89Laredo

The 4WD (part time/ full time) lights do not come on in my girlfriends 96 Cherokee Sport. Are they supposed to come on when you turn the key on? This is the lights that come on when you turn the key on:


I will try to get a pic of the lights that come on after you turn the key to "start" but she isnt leaving until the Redwings game is over...

BuckB91XJ

Nope, this normal operation. You 4WD dash light will only come on once you pull the 4x4 Transfer Case lever.

89Laredo

K... They wont come on for a second after you start it; along with the other lights, either? Someone said check the vaccum lines going to the front diff, does anyone have a pic of where these lines would go? I dont see any, does this year (96 sport/4dr/command trak/Auto) even have the vaccum lines?

winston427

That would be a no. Jeep stopped using the vacuum disconnect after 91. Any XJ 92 or newer will not have vacuum lines on the front axle. And before someone with a pre 92 jumps in and claims to not have vacuum lines on theirs, not all pre 91 XJs had the vacuum disconnect axle.

BuckB91XJ

I have a vacuum disco front axle in my 91 XJ and the dash 4x4 part time light does not come on in my Jeep with the key on, motor on or anything else on. The ONLY thing that turns my 4x4 dash light on is putting the Jeep into 4HI or 4LO. If you have a vacuum disco axle in your XJ and when you put it into 4WD, the light still doesn't light then you may have a vacuum problem. On the passenger side of the front axle on the backside you will see your vacuum switch assembly. If you have a 87-90 XJ there are supposed to be 3 vacuum lines going to it. If you have a 91 and some 92s, you will have 2 vacuum lines and 2 electrical wires going to it. The switch that controls the 4x4 light on a 87-90 XJ is on the passenger side firewall area inside the engine compartment. The switch that turns on the 4x4 light in a 91 and 92 XJ is built into the axle vacuum switch, that is why the elctrical wires are going to the axle on that model. I hope this helps you.

89Laredo

Thanks Buck, that helps a little, but You didnt mention anything about the year that this jeep is. I dont see anything that goes to the front diff, as far as I can tell. are there any wires/fuses/relays I should check, or should I just forget about it and just let it go without having the light? The 4wd works, as far as I can tell, but we dont have any mud or anything to really test it in..

losingxinsight

On a 96 the only time those lights come on is when the jeep is in 4HI or 4LO

89Laredo

I know, thats why Im asking... It doesnt come on in Hi or Lo... I was just seeing if it comes on when you turn the key too...

losingxinsight

Ohh I'm sorry. I mis understood and thought you only meant they weren't coming on with the key. Is it going into 4wd? It could just be a burnt out light/bad wiring to the lights.

BuckB91XJ

I'm not sure where the switch that turns the 4x4 light on is in a 96 XJ. I do know being that it is a 96 you have full time 4x4. Basically when you are in 2HI there is no power going to the front driveshaft from the TC but, all of your front drive train constantly is turning. Your year 96 has no axle disconnect so you won't see anything on your axle. So, yeah, you're back to whenever you put your TC lever in 4HI or 4LO the light should turn on.

89Laredo

As far as I can tell its working, but we dont have any way to really test it, its pretty dry around here...

losingxinsight

Steep gravel hill?
Home-made mud pit?
lol

BuckB91XJ

One way I use to test my 4x4 is to go in a gravel parking lot, shift it into 4HI and try to turn a very sharp and small circle. YOu should feel the drive train binding at least a bit (should be a little harder to turn than in 2WD).

losingxinsight

I know in mine the rear wheels won't spin in 4wd so find gravel, and just put it in and bury the throttle.

89Laredo

I just put it in 4hi/D and turned the steering wheel to the left. I noticed it does not turn as far in 4hi, and also that there is a lot more noise coming from the front end while you turn, so im assuming that the 4wd is working fine...