechanism that keeps the ebrake tight.. its not an exact science but youll get it if you mess with it.. i have found on the autos the ebrake gets out of adjustment because no one uses it. hope that helps.

glad you got it figured out.. i still see the white connector plugged together, though i'm sure you unplugged it after that picture.. as far as the ebrake, stomp the brakes once then yank the ebrake, then yank the ebrake and stomp the brakes.then hold the ebrake and pump the brakes then vice versa. this will adjust the ratchet mechanism that keeps the ebrake tight.. its not an exact science but youll get it if you mess with it.. i have found on the autos the ebrake gets out of adjustment because no one uses it. hope that helps.

 

Yes, I unplugged the white connector.  I'm guessing someone looked in this engine bay and saw the unplugged wires and missing fuse and thought they needed to "fix" all of that stuff.

 

For the e-brake, it locks the front wheels just fine, but when I'm pointed uphill on a real steep slope on dirt, the car will slide down even with the front wheels locked.  I know this isn't a real smart place to park a car, I just wanted a picture.  I also occasionally want to do an E-brake turn, but I guess that won't be happening with this car.

Yes, I unplugged the white connector.  I'm guessing someone looked in this engine bay and saw the unplugged wires and missing fuse and thought they needed to "fix" all of that stuff.

 

For the e-brake, it locks the front wheels just fine, but when I'm pointed uphill on a real steep slope on dirt, the car will slide down even with the front wheels locked.  I know this isn't a real smart place to park a car, I just wanted a picture.  I also occasionally want to do an E-brake turn, but I guess that won't be happening with this car.

if it was in 4x4 when you did that then it should have locked all 4 wheels. as the 4x4 on these solidly connectes the front ans rear wheels.

if it was in 4x4 when you did that then it should have locked all 4 wheels. as the 4x4 on these solidly connectes the front ans rear wheels.

Good point.  But when you turn off the car does the 4WD disengage?

 

I tried driving up a steep slope on a jeep trail (probably 30-40% grade).  The wheels started spinning I stopped and put on the e-brake.  when I lifted my foot off the brake pedal the car started sliding backwards with the front wheels locked.

 

I'll have to go check that again.

I second checking for a broken rear axle if the 4wd seems to act intermittently.

I could also swear that fuse (in the pic) was actually the a/c fuse..... Scratching my head on this one. But you got it working anyhow.

 

Me too.

That is not the FWD fuse.....that would be in a turbo Loyale only, which they didn't have in 92.

 

That is the A/C fuse.

 

The 3at also is hydraulically actuated by a solenoid in the trans at the rear.  No vaccum solenoids or cable actuated lever.  If it doesn't work it's either a bad solenoid/circuit or a pressure and clutchpack issue in the trans.

 

Whatever was wrong with your 4wd was not fixed by removing that fuse.

 

Disconnect the Green connector as well as the white ones.

 

Check out the rear axles.  And make sure the rear axles nuts and wheel bearings are good and tight.  If the axle spins in the hub it's just the same as a busted axle, no drive unless you got a welded diff.

Edited June 30, 201312 yr by Gloyale