AMC Eagle

[MIPS]

Winter update.

Pretty much nothing happened because the Transmission bill was only paid in full as of two days ago so I could not purchase new tools and it got dry and really cold so working on the interior wasn't happening.
But it did snow last night, so even without jackstands it was a good time to see if the 4WD was REALLY stuck in the engaged position. The answer is no as it failed to climb the driveway. The Eagle is interesting because in the 82 model it went from AWD to full-time 4WD using the SlectDrive system which with one vacuum switch engages the transfer case and locks the front axle.



The problem however is the actuators are also valves, so if one gets stuck the entire system fails. The front axle actuator hides under a skidplate and is a part of the axle assembly and has no manual control. You better hope it fails in the locked position. The Transfer Case actuator however is accessible through a hole in the transfer case skid plate and can be manually operated with a 9/16 spanner. When doing so however there was a hiss that came from somewhere along the route of the vacuum lines, so there is a leak somewhere, otherwise the front DID fail in the locked position and this morning was a joyful ride through the snow and unploughed streets, pointing and laughing at people in their Ford/GMC/Dodge trucks and SUV's who were spinning out or otherwise were stuck in six inches of snow.