New to the Sportrak

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I've bought a G reg (1989?) Sportrak from a friend. I don't know much about them and my friend passed as much information on as possible but I still have some questions that I'd like to know the answers to.

1. I was told to turn the knobs on the front whell hubs to go 4x4. Also there is a small knob below the gear stick. It seems to have three settings (two that show the 4x4 light on the dash). What do all these things do and what are the recommendations for using them?

2. The switch on the dash marked Damper with three settings (H/N/S)? Is that for the suspension? Any advice?

3. When I first start the vehicle it doesn't like to 'go' until it is warmed up. It will drive but if I press the accelerator too hard e.g. after changing to 2nd gear it actually jerks and slows down. There doesn't seem to be any power. After it's warmed up then it drives fairly 'normally'. Any ideas?

Thanks.

Welcome

Hi and welcome.

The Sportrak is a Part Time 4x4, that is drive to the front axle has to be selected, via the short second gear stick 2WD Hi, for normal driving (tarmac/hard surfaces) 4WD Lo for offroad use, or 4WD Hi on road snow, ect.

Your truck seems also to have manual front hubs, which disengage the front hubs from the front axle drive shafts, in effect allowing them to free wheel, with out turning the front drive shaft or prop (marked 2WD position), this is the normal position for the switch ( even if you engage 4WD in this position the front prop will rotate, but NO drive will be transmited to the front wheels. Before you require 4WD you must rotate these to the 4x4 position, this then engages the the front axle drive and you will get driven front wheels.

So with the front hubs locked in the 4x4 position you will get 4x4 when you select it via the Dash Switch or the secondary gear stick. Is used to select 4Lo , Nuetral, 2Hi.

Damper/adjustable shocks,they probably no longer work any way, really just a gimmic. It should give adjustable shock absorber setting, Hard , Normal, Soft. Just leave it in the normal (N) position.

Sorry cant help with the engine running, as I run a Diesel Fourtrak.

Suggest you use the "Site Search" box on the left for lots of info re Sportraks, just enter a relevant subject.

Visit the link below for lots of general info on 4x4's, an American site but full of interest, info and explanations on how things work

http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/glossary.html

No doudt other Sportrak owners will come forward to help you or correct my mistakes

Edward (ews)

Edward (ews) '92 Fourtrak 2.8 TDX

Front Hubs Locked

Thanks Edward. Very informative. I just wanted to check something as my colleague just mentioned that maybe there is a speed limit to which I must abide if I have the front hubs locked, to avoid damage I guess. Is this true?

Hi. There is not a speed

Hi.

There is not a speed limit to which you must abide to . Damage occurs when you use 4x4 on hard surfaces.

I normaly leave my front hubs unlocked, as I do a lot of motorway driving. If I have not used them for a while I do engage them to ensure the lubricant is moved around and to ensure that they do lock in when I need them. This is in 2WDHi, all this does is rotate the front halfshafts and front prop,they are in this case just freewheeling.

The unlocking mechanism (auto and manual type)was originaly designed as a fuel and wear saving idea.

Now snow is forcast I will lock up my front hubs for a while, and will not have to worry about forgeting to engage.

Damage will result if you drive in 4WD on hard surfaces, in snow I leave the hubs locked and flick the dash switch as required in Hi range, or shift to Lo. All depends on the conditions your driving in.

Just remember to lock the front hubs before you may need them, allthough many people leave them locked all the time. There are posts on this issue, check out 'front hubs' in the 'Site Search' box.

Edward (ews)

Edward (ews) '92 Fourtrak 2.8 TDX

Quote: in answer to no 3! i

Quote:in answer to no 3!

i have a 1.6i sporty, and i have the same problem, it doesnt like to go quickly when its cold!!!... it seems to hesitate!!

my local garage says to clean the throttle body assembly, which i would if i knew what one looked like!!!

The throtal body is the bit

The throtal body is the bit between the air intake and the inlet manifold. If you follow the throtal cabble from wher it comes out of the bulkhead, it ends at the throtal body. Inside the throtal body is a butterfly valve. There should also be a bypass tube (going around the valve. Clean the valve and the bypass tube. I had a Ford Mondaio with the same problem. Had to clean the throtal body out about once every 5000 miles. Was knackered car, and used ti fill the body up with crud from the rebreather.

Any veiws expresed in this thread by me are purely from my own experience, and (sometimes) falible memory. Hope my comments help, but please don't take them as gospel.

Any veiws expresed in this thread by me are purely from my own experience, and (sometimes) falible memory. Hope my comments help, but please don't take them as gospel.

Throtal Body

Thanks Nev. I've ordered the Service Manuals. If I'm feeling brave enough I may give cleaning the Throtal Body a shot.