Okay another newbie Montero Sport owner in your Forum - Hi!

I just bought a used 2000 Montero Sport XLS 4wd for $3500 in immaculate condition. It's almost new looking inside and out even with the 111,000 miles on it! Anyhow, the guy selling it told me he had troubles getting it into 4wd High and wasn't sure what was wrong with it. So this is what it does or I should say doesn't do: The shifter goes into 4wd Low or High without any problems, you can feel the gears interacting but no 4wd light comes on the dash and it doesn't feel like the 4wd is working. I've heard this might be an issue with the mode switch on top of the transfer case - should I replace it? How much and where can I buy it?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

did u lock the front hub?

the mode switch only detect the gear position and hav nothing to do with engaging the gear.
i used to hav a broken switch b4 but the 4wd sys still work fine.
not sure how much it cost as last time i get it for free when changing my clutch assembly.
its 2nd hand ofcourse.

 

Welcome to the forumsKawi Kat.I just had my 02 Sport at the dealer to have that 4x4switch replaced...cost wasabout $200 and3 trips to the dealer (didn't have the part the first time, wrong part the second time, and replaced the part within45 minutes on the 3rd trip). Right after replacement the light worked fine for 4-H but now it isn't lighting up again...only the 4-L lightworks. Looking at a fourth trip to the dealerlol.

Is your Montero Sport the All Wheel Drive version, or the Part-time 4x4 version?

My 4x4is definitely engaging (AWD version)...but you say that "you can feel the gears interacting but no 4-H light." How are you checking 4wd operation? Do you have to manually get out andlock the hubs like 4g54 asked?

It's probably the switch, but you you need to verify 4x4 works.

 

your transfer case switches are sticking.

you have two choices. go outside and shift in and out of 4WD several hundred times. That usually loosens up the switches. Or replace the 2/4WD switch.

 

Anybody out there that can help me?

 

Sorry...located in Denver, COand had to go to the dealer anyhow (under aftermarket warranty)and I don't have the time or the instructions handy.

 

I know on my 98 Montero sometimes I have to drive it a few feet before the 4wd light lights up steady.

 

if your montero uses manual free wheel hub u hav to lock it first.
its at the center on both front wheel.its written there "lock" and "free".
turn it to "lock".
if not there might be a button somewhere to lock the fron hub on the dash.
shift to 4H or 4L and start driving.dont for get to shift the normal gearbox.
drive slowly.do this somewhere open.
on straight line u wont feel much different than when its in 2WD.
when u turn the steering u can feel its a bit heavier than usual.
if its heavy that meanyou are in 4x4 mode.
u can also notice the vehicle feels a lot lighter than usual.

if not,than there might be something wrong with the linkage or the transfer case itself.
the 4x4 switch fail very often so its up to you to replace it or not.

 

Did you read what I posted, or would you rather have a magic wand waved over your car?

i TOLD you what to do.
Ignore the person talking about locking hubs, as mitsu hasnt used those in america since 1991.

 

I have a 02 montero sport limited AWD that I have owned from new (12 miles). It now has almost 80K on it. I leave my truck in AWD most of the time. I recently went to shift into 4WD to "exercise" the gears and it wouldn't shift in. The transfer lever feels like it's physically stuck. Won't shift forward, won't shift backwards. I took it to the dealership when I had less than 20K on it for other work and also advised them it wouldn't shift into 4H right. However, after having to convince the service advisor that my car was AWD not 4WD, by showin them the transfer shifter....who knows what they did. They stated on ticket could not duplicate.

I was thinking about pulling the center console out to take a look under the area to see if something is jammed in there or what is going on, but i didn't want to do that without knowing what might cause this problem. I don't want to waste a whole bunch of time.

I have already checked the passenger fuse compartment. The fuse listed as A/T does not have pins in it to hold the fuse in nor was there a fuse in it. So I'm assuming that on the limited they moved the fuse somewhere else. I checked all the other fuses, and all are good - including thosse under the hood.