Dreaded Flashing Lights - No front Wheel Drive - Solenoids Are Odd - Your Thoughts?
Hi guys. Well, it's happened to me too now. The green lights (front wheel lights) just flash when I place the car into all wheel drive or 4x4. The front wheels are not engaging at all either. So far I have gone over the vaccume system and have found some issues. The solenoid closest to the front of the car (right one when standing behind them looking down) doesnt seem to provide any suction at all when the car is in all wheel drive or beyond. The solenoid closest to the driver (left when looking down) is constantly producing suction all the time.
Now I have checked the electrical wiring clips from the top of the solenoids and can confirm that there is 12 volts when the car is in 2WD and no volts at all when the car is in all wheel drive or beyond. I have tested the hoses down to the axle by swapping the hoses over on the solenoids, whish when I do that, the all wheel drive or deyond engages and works fine.
I have tested front wheels engaging on slipery grass, as well as turning the front drive shaft in its four different states. 1. 2WD, engine running, solenoid hoses in original positions - shaft spins freely. 2. all wheel drive, engine running, solenoid hoses in onriginal position - shaft is locked. 3. all wheel drive, engine running, solenoid hoses swapped - shaft is locked. 4. 2WD, engine running, solenoid hoses swapped - shaft is locked. I have also pulled out the solenoids and have applied 12 volts to the terminals, and can see that they dont seem to change at all. the left solenoid is allways open. The right solenoid is allways shut.
So, if what I think is right, the solenoids sound like they are stuffed. Can I get you guys to give me some of your thoughts on this before I go ahead and buy the parts.
It seems that the solenoid closest to the driver has the two hose connections at the bottom end of the solenoids, and the solenoid closest to the front of the car seems to have one hose at the top, and one hose at the bottom. Does that sounds correct? I bought the car from my father inlaw who has owned it from new, and has never put his head under the bonnet. So Im assuming thats the correct configuration. It looks as though the solenoid on the left losest to the driver is allways open. No matter what voltage I apply to it. Just doesnt seem right to me....
Any who, Your thoughts would be apreciated greatly.
solenoid
Interesting, I didn't know how to check them...so far they are working on my car , just a matter of time, I guess, before we all get the same pb !
I have check the right one and on 2H no suction on the side (the horizontal hose connection, going toward the engine) in 4H, I do have some suction.
Is your number "2" correct? because that how it is supposed to be, locked in 4H...or am I missing something?
Good luck. Happy io
Thanks for the input guys.
Thanks for the input guys. Sorry i havent replied. Its been a BIG weekend. It definatley looks like it's the solanoids. They just dont change at all. No air is allowed through no matter what Voltage I place on them. I have a set coming from Ebay this week. Thank you both very much for your input. Its because of you two and the VK4 gentleman that I was able to troubleshoot the problem. So I owe you guys big time.
I Took her out on Saturday for a drive up Bribie island on the beach. I just byepassed the Solanoids compleley and it worked just fine. I currently cant seem to pull it out of all wheel drive for some reason. I switched the hoses back over but it's not falling out. Ill troubleshoot later when the "noids" get here. I'm hoping that when they are installed it should all work again. That would be nice wouldnt it. :-)
But thank you guys very much for your replies. hope you both had a good weekend.
Syndicate
The solenoids are essentially a two way vacuum switch.
The solenoids have three ports, one on the side and one on each end - they are identical, although they may not appear to be so, because of the vent caps, which are on opposite ends - the vent caps are removable and can be pulled off. The side port is connected to one of the two end ports with the solenoid de-energized and the other one when energized.
You can test the solenoids with a length of vacuum tube and a 12v battery - connect the tube to an end port and blow into it - energize & de-energize the solenoid and the air flow should start & stop and whilst air is flowing you should be able to stop the flow by blocking the side port with your finger. Connect the tube to the other end port and repeat the process.
If you like you can connect the tube to the side port and blow into it, use your finger to see which end port the air flows out of, energize the solenoid and the air should flow out of the other end port.
Test each solenoid separately - if you don't get the results above, the solenoids are defective - if your solenoids are leaky or don't quite seal, you may be able to fix them by spraying carburettor or brake cleaner through them - you may find rust particles inside them - the source of the rust is the the actuator diaphragm chamber on the front differential housing.
Once you verified the solenoids are working (or have replaced them) we can look at making sure they are correctly connected - solenoids are available on ebay - any Pajero 4WD vacuum solenoid can be used, although you may need to remove them from the original mounting plate and fit them to yours (they snap into place) - it is possible to reconfigure the tubing to get the system functional with only one solenoid.