I have an 89 GL that I just purchased from a tow yard. Everything seems to be in good order except the transmission will only engage in 4wd, and only the rear wheels engage. It is the push button type transmission. Any ideas what may be the problem?

Broken front axle or stripped splines in one of the hubs

 

Josh

Pull the front hubcaps, if you have them. Set the parking brake, put it in FWD, put it in first gear. get out of the car and look to see if one of the front axle nuts is turning. That would mean you have a stripped spline in the hub. Usually this is the most common reason for your problem. If it isn't that, open the hood and check to see what's turning... Just an axle cup on one side, an axle shaft, etc.

 

Something in the front end is disconnected between the transmission and one of the front wheels.

 

DISCLAIMER!!!!! SOMEONE IS GONNA TELL ME YOU COULD RUN YOURSELF OVER DOING THIS IF THE CAR MAGICALLY STOPS BEING BROKEN. (like the ea82 has enough torque to do that...)

Easy fix. Check if there are any EA82 cars in the Redding Pick n pull. $30. for a used spindle and you're ready to go.

Thanks for the advice sounds like an easy fix.