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86 GL wagon stuck in nuetral?

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Hey folks,

I bought an 86 4X4 GL wagon that had been sitting for a couple years,brought it home,cleaned it up,drove it around and parked it until I had a chance to get new tires. It was a month before I started it again and it would'nt move. I can see the transfer case "linkage" moving and appears to be normal,there's no external linkage on the transmission,but it feels fine. I had the wife tow me around,but nothing will engage. Has this happened to anyone else? I'm hoping I'm missing something simple..........

Hrmmmmm

 

Get under the car and try shifting the levers at the transmission. It can be that the bushings are shot in the linkage.

 

Also pop the hood and (do NOT stand in front of the car) look at the front driveshafts while the car is in gear and running. It can be that an axle is stripped (happened to me) and the axle is just spinning in the hub.

 

 

nipper

nippers suggertion works better if you can put it on jack stands so none of the wheels are on the ground too no worries of getting run over.

nippers suggertion works better if you can put it on jack stands so none of the wheels are on the ground too no worries of getting run over.

 

Well yes and no. You of course do it with someone else (unlike me who did it in the middle of a parking lot at work).

 

You still need to have resistance on the drive wheels in order to see the axle spinning in the hub.

 

nipper

  • Author
Well yes and no. You of course do it with someone else (unlike me who did it in the middle of a parking lot at work).

 

You still need to have resistance on the drive wheels in order to see the axle spinning in the hub.

 

nipper

 

What linkage there is I had checked. Never thought about the hubs. Unfortunately,that was'nt it.

I can see the transfer case "linkage" moving and appears to be normal,there's no external linkage on the transmission,but it feels fine. I had the wife tow me around,but nothing will engage.

 

I don't understand this statement. ALL of the linkage is external. With the exception of the rod through the transfer case section for the Low range. Perhaps the problem is there.

 

Look on the righ hand side of the transmission. You should see a rod about a foot long, connected at one end to a small lever near the front of the trans. On the other end it goes into and through the rear *transfer* portion of the Trans. Attached at the other side, where the rod comes through is the linkage/lever for 2wd/4wd HI/4wd LO

 

You need to make sure the HI/LO lever is hooked up, and in the correct position. If for some reason it is unhooked, try moving the small lever near the front of trans back as far counter clockwise as you can.

  • Author
I don't understand this statement. ALL of the linkage is external. With the exception of the rod through the transfer case section for the Low range. Perhaps the problem is there.

 

Look on the righ hand side of the transmission. You should see a rod about a foot long, connected at one end to a small lever near the front of the trans. On the other end it goes into and through the rear *transfer* portion of the Trans. Attached at the other side, where the rod comes through is the linkage/lever for 2wd/4wd HI/4wd LO

 

You need to make sure the HI/LO lever is hooked up, and in the correct position. If for some reason it is unhooked, try moving the small lever near the front of trans back as far counter clockwise as you can.

 

 

I guess my age is showing. When I think external linkage,my mind see's old chevy trans with linkage shift ears. Anyhow,everything is attached just as you described. I did notice that the small hi/lo lever nearest the front of the car will pull sideways out of the trans about 3/8 of an inch. Is that normal?

I did notice that the small hi/lo lever nearest the front of the car will pull sideways out of the trans about 3/8 of an inch. Is that normal?

 

I don't think that's normal. But I'm not sure, and I don't have a dual range trans here to look at. Anyone else know?

  • Author
I don't think that's normal. But I'm not sure, and I don't have a dual range trans here to look at. Anyone else know?

 

 

 

I fiddled with that a bit more and the shaft slid out 2-3 inches. There's a hole thru the shaft,looks like it was pinned to something. I don't have a parts breakdown,but looks like thats the source of my difficulties. Thanks for everyones help....

I fiddled with that a bit more and the shaft slid out 2-3 inches. There's a hole thru the shaft,looks like it was pinned to something. I don't have a parts breakdown,but looks like thats the source of my difficulties. Thanks for everyones help....

 

 

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

 

That would be a problem. It's a big one too because to even attempt to repair it you would have to split the Transmission case. I would look into sourcing a transmission, rather than tackling the repair. Although..... a good transmission shop may be able to fix it for minimal cost, at least parts wise. Still the labor would be spendy.

  • Author
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

 

That would be a problem. It's a big one too because to even attempt to repair it you would have to split the Transmission case. I would look into sourcing a transmission, rather than tackling the repair. Although..... a good transmission shop may be able to fix it for minimal cost, at least parts wise. Still the labor would be spendy.

 

 

I'll probably wait until I run across one that needs an engine. Thanks for your help!

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