4 wheel drive will not engage!! Help!!! 2001 qx4

[qx4piff]

I woke up this morning to 10 inches of snow in my driveway which is inclined so I just clean the snow off the qx4 and then I get in i try to go up the drive way in 2 wheel drive and it did'nt then I put it in auto which I normally do to get out and nothing no front wheels at all!!! so I tried 4h and 4l with no luck....WTF(indicator works). any one have this issue before? please help.

[KoukiS14]

It's outlined in the owner's manual, but if it's cold the 4wd may not work right off the bat. Let it warm up a bit and give 'er a shot. Let us know if it ever began working, 'cause it could be something else.

[qx4piff]

thanks for the input...i'll be going to the store later i'll keep you updated.

[qx4piff]

nope still does'nt work somethings is definitely broken if I do a full u turn in either direction there is hard thumping sound coming from the front wheels. Ican feel it in the steering wheel..this is not good. 'm going to have to man up and take it to the stealership to get it diagnosed.....this sucks.

[SnowSurfLax]

If you're getting a hard thumping while turning, it's that your FWD is binding. It means it's working and there's not enough slippage and you're actually DAMAGING your 4WD system.

Are you sure it's not that your tires suck?

If you want to test it, put your ride up on jackstands (so that all 4 wheels are off the ground) and put it in drive and in 4HI. If the front wheels don't spin, then it's not working. $80 in jackstands is a cheap pre-test for a stealership who'll take that (or more) just for looking at it

[JonathanPrem]

If you want to go over any amount of snow knock it in 4W-Low. To do that first leave it in drive then engage it in 4W-Low. Then after doing that the light should flash on your dash board.After it flash put in neutral and you should hear a little click sound notifying its in 4W-Low. Then put in drive and drive over anything. .

[qx4piff]

If you're getting a hard thumping while turning, it's that your FWD is binding. It means it's working and there's not enough slippage and you're actually DAMAGING your 4WD system.

Are you sure it's not that your tires suck?

If you want to test it, put your ride up on jackstands (so that all 4 wheels are off the ground) and put it in drive and in 4HI. If the front wheels don't spin, then it's not working. $80 in jackstands is a cheap pre-test for a stealership who'll take that (or more) just for looking at it

I know when my FWD is binding I owned this SUV for about 9 years now(bought it brand new) ....that's not the issue 4wd is definitely not working at all and my tires are awesome (goodyears triple thread SA 90% thread life)....I think my front axles are gone ......the sound is getting worse....I already made an appt with the stealership on Monday..Hopefully it's a part thatdoes not require alot$$$ but I have to admit she's getting old and at 157,000k more issues keep arising.....so depending on what they say this may be the end for the QX4 ........any other SUV reconmendations??

[Ubel Feuer]

Another QX4 you fool.

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/it....m245

[SnowSurfLax]

Another QX4 you fool.

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/it....m245

Ha ha! Exactly!

Well OP, glad you know your ****. Still, before you take it to the stealership, I'd run it on jackstands to make sure the front wheels are turning. It'll help them out as well (meaning less shop time, which as you know is $$$)

[qx4piff]

and the problem was the left axle.....took it to a reputiable nissan mechanic took the axle off rebuilt it....popped back in $100.....no thumping noise no sounds just waiting un til weds when we get more snow to see if 4wd is working properly. the QX4 lives to fight another day!!!!