New Truck Unsure of Problem

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Simple mechanical check that could solve this with 10 minutes work

Pop the dust cap off the front hubs.
You just need a hammer and large flat screw driver.
Pry the dome shaped cap in the centre of the hub off.
Rotate that wheel.
Watch for movement at the connection between the exposed axle shaft, and the hub.



Tell us what you see
 
mudgudgeon said:
Definitely frustrating. Sucks to be in a position thinking you've bought something with a big issue. Been there done that!
It's easy to think the worst, and overlook simple things.

It's worth pausing. Step away. And come back with a cool head.

I agree with @ppc it's unlikely to be a transfer case issue, but not impossible.

If you drove it home under its own power, and CDL light wasn't on it suggests you've overlooked something simple. Unlikely something broke in your driveway (again, not impossible).

A few more questions.

1- What year model?

2- was it sold new in new Zealand? Or imported used from Japan?

3- Was the truck on flat ground while you were testing how high/ low CDL worked?

4- Your first post you say you jacked up front wheels and the spin freely. Is this turning them by hand?
Is there any resistance, or none?
Do they both turn the same direction? Or one forward, one backwards?
Is the drive shaft turning?

5- Same question when you jacked up the rear wheels. Do they both spin the same way? Or opposite rotation?
Is the drive shaft turning?

6- when you were turning wheels was the CDL locked or unlocked?
Transfer case in gear?
Transmission in park?
Click to expand...
Cheers staying cool, bought NZ but imported, 1992 VX, yes flat ground. Yep turned by hand freely, no resistance that I could tell. Will redo those checks after work and reply. Thanks
 
mudgudgeon said:
Simple mechanical check that could solve this with 10 minutes work

Pop the dust cap off the front hubs.
You just need a hammer and large flat screw driver.
Pry the dome shaped cap in the centre of the hub off.
Rotate that wheel.
Watch for movement at the connection between the exposed axle shaft, and the hub.



Tell us what you see
Click to expand...

Hi an update, I haven't been able to get much done with work and weather, however last night:

Jacked up front diff both wheels off ground, front left wheel spun freely the right had some resistance.
Started vehicle put it in gear, jumped out and the front drive shaft was turning neither wheel turned.

So will look at the other suggestions you guys made. Will report back tonight.
 
XTankComd said:
Hi an update, I haven't been able to get much done with work and weather, however last night:

Jacked up front diff both wheels off ground, front left wheel spun freely the right had some resistance.
Started vehicle put it in gear, jumped out and the front drive shaft was turning neither wheel turned.

So will look at the other suggestions you guys made. Will report back tonight.
Click to expand...
OK, you need to seriously look at the front differential.

We have seen folks buy trucks that had a block of wood shoved into an axle housing to plug it because the axle shaft was missing.

In order to drive it and you do NOT have a CDL switch on the dash:

Start the truck.
Place the transfer case shifter into the LOW RANGE position.
There SHOULD be a light come on the dash showing that the CDL is locked. If not, try to move back and forth a little and twist the steering wheel left and right a little to allow the system to "flex" and hopefully it will line up and the light will come on.

If the light comes on:
Place the truck in PARK and shut it off.
Go to the interior fuse block by your left knee (assuming LHD) and pull the DIFF fuse in the LOWER RIGHT of that fuse block.
Start the truck.
The CDL light should still be on.
Move the transfer case shifter to HIGH RANGE.
The truck should move and drive just fine forward and back now. This has locked the CDL and locking the front and rear drive lines together.
Drive it gently to make sure the front axle is not crunchy, banging or noisy. The front driveshaft SHOULD turn when moving, but your front tires may not be doing any work.

If the light does NOT come on:
Try the above anyway, it's possible the light has been disabled, been burned out, intentionally removed, or the CDL is not actually locking.

Report back with your findings.

forum.ih8mud.com

How to add a Center Differential Lock to a truck that doesn't have one

forum.ih8mud.com forum.ih8mud.com

You have multiple possibilities.
1) Drive flanges are stripped.
2) Axle shafts in the front axle are broken or missing
3) Spider gears in the front differential are broken or missing.
4) All of the above and the CDL doesn't engage.

No matter what, you are looking at some serious diagnostic time and possibly exploratory surgery.

Good Luck!

Let us help when you need us and ask questions.

Sorry for the issues.

I'm positive the little old lady only drove it to church on Sundays and to get groceries.......

Never been offroad and it ran when parked......
 
Oh yeah.....

thisthreadisuselesswithoutpichers.webp
 
Pulled both sides out, few issues all bolts were just hand tight, no gaskets. Had been pulled apart recently grease was quite fresh. Dropped diff oil very clean nothing on magnetic plug.

Shoddy workmanship in general. Now I am going to have to check every thing,:bang:
 
XTankComd said:
Pulled both sides out, few issues all bolts were just hand tight, no gaskets. Had been pulled apart recently grease was quite fresh. Dropped diff oil very clean nothing on magnetic plug.

Shoddy workmanship in general. Now I am going to have to check every thing,:bang:
Click to expand...

How was the other side?
Any broken bits?

Hard to imagine that crumbled in the driveway.
That would have gone Snap, Crackle, Pop! At some point. I think you would have noticed.
 
At least you know where your problem is.
Even with a bit of carnage in that hub, it'll still be a lot less $$ to fix than pulling transfer case.

Now find some Japanese made replacement parts. Don't be suckered with cheap Chinese parts for axles, CVs, flanges etc. Particularly if you intend to wheel it

Terrain Tamer do quality parts.
 
Someone opened that, determined the carnage, decided to throw it back together and include napl the pieces, then sell it to some unsuspecting buyer.

Dishonest as hell.

Just another example of what people will do.

Also look at RCV axles.
Trust nothing on this truck and expect to have to rebuild many things.

Sorry to see what you got.

Look inside that axle housing for the shaft guide to make sure it's intact. The inner axle seal is damaged at 12:00 and 6:00 indicating bad wheel bearings or a hard hit, but could be due to when the birf exploded.

Good luck!

Post pics of the other side as well!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom