I am in the process of breaking in my new 03 Prairie. I have about 5hrs on it now. I noticed when changing to 4WD it takes a few seconds to do it (5-10). I have been stopped with it in neutral or high when the switch is made. Is this a normal thing to expect or should it go into 4WD as soon as the switch is flipped??

 

Try puttiing it in 4x4 when you are moving a little bit, 2-3 miles an hour. Mine works better that way. Also mine goes into 4x4 better when it is in low range.

 

Yes you need to be moving for the 4x4 to engage. If you don't move you might break the 4x4 actuater ( i think ). It engages from 1-20 kph, not sure how it converts to mph, I think 1-12 mph.

 

I have an 03 prairie also... i always stop before i switch to 4x4, call me chicken or over causious but that's what i always do.... also it's good to shift it into 4x4 from time to time when breakin it in.... gets the gears and such moving.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

The thing that you never want to do is switch to 4x4 while the rear tires are spinning faster then the fronts. This WILL break things.
The reason it works better while moving is because the front diff, won't go into 4x4 until the gears line up. If there not lined up and you not moving it won't go into 4x4.

 

That really sucks when your front tires are stuck in a rut not allowing you to move and the gears arent lined up. Then you have two choices, get off and start pushing, or give it gas and let the rear tires spin till it catches and hope you dont break stuff. I normally push, its a shorter walk than back to the truck.

 

Or just make sure your in 4x4 before you go into any mud, if its really easy to go through then pop it in 2x4 and play around.