4WD Vacuum line diagram?

Tiny
88_KOTER
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 DODGE DAKOTA
  • 3.9L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 165,000 MILES
4wd works great in low but not high. Worked fine getting down my driveway with snow, shut it off let it sit 3 hours. Went leave and now vehicle almost stalls out in 4 high and slips. But 4 low locks right in and goes fine.
Thursday, January 29th, 2026 AT 3:21 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,546 POSTS
That wouldn't be the vacuum lines. All the vacuum does is move the front axle interlock in and out. Basically you move the interior lever and that slides a gear inside the transfer case from 2 WD into 4 WD or 4WD Low (which engages a set of planetary gears), In both positions the internal lever in the Tcase just bumps a plunger that opens a vacuum line to the axle actuator and locks the axle. When it moves the shift yoke in the interlock it also moves the switch that turns on the 4WD light. When you shift into 2WD high the plunger moves and takes the vacuum away from one side of the interconnect and applies it to the other to unlock the front axle and turn off the light, while venting the switch. For 4 low to operate the interlock has to move the same way as it does in 4 high. Are you sure 4 low is engaging? Does the 4wd light come on for both low and high? When you say it "slips" what is slipping?
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Thursday, January 29th, 2026 AT 11:33 PM
Tiny
88_KOTER
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Truck was frame swapped and has 2wd cluster in it so no 4x4 lights unfortunately. When I ran it on the lift in 4 high all 4 tires spin same with low and 2wd. Seems like it all works until there is a load. The slipping kinda smells like clutch but just lacks power when letting out on the clutch like something could be tight or binding. But no signs of a bad clutch and was already replaced last year.
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Saturday, January 31st, 2026 AT 10:55 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,546 POSTS
Check over the brakes, especially the parking brakes. Could have moisture in the cables that froze. That would smell like clutch and create a lot of drag.
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Saturday, January 31st, 2026 AT 12:00 PM

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