Subaru Loyale 4x4

[simian]

My 1994 Subaru Loyale will no longer engage into 4x4 mode , depressing the
button on the stick fails to elicit any response( the display on the dash
will not light up) this occurred quite recently and I have never had any
problems prior .Could this be a simple electrical problem?

 

[johninKY]

Any chance someone installed the FWD fuse under the hood? Don't know how
the 4wd is activated but it has to be either vacuum or a solenoid.
Probably need to get under the car and start checking for voltage if it's
a solenoid activated or a leaking vacuum hose if the other way.

 

[johninKY]

Just another thought. Check all your fuses. This circuit must have one.
Also use a multimeter to check for voltage at the button. Problem could be
as simple as a bad switch.

 

[Rick Courtright]

My 1994 Subaru Loyale will no longer engage into 4x4 mode , depressing > the button on the stick fails to elicit any response( the display on > the dash will not light up) this occurred quite recently and I have > never had any problems prior .Could this be a simple electrical
problem?

Hi,

The light on my Loyale has a mind of its own. It will work for a while,
then go on "hiatus" for months before it decides it's going to work
again. I don't remember how I discovered this, but a shot of contact
cleaner into the gap around the switch in the top of the shift lever
sometimes revives things.

But, even when the light's on vacation, if I turn off "noisy" things
like the radio and heater fan, I can hear a faint "click" from under the
car as the 4wd engages. Can you hear anything?

My system (it's a '90) is vacuum operated, and there's a small vacuum
line that operates everything from a dashpot near the front of the
gearbox. It's hard to see (gotta crawl under there and look carefully w/
a good light) but it's a place to start looking if you DON'T even get a
"click."

Good luck!

Rick

 

[S]

Hi Simian, All!

My 1994 Subaru Loyale will no longer engage into 4x4 mode , depressing the
button on the stick fails to elicit any response( the display on the dash
will not light up) this occurred quite recently and I have never had any
problems prior .Could this be a simple electrical problem?

In addition to what others have said on this, the 4WD cars (as opposed
to the AWD flavor) lack a center differential/clutch pack/whatever.
This is at least true on the mid-late '80s cars I've owned and worked
on.

In any event, you can always tell if the rear is engaged by making a
series of sharp turns on pavement. When in 4WD, you will feel the
drive train bind a bit as you execute the turn. You might give this a
shot before you start digging into the vacuum operated linkages and
such.

ByeBye! S.
Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101