By Doug P. on Monday, April 30, 2001 - 11:42 pm: Edit

Audible chime came on,truck drives fine but when I tried to move transfer case lever to make sure I was in high gear it would not move. I tried in neutral position and also going from drive to neutral but the transfer lever still will not move
and the chime will not go off.

By Axel Haakonsen (Axel) on Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 08:16 am: Edit

You are not completely in gear, that's why the chime is on. Try backing up a few yards, that sometimes helps.

By Doug P. on Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 08:28 am: Edit

Axel,
I tried this and still have same problem.

By Leslie on Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 08:47 am: Edit

Were you rolling or standing still?

Try shifting the lever while moving at a LOW speed... While driving in a straight and level line, slip the tranny into neutral, and while rolling along at a couple of mph, then shift. If you haven't been using your x-case lever regularly, the linkage can freeze up... these things need to be shifted regularly... really is a case of "use it or lose it". If it's still not shifting, try a hammer... J/K! I've seen some Discos where someone hadn't used the lever, and you would have to beat on the lever to get it to move. Easier on the lever, you could crawl under with a can of PB Blaster or something and spray and loosen up the linkage that way... but don't get the crap in your eyes!

Hope that helps...

-L

By Leslie on Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 09:00 am: Edit

PS...
Read the thread on "T-case trouble", it covers the exact same topic. I would suggest doing likewise and getting at the linkage from the console instead of underneath... I've not taken my console out before, though, but supposedly it isn't a bear.

Lots o' luck!

-L

By Doug P. on Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 09:08 am: Edit

Leslie,
I have tried to shift while moving, still nothing but I have not tried cleaning the linkage.Do you
just spray straigt on and not worry about wiring?
Can I use WD-40?

By Leslie on Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 09:38 am: Edit

Don't try to douse your wiring, of course!

Seriously, I don't spray the heck out of things, I try to use smaller, well focused semi-aimed short squirts... I'll make a LOT of little squirts to thoroughly spray whatever I'm targeting, and try to keep it off of the other stuff... not so much from a hazard standpoint, but just to keep from running through an entire can of spray on one project.

WD-40 is a 'W'ater 'D'isplacement... because of its contents, it is okay as a lubricant, or a solvent, or a penetrant... but it is designed for getting water out to prevent corrosion... good for distributor caps when 4-wheeling, too. For serious lubricating, 3-in-one oil would be a better choice. PB Blaster and Liquid Wrench are penetrants, designed for breaking loose things that are frozen together.
So, to answer your question, yes WD-40 will work fine, but there are better things out there for this particular chore.


Best o' luck...

-L

By Jon on Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 09:39 am: Edit

Yeah, what's this "PB Blaster" I keep seeing mentioned? Is that the English equivalent of WD-40? Or is it something different?

By Ron on Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 09:47 am: Edit

Orange stuff, nasty. eats rust good though 3.49 at the auto parts place in a white can with lots of orange and yellow writing and pics on it. Has replaced liquid wrench in my aresonal. Similar to Kroil I think.

Ron

By Leslie on Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 09:56 am: Edit

Yep... I usually have both WD-40 and PB-Blaster around. It's a little foamy, orangish as Ron said... the cap is yellow, white can that's colorful... it's not as cheap or as easily found as WD-40, but when you've really got something that's bound up, I'll pull it out and soak it down good and then let it sit and have a beer or something... I guess most Discos aren't as bad off as the older Series Rovers (guess that's why Ron and I are more addicted to the stuff)... 30 or 40 year-old gunk is a bit different than 5-year-old gunk....

-L

By Leslie on Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 10:07 am: Edit

Oh, it's not English, either... Hmmm....

http://www.pbblaster.com


How's that?

-L

By Jon on Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 10:10 am: Edit

Thanks! I need to invest in a can or three :-)

By Doug P. on Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 08:46 pm: Edit

I found my problem it was a short in the eletrical system. A wire in the stering column had
gotten rubbed and shorted out which went to the multi-functional sending unit which in turn sent power to the solenoid switch on the transfer case.This caused the transfer lever not to move and cause the alarm to go off. Thanks to all that responded!!!
Doug P.

By E Snyder on Wednesday, May 02, 2001 - 07:12 pm: Edit

Do yourself a favor. Next time you are re-wiring your Disco, bypass the wiring that requires you to be in neutral to shift the transfer case. My truck has had that done, and it allows you to "rock" the truck into diff lock under lots of odd conditions. Just like any older 4wd you ever drove. At the same time we did that we bypassed the wiring that requires you to have your foot on the brake to get out of park! (I'm not lucky or cool enough to have a 5-speed.) Very nice for drifting the car forward without having to put the key in, put your foot on the brake, blah, blah, blah. I guess it's that way because moms with kids buy more Discos than we do!

By E Snyder on Wednesday, May 02, 2001 - 07:14 pm: Edit

Another thought. It never hurts to shift your truck in and out of diff lock every week or two. Keeps it loose for when you really need it!