blinking the 4x4 light
 

2000 Montero Sport keeps blinking the 4x4 light, and after 15-20min of driving the "ANTILOCK" lights up solid. By going into 4wd (also turns the 4wd light solid) or restarting the truck, the "ANTILOCK" light goes out while the 4x4 light flashes. Just had transmission flushed and differential fluid change. Could that have anything in common w/ problem? 4x4 engages and seems to disengage ok. Just the 4wd light flashes. And NOW flashing all the time.

RE: blinking the 4x4 light
 

That is scary, I just logged on to ask the exact same question. I am having the exact same symptoms on my 2000 LS...

Someone help us :D

RE: blinking the 4x4 light
 

http://msport97.proboards6.com/index...num=1093381455

look halfway down hope it helps

RE: blinking the 4x4 light
 

I have the same problem with the blinking four-wheel drive light. When I took the truck to my mechanic, he thought the sensors were in good shape. The truck has a new transfer case, but my mechanic thinks that the front drive shaft is spinning when the 4X4 light is blinking. He does not think the drive shaft is actually engaging the hubs until the truck is shifted into 4-wheel, but he is at a loss as to why the 4x4 light is blinking and the drive shaft is spinning.

Previous posts mention the exact problem. Have you guys come up with a solution? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

RE: blinking the 4x4 light
 

I need serious help with this. My 2001 Montero Sport XLS just started doing this a week ago. I've had two mechanics look at the car and called the dealer and none of them knows what to do. [>:]

After reading the forum, I got the car back today (after having the mechanic lube the 2/4 WD switches) and drove it many miles while switching it back and forth. The light is still blinking, but at least the ABS light didn't come on.

One of the mechanics found a Technical Service Bulletin for a Montero (not a Montero Sport) of the same year, which suggests changing the switches on the transfer casing of the 4WD because they tend to corrode. This costs roughly $500, so I'd hate to pay and it not fix the problem.

If anyone has had this problem and resolved it please let me know. I want to drive my car!!

Thanks!

RE: blinking the 4x4 light
 

I have 2000 Montero Sport same problem...solution freewheeling switch on the front diff housing....replace it your problem will be fixed...temp you can unplug it, socket is under vaccum can beside wheel well on pass side......no more flashing and no more anti lock brake light coming on....but when you get chance replace the switch about 50.00:)

RE: blinking the 4x4 light
 

I agree freewheel clutch switch is your problem.That is a recall item possibly .Check your VIN with your local Mitsu Dealer to see if you have a recall issue.

RE: blinking the 4x4 light
 

Hi Everyone,

This is my first time here. I have a similar problem with my 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport. Here goes:

For about three weeks now the transfer light comes on and sometimes a load noise is heard. It seems like the car is all of a sudden in 4x4. I cannot get it out. What works best is to turn the car off and wait a few hours. Then the issue will not occur until a couple days later. Sometimes other dummy lights come on as well, but mostly it's been the transfer case light. After taking the Montero 4 times to the dealer and two separate mechanics, they are all at a loss. They were not able to grab any codes when the transfer case light was on and now the transfer case light and dummy lights will not come back on. It's a very intermittent problem, but is really irritating.


The Mitsubishi dealer had their head mechanic work on the car over the time the car has been at the dealer and he is stumped. He thinks it is the main Central Processing Unit (CPU) computer on the Montero going out and this is why the intermittent problem is occurring. The car has 186K miles and I am being told that with the high mileage on the car he does not recommend replacing this part because other parts are going to soon go out because of the age of the car and the mileage. Even if they were to replace this part or any other computer parts they cannot guarantee the issue will not happen again, since they cannot find the exact cause. So basically it's the shotgun approach, which can get very expensive.

We could take it to another Mitsubishi dealership, but I bet they will have the same problem, since they use the same computers to troubleshoot problems.

I don't like the idea of you driving the Montero and the issue happening again because we all know it's not good on the car to all of a sudden slam into 4x4 at whatever MPH I am at.

Please let me know your thoughts.

RE: blinking the 4x4 light
 

I'm still working on the blinking light, but as for it going into 4wd by its self, I changed the fluids in transfer and diff cases.
Doesnt go in bu its self any more but light still blinks.

RE: blinking the 4x4 light
 

Similar problem on my wife's 2000 Montero Sport LS (Front axle/hubs refuses to engage at all when the transfer case is shifted).

All in all the Montero is good SUV outside of the complicated/sensitive 4wd system.

I own a 1986 Toyota 4runner with 266,000 miles (all original) and I was thinking about selling the 4runner and taking over the Montero Sport , but after reading all this, the newer Montero is probably going to be for sale instead of the 20year old Toyota. The Toyota 4Runner has never, ever let me down on or off road.

All in all the Montero is better than a lot of SUVs out there. But still do not think think it can match a Toyota for offroad use and overall quality. I live on the Outer Banks of Noth Carolina and positivley cannot depend on a car that may or may not engage in 4WD.
(becasue of tide changes etc on the beach).

If someone convinces me that I will not be changing out this freewhweel switch every year or so, I might would keep the Montero Sport , but at this point the Montero Sport looks to be the vehicle that is for sale.
My wife will be getting a Toyota Sienna Van as a next vehicle after my Montero experience. I cannot live with a fickle 4wd sytem where I live.

RE: blinking the 4x4 light
 

If the 4x4 lights continue to flash when switched to 4wd or when switching BACK to 2wd after successful engagement of the 4wd system, more than likely- the cause is in the front freewheel switch. If the 4wd lights start to flash when switching into 4wd- followed by the ABS light also coming on, it is likely to be one of the switches in the transfercase. The switches in the transfer case is the confirm the command from the driver (i believe one will switch on while the other switches off), while the switch in the front diff, is to confirm the actual engagment of the front freewheel system. If the command is sensed WITHOUT a confirmation- the light will flash. If one command is sensed without the other switch sensing the same command- the abs light will turn on. It does this because the mulitmode ABS ECU does not know what mode to switch to since the switches aren't "jiving". Either way- the sticking switches can be avoided with a more periodic use of the 4wd system. Even a simple switch into and out of 4wd should be enough to prevent this occurance. As for the TSB mentioned in the previous post- that is for the early Gen III Montero's which use an electronic engagment system in the 4wd system- completely different and does not apply at all.

Joel, CA

RE: blinking the 4x4 light
 

I have the same problem from time to time. My Mitsubishi mechanic says the best way to avoid this issue is to frequently, while at idle in neutral, shift in and out of 4X4 to keep the sensors from sticking. If the problem does occur it can often be solved by doing the above many times in a row. I've heard of people shifting in and out of 4X4 hundreds of times before the stuck sensors release, I just solved the problem in my 2001 sport one more time with approximately 50 attempts to shift in and out. I'm considering a shift in and out of 4X4 as standard protocol on start-up.

RE: blinking the 4x4 light
 

I had the same problem of blinking light on my 2000 sport. the dealer replced a relay, but it still does it ocasionally. I have found that if I shift it into 4wheel drive about once every two weeks, it seems to work better if you shift it every once in a while

RE: blinking the 4x4 light
 

I had the same problem. The Montero Sport uses a vaccum assisted Transfer case. There is a valve on the passenger side of the car under the wheel well cowling that if you don't use the 4x4 enough will wear out causing the transfer gearing to not retract completely. The part costs about $160 and can be fixed in an hour.

RE: blinking the 4x4 light
 

i've got a 1997 montero sport and i do use it off-road. i run into this often when i've gone through water. my understanding isthe blinking 4x4 light means that either the front axle has engaged to the driveline or the transfer case has engaged while the other has not regardless of whether you're in 4wd or not. Now the way i understand it is that the front axle engages to the driveline with a vaccume accuator but the vaccumeis used todissengage the axle so without vacume it will be engaged. don't know bout everyone else but my 4x4 light always blink w/key on engine off just cause there's no vaccume.once i drove through a huge puddleabout a minute b4 getting on the highway and while on the highway the water shorted a relay causing my front axle to engage accompanied by a loud bang because the front driveshaft just went from zero to 70 in bout a second. i just disconnected relay blew it out and reconnected (on the 97 its on passenger wheel well below air cleaner box dont know bout other years)
Just my opinion but as for the abs light always being on except while in 4wd, the abs senses the speed of each wheel so if each wheels speed doesn't match goin straight down the road it knows somethings wrong. 4wd could be locking all the wheels at the same speed neutralizing the abs problem, assuming the problems mechanical. a possible reason could be just decent differnce in tire pressures or if maybe you had to replace a tire and it not the same size as the others. i hope i helped someone, good luck

Unwanted 4x4 engagement
 

Turns out the default selection is 4x4 vs. 2-wheel drive. On my 1994 Montero, control is established by a vacuum solenoid switch mounted on the right fenderwell under the air filter. When it wears out and cannot hold the vacuum, it goes into 4-wheel drive by default. Replacement part was $150. I am not a mechanic, but using a Phillips screwdriver, I made the swap in 5 minutes. It has worked flawlessly for 2 years, now.

It's easy to check transfer case switches and the freewheel switch with ohmmeter for continuity . If you dont have one use a battery and a light bulb ( with the same voltage).
Switches have 2 wires and you connect them to an ohmmeter and then push little shaft on the switch in and out and look if the reading changes or is the same. Should change. With the light bulb connect one wire to the battery (positive or negative terminal) and the other one to the side of the bulb. Connect bottom of the bulb to other (unused) terminal on the battery. By closing and opening the switch you will cause the light to go on and off. If it's off or stays on all the time the switch is faulty. The cost is only $ 50-$75 per switch and you will need only one or two. I needed 2 on the transfer case for my Montero. Make sure you don't mix them up and reinstall into the wrong spot . Diagnose one by one and put it back in it's place. Hope it helps.

Blinking 4x4 light or Blinking ABS light
 

A blinking 4x4 light and blinking ABS light are common on MSports. Check this post : Monterosportonline.net Forum - F A Q- Updated 3/12/05

blinking 4x4 light
 

have the same issue w/lights on dash blinking AND won't switch into 4x4 from driver seat (manually done at shop) any thoughts?

2001 mit. montero (4x4 blinking and activating)
 

my 2001 mit. montero is activating the 4x4