I don't think you have manual locking hubs - unless the vehicle is 25 years old? As long as you don't see a rotary switch in the center of your front wheels - you have the electronic axle locking which occurs automatically when you move the 4wd lever. According to my manual you can shift in/out of 2H to 4H (H = High) on the go at moderate speeds going straight ahead. You want all 4 wheels turning at the same speed as close as possible. At light throttle move the lever to 4H. If it doesn't want to go in - the synchro may be blocking the shift. in that case stop the vehicle and just inch it forward and try to shift to 4H. If it is still stiff put it in Reverse and inch backward while trying to shift. It should go in and the 4wd light should come on on the speedometer.
Shifting 4H to 4L is a different matter. To go to 4L - stop the vehicle and put the main transmission in neutral. Then - in one motion move the lever all the way to the 4L position. Do NOT stop in the "N" position - that is a transfer Neutral - if you stop there the transfer gears will start to rotate and then grind on engagement. Shifting back to 4H is same - stop and put main trans in N and shift back 4L-4H in one motion. For any "normal" on road driving don't use 4L - that's for climbing mountains off road.
if you have an automatic trans with a P/N rocker switch next to the main trans lever it has a cute function. It is the Power/Normal switch. In "Normal" the trans operates in sort of "economy" mode. In "Power" it extends the shift points and shifts down quicker. It also - this is the good part - when you shift to the "2" range it stays in second gear - even for starting off from stop which is very useful on slippery ice or snow. If you are in D it will go to first gear to start off. If you are in Normal and go to the "2" position it will start in 1st and then shift to 2nd.
The best way to tell if 4 wheel drive is working is to put the vehicle in 4 wheel drive while stopped, turn your steering wheel all the way to the left or right and let off the brake (with the vehicle in gear). If you don't move when you give it a little gas, it is working. Oh, you need to be on clear/dry pavement, not on snow/ice.
GET SNOW TIRES! JUST BECAUSE ITS 4 WHEEL DRIVE, DOESN'T MEAN YOU WON'T GET STUCK!!! it probably is working. the reason why you probably didn't feel the front wheels spin out is cause they have more traction than the rear wheels. the rear wheels have less traction than the front because the front wheels have more weight on top of them. more weight on the wheels means more traction.
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I don't think you have manual locking hubs - unless the vehicle is 25 years old? As long as you don't see a rotary switch in the center of your front wheels - you have the electronic axle locking which occurs automatically when you move the 4wd lever. According to my manual you can shift in/out of 2H to 4H (H = High) on the go at moderate speeds going straight ahead. You want all 4 wheels turning at the same speed as close as possible. At light throttle move the lever to 4H. If it doesn't want to go in - the synchro may be blocking the shift. in that case stop the vehicle and just inch it forward and try to shift to 4H. If it is still stiff put it in Reverse and inch backward while trying to shift. It should go in and the 4wd light should come on on the speedometer.
Shifting 4H to 4L is a different matter. To go to 4L - stop the vehicle and put the main transmission in neutral. Then - in one motion move the lever all the way to the 4L position. Do NOT stop in the "N" position - that is a transfer Neutral - if you stop there the transfer gears will start to rotate and then grind on engagement. Shifting back to 4H is same - stop and put main trans in N and shift back 4L-4H in one motion. For any "normal" on road driving don't use 4L - that's for climbing mountains off road.
if you have an automatic trans with a P/N rocker switch next to the main trans lever it has a cute function. It is the Power/Normal switch. In "Normal" the trans operates in sort of "economy" mode. In "Power" it extends the shift points and shifts down quicker. It also - this is the good part - when you shift to the "2" range it stays in second gear - even for starting off from stop which is very useful on slippery ice or snow. If you are in D it will go to first gear to start off. If you are in Normal and go to the "2" position it will start in 1st and then shift to 2nd.
Suzuki 4 Wheel Drive
The best way to tell if 4 wheel drive is working is to put the vehicle in 4 wheel drive while stopped, turn your steering wheel all the way to the left or right and let off the brake (with the vehicle in gear). If you don't move when you give it a little gas, it is working. Oh, you need to be on clear/dry pavement, not on snow/ice.
You need to lock the front hubs. There's a bit in the center of the front wheel that you need to turn
Then put the 4wd gear lever into the 4H position.
Do it on a loose surgace like gravel, not on bitumen.
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GET SNOW TIRES! JUST BECAUSE ITS 4 WHEEL DRIVE, DOESN'T MEAN YOU WON'T GET STUCK!!! it probably is working. the reason why you probably didn't feel the front wheels spin out is cause they have more traction than the rear wheels. the rear wheels have less traction than the front because the front wheels have more weight on top of them. more weight on the wheels means more traction.