travitara

Thanks! My vehicle has open (non-lockable) diffs...would that still work in my case?

Hi and thanks for your replies! This morning I tried it out again and noticed that if I leave it in neutral downhill, with 4WD engaged, it coasts down the hill slower, as if something were holding it back. I talked to my usual mechanic, who is accustomed to working with 4WDs, and he suspects that based on the symptoms above, including the one I just mentioned, it's probably the transfer case.. It would appear that getting a second hand transfer case might be cheaper than repairing it... Could it be the chain? Just a tooth? If I understand correctly, the front drive shafts are connected directly to the transfer case, so even when 4WD isn't engaged, steering might increase the risk of messing things up even more, so the vehicle should probably remain stationary until I can get it fixed. I had no idea it was so delicate, I've only had the car for a couple of months...perhaps it was already damaged before I bought it

Hi, I'm new to the forum and to the world of 4x4. My vehicle is actually a Suzuki Vitara (called sidekick in the US) ('96), with part-time 4WD. I'm asking here because there seem to be some very knowledgeable people in this forum I was recently on a steep gravel slope and, having trouble getting up it, came to a full stop and engaged 4L. As I tried to climb, the vehicle slipped backward a bit (I should have used the handbrake...) and the front tires span, while the rear ones did not. I heard a loud "clunk" noise from the front of the vehicle. Since then (2h ago), there's a loud noise (as if someone were hitting the botton of the vehicle with a spanner) coming from the front whenever 4WD is engaged (this doesn't happen in 2WD). I've also noticed that the steering is tighter than before, particularly when turning right. Could this be a sign of transmission wind-up? It clearly has to do with the front axle, as it only receives power when 4WD is engaged. Could jacking it up on one wheel relieve the tension? (and if so, how is this done? Do I leave the vehicle in gear, jack up one wheel, then put it in neutral and switch to 4WD? And if that doesn't work, try the other wheel?) Or may the damage already be done? If I had the means, I'd lift up the entire vehicle with 4WD engaged and see which wheels spin and which don't, but it's not the case... Any advice? Thanks in advance!