ok i got some bad problem with my 96 ram, i got stuck in the snow the other night and i treid engaging my 4 wheel drive and she didnt go. and when i pressed the gas it made some bad grinding sounds havnt had a chance or warm place to look at it anyone got an idea what it could be??

Dodge Eats Chevy's and Shits Fords

Looks like your dodge is starting to eat itself

mine did/does the same thing, haven't had time to fix it. It's the vacuum operated shift fork not fully engaging the collar on the front axle (not connecting the two axle shafts), I think i'm gonna go with a posi-lok kit, i've had trouble with the damn thing in the past. It's just a cable that mounts under you dash that goes to the front axle disconnect and takes the place of all the vacuum crap.

whats a posi-lok and whats the difference? ill check my vacume lines when i got a chance? but got another question i snapped the passanger side axel and when i put it back together i forgott which way the piece that connects the two axel shafts together when engaging the 4 wheel drive would that make a difference? and the linkage broke on my 4 wheel drive shortly after that?????

On the Jeeps and older dodges it does not matter which way the collar goes never had a newer dodge apart, what linkage did you break? Also does your heater controls work properly or does it blow on defrost all the time?

Also being that the vac motor is the lowest point in the system water/moisture will collect there. If you pull it out to check it take it inside, warm it up then work the fork back and forth by hand while holding it so that the vac ports are the lowest point, see if any water is forced out.

yes my heater control actually broke right off and now its stuck on defrost but if i mess around with it i can get it off defrost. and the linkage between my shifter and t case broke i can still manualy shift by hand if i go unerneath, when i get a chance here ill pull off the vacume motor and try that

The reason I asked about the defroster is that on my Jeep the heater controls are operated by Vacuum. So when my cruise, heater controls, and 4wd stop working I know that its a problem with the vac. system, usually the reservoir. But it sounds like your heater problem is mechanical.

GET OUT OF THE DODGE FORUM YOU CHUBY LUVER!!!

My buddy had the same problem with the transfer case not workin on his ram, all it was for him was a vacum line that had came off, plugged it back in and it worked just fine!

well it feels like it is shifting into 4 wheel drive but the front wheels are not engaging could it possible be front diff im to scared to take the pan off?

well u guys were right it was in the vacume system when it warmed up the past couple days i treid my 4 wheel drive and it worked so it must have been a frozen vacume line or something and when i treid it again that night when it cooled down it must have froze again because it didnt work. anyone got a suggestion to avoid it from freezin up?

Did you read me post above about removing the moisture from the actuator? I usually do this every time I pull it out. About once a year.

ok got it all fixed up shes ready for bigger tires now thanks for the replys guys!!

i have the same promlem with my ram. i got stuck in a pond behind my house and had to leave it set over night till i could get the keys to the bull dozer off my dad to get it out. and now my four wheel drive won't lock in do u think that the vacum might be my problem also.

clean the mud outta the vacuum lines or put in new lines