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Nick H
Dodge Dakota
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8/24/2007
13:51:34
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 Subject: Vacuum or Electric 4wd on 96
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I'm trying to learn more about the 4wd system on my 96 Dakota 3.9L. This is my first truck and 4wd, and of course some problems came with the truck. Are there any sites on the web with info on this particular 4wd setup?
It seems as though mine is sticking in 4wd some of the time after putting it back into 2wd. Every 100 feet or so the truck will swerve HARD to the left and repeat this untill you stop, put it in 4wd again and kinda mess around with the selector some.
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Kota Kid
Dodge Dakota
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8/24/2007
18:08:56
|  RE: Vacuum or Electric 4wd on 96
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I think dodge had stopped using the central axle disconnect front axle system in the Dakotas by then. If it is sticking in 4wd then you more then likely have a transfer case problem. Plus I had a 92 4x4 with the same front axle, the vacuum actuator was broken on mine for two months before i found a replacement in a junkyard, I had the front axle engaged at all times with no steering problems.
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Nick H
Dodge Dakota
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8/28/2007
10:51:42
| RE: Vacuum or Electric 4wd on 96
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So what do they use in 96 then, and how does it work?
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Nick H
Dodge Dakota
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8/29/2007
10:46:36
| RE: Vacuum or Electric 4wd on 96
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Ok I see that 94-96 does not use the "CAD" setup. However I can't find any kind of info on the system it does use. I'm at a loss trying to figure out how the system works to try and find the area to start looking for something to be malfunctioning.
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Kota Kid
Dodge Dakota
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8/29/2007
20:17:01
|  RE: Vacuum or Electric 4wd on 96
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If I am right then your truck has no front axle disconnect at all like my 99 4x4. The front axle stays engaged at all times and turns at all times regardless if you are in 4wd or 2wd. Like I said above it sounds like you have a transfer case problem causing it to stick in 4wd, and maybee somthing binding in your front end (ball joint, tie rod, idler arm, etc...) causing your steering problem.
I'm afraid thats the best diagnosis I can give you without being there in person to witness it. Hope I helped you if you got any more questions feel free to ask away.
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Nick H
Dodge Dakota
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8/30/2007
09:16:05
| RE: Vacuum or Electric 4wd on 96
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Yes but from what I've read there is still a vacuum type switch that engages in the differentail? My Dakota still has the manual lever you move to engage and disengage the 4wd. No push button stuff yet.
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Kota Kid
Dodge Dakota
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9/03/2007
00:05:27
| RE: Vacuum or Electric 4wd on 96
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It has no swithces of any kind on the differential if it does not use the Central Axle Dissconnect system, that according to what you read they stopped using in 94.
My Dak still has the manual lever and the same NP231d transfer case yours has and like I said it has no axle dissconnect of any kind, my front axle spins at all times, just like yours.
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Walt_Felix
Dodge Dakota
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9/05/2007
08:36:27
| RE: Vacuum or Electric 4wd on 96
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Nick,
The vacuum switch you're talking about is the CAD (Central Axle Disconnect). There is a vacuum actuated fork and shift collar that connects the passenger's side outer axle shaft to the center shaft (not the CV axles but the actual steel shafts within the axle housing).
However, as Kota Kid posted, Dodge stopped using the CAD system on the Dakota a few years before your truck was built. He posted 94, but I believe it was 92 or 93 actually. In any event, your 96 doesn't have a CAD so it doesn't have the "switch" you're asking about. When you shift in and out of 4wd, it's only engaging/disengaging a connection within your transfer case. Nothing is locking on your front axle.
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Kota Kid
Dodge Dakota
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9/05/2007
18:39:08
| RE: Vacuum or Electric 4wd on 96
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What he ^ said.
I think it might have been 93 though. It wasn't 92 because I had a 92 with CAD still, and mine was broken for about 2 months (I took the actuator off and jammed it over with a hose clamp so I still had 4wd) before I fixed it and I never once had an issue like he is describing.
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other bill
Dodge Dakota
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9/06/2007
13:20:02
| RE: Vacuum or Electric 4wd on 96
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Nick,
These things can be very temperamental on the linkage adjustment. I had to 'tweak' the adjustment on the slide bar (where the lever connects) after installing a body lift because the knob in the cab was hitting the boot console when I would try and put it back in 2 WD. It takes very little movement for it to act up. Mine works fine now going from 4 HI back to 2WD, but has on occasion popped out of 4 LO (that can be inconvenient).
Good luck.
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Walt_Felix
Dodge Dakota
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9/10/2007
08:56:37
| RE: Vacuum or Electric 4wd on 96
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I agree, like I posted in the other thread Nick has about this, from what he is describing, it sounds like it's not completely shifting out of 4wd either due to the linkage being out of adjustment or an internal problem in the transfer case. Another possibly (though less likely) he has a CV or u-joint that is binding.
Walt
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