Mitsubishi Challeneger 2001

Hi there. You dont say whether the gearbox is manual or automatic or if you have free wheeling hubs or automatic locking hubs. At one stage Mitsubishi played around with number of configurations with hubs and gearboxes. Also the Hi Lo selector lever may not be engaging properly. I have a V6 4Runner which is identical in many respects to the Challenger and had a similar problem in the initial stages, but after going bush many times and gettng to use the transfer case more than frequently, it has freed up to the point where engaging four wheel drive Hi or Lo is no longer a problem. There are times when it wont disengage from four wheel drive , but I reverse a couple of feet and problem solved. Assuming that the globe in the dash hasnt blown there reqally shouldnt be a problem with engaging Hi or Lo range. Just make sure the car is not moving when you try to engage the transfer lever.

I think the challenger is similar to the pajeros with the 'super select'.

1. It could be just the dash lights. All 4 dash lights come on when the car is first started to show they are working, then the lower two (the rear wheels) stay on when in 2wd. My lower 2 lights (bulbs) are not working on mine, and the bulbs do have a limited life. The upper 2 lights do work on mine when in 4wd.

2. Difficulty engaging 4wd is a known problem on cars which have not been put into 4wd on a regular basis.

The system uses the 4wd lever to engage 4wd in the transfer case, and a vacumn system to engage the front drive shafts in the front diff.

Usually on engaging 4wd (4H or 4Hlc), the top two lights start flashing to show 4wd has been selected in the transfer case, then go to a soild light when 4wd is engaged in the front diff by the engagement of the front drive shafts in the diff . The problem is that the vacumn actuation system (the vacumn solenoids in the front diff) can get stiff with age and non use, or leaky pipes, and not work properly, resulting in the 4wd lights just flashing and not showing engagement of the front drive shafts.

I think your problem may be the first since the lights are not working at all since you do not have flashing lights. :-).

I am not sure how to replace the lights, havn't done it on mine yet.

You could try the pajero/mitsubishi Victorian 4wd club forum for more information and other challenger users.

www.pajeroclub.com.au/home/publicforum/

You may need to register to use the forum, but it is free and very good.
There are other challenger owners on the forum.
And I know some one did post a diagram on how the system works.

If you "think" they might be freewheeling hubs, but leave them alone, then you will need to turn the hubs from "free" to "lock" before engaging 4WD. If they are auto hubs, then refer to your owners handbook , or other suggestions as posted.

Rob

If all else fails from the feedback you have been given, suggest you take the vehicle to your local Mitsubishi Dealer and get them to check it out. Pity they stopped makng the Challenger, as it was on my wish list for a replacement for the 4Runner. I did read earlier this year that there was a possibilty of the Triton coming out in a five door wagon to fill the void of the Challenger. The Patrol and Landcruiser are to big for just the wife and myself. I dislike the new Pathfinder, Land Rover and all the new midsize 4x4s. Far to many electronic gadgets to go wrong. Keep it simple - the less electronics the less to go wrong. DO let us know what the problem was when you get it sorted out. Must be something very simple and its certainly aroused my curiosity.

Hi,
I also own a 01 challenger.
I've had problems where the vacuum solenoids stopped working in the middle of nowhere, (disconnected the vacuum leads and bypassed the solenoid to use 4wd)
Have also had problems with the switch placement in the transfer case, would not try to activate hubs in 4H.
With the vacuum problem, the light would flash, as it knew it wanted to engage the hubs but they weren’t engaged. (Same with disengaging, after bypassing the solenoid, the light would be on when in 4wd and flashing in 2wd)
With the transfer case switch, the light wouldn't turn on when in 4H and wiggling the transfer lever caused the light to come on and the hubs to engage (eventually).
In both the above cases, the 4WD light would still flash when turning on the ignition, I.E. your problem is not likely to be one of the above. If it recognised something was faulty it should keep flashing. I'd check the bulb and associated electronics again. If you can't find anything, I'd take it in for repair, it should be fairly cheap, something is just stopping power to the 4wd system, therefore the solenoids won't work and your hubs won't lock in.
You can always test the hubs etc by bypassing the solenoid.
P.S, I was quoted approx $400 each for replacement vacuum solenoids.
Hope this helps,
Jim

If it is the vacuum hubs, adn you bought the car from a reputable dealer the law states ( at least it does in WA ) that the dealer has to offer a minimum of 6 months warranty on all mechanical and electrical parts. Some dealers may offer you an extra three eyars and 100,000 km if the vehicle has done less then 190,000 Km and it covers everything. The catch is you have to have it serviced according to the service handbook by either the agents for Mitsubishi or Auto Masters Ultra Tune etc. but if you miss just one service then the warranty company will not pay for any major repairs - I`ve been down that track ocne to often. The only parts they dont cover is the hoses, belts, brakes and the stupid rubber timing belts that can stretch or break when ever it feels like it. My 4Runner broke the rubber timing belt after a trip up the coast along the beach. It broke after I had switched the engine off, and refused to start when we got back in the car. That was a nightmare to get the vehicle towed from the beach back to civilisation and then to get it repaired. Its now done 18,000 Km sionce the belt was replaced and I plan on doing the replacement myself in a years time. I now err on the side of caution. Lesson learned.

As the owner of our third cahallenger I think I can help, I also checked on this today as we are going to Fraser on Saturday, Your post did worry me and it reminded me that I did have similar problems with previous Challengers and indeed again today. The solution is to find an an area where you can use 4 wd that is not hard stand and drive slowly forward and selected high range 4wd, keep weaving left and right and the light will come on and off reverse back and weave left and right a few times and the light will eventually stay on and 4wd will be selected. I think it is something to do with not usining 4wd all that often.

Hello Mrs Barnes.

I found with my 1999 Challenger (auto) that I needed to give the throttle a bit of a jab to change the gearing / take the load off the transmission for a moment to allow 4wd to engage properly.

My neighbour had one for a while and had similar issues to getting 4wd to engage.

I don't wish to appear rude, but you are selecting 4wd while the vehicle is moving aren't you? If trying to select 4wd while in neutral it may not engage...

Also I have found that if I don't use 4wd regularly (at least once a month) that 4wd does not engage properly and drops out at times which is shown by the flashing light.

Dan

Just checked the front hubs on a mates Challenger and he has automatic locking hubs.He informed this evening that you can engage 4wd while on the move at speeds up to 80 Kmh. Try engaigng 4wd onthe move and see if the lights come on. If that doesnt work then I have no more ideas except take it to Mitsubishi in your area and get them to sort out the problem. Lets hope it something simple. Good luck

well everyone, we think we've found the problem!!!! They bypassed an electrical switch on the side of the transmission and it went into 4wd. So now we just have to check which is faulty, the switch or connection. Thats booked in for next week. Thanks everyone for your suggestions, we tried them all.

sorry Old4runner, i didn't make the last post accurate. My husband and a mechanic bypassed the switch in order to cross off possible problems. Will let you know what the exact problem is once we know next week. At least it could only be 1 of two things now

here I am sitting perched on the edge of the bar stool in the comfort of my home wondering if you had vanished into orbit with the Challenger as part of the space shuttle. Do let us all know what the problem was. My curiosity has certainly got the better of me, and would dearly love to know what all the problems were. Remind me to obtain the flight engineers operating instructions when flying a Challenger. Would hate to find myself in the middle of nowhere , bogged to the floor boards on the rear axle and no front wheel drive to help me along. Waiting in great anticipation.