Isuzu D-Max is one of the most popular off-road pickup trucks. Its exceptional 4×4 technology gives it outstanding support and traction to help you navigate bad weather and rough terrain. Additionally, it comes with a series of warning lights to help you identify and troubleshoot issues before they get worse. One of the warning lights that a driver should never ignore is the ‘Check 4WD’ light.
The Isuzu D-Max 4WD light comes on as a warning that your system may have a problem. However, you can get rid of the light by simply resetting it yourself. If the light continues blinking after the reset, there could be a faulty component in the 4WD system.
Troubleshooting these issues should also clear the Check 4WD light. Read on to learn why your Isuzu D-Max 4WD light is flashing and how to reset it correctly.
What does the Check 4WD light mean?
The Check 4WD light turns on when there is an issue with the 4WD system. It then sends a code to the computer for troubleshooting.
Conversely, sometimes if you don’t use your 4×4 for a while, the car’s computer will assume the transfer case isn’t sufficiently lubricated, triggering the Check 4WD light to turn on.
In this case, try engaging different gear ranges and drive around to circulate the oil around the system. It should help clear the Check 4WD light if there’s no issue with the system.
How to reset the 4WD light on Isuzu D-Max
The Check 4WD light is an indication of a problem in the system. However, one of the ways you can clear the issue is by resetting the light. Here’s how to reset the Isuzu D-Max 4WD light:
- Turn off the ignition.
- Press and hold all three 4WD buttons ( 2H, 4H, and 4L).
- While holding the three buttons, turn the ignition to the on position, but do not start the engine.
- Hold this position for 30 seconds, and the Check 4WD light will reset and turn off.
If a reset doesn’t clear the issue, it’s best to take your pickup truck to a professional mechanic for diagnosis.
Why is the 4WD light blinking on my Isuzu D-Max?
When the 4WD light on your Isuzu D-Max starts flashing, it means there is a fault in the 4WD system which requires immediate fixing. These faults could be due to improper use, mechanical malfunctions, or overheating components.
Incomplete gear shifts
A blinking 4WD light could mean an incomplete gears shift, damaging the engine. Usually, shifting into gear correctly should fix the blinking 4WD light. However, if that doesn’t solve the issue, then the transmission has a problem.
To avoid triggering a blinking 4WD light due to incomplete shifting, you should always switch your gears when your car is not in motion. This allows the drivetrain to transition smoothly from 2WD to 4WD and back without damaging the engine.
In some cases, the consistent blinking of the 4WD light suggests a problem with the 4WD system. If you’re sure you shifted into gears correctly, and the Isuzu D-Max 4WD light is still blinking, here are some reasons that could explain the issue.
Faulty sensors
Your Isuzu D-Max 4WD system depends on a series of sensors and switches for information about wheel speed, transmission speed, and physical component location. If one or more of these sensors stop working, it could cause the 4WD light to flash.
You’ll need to check your car’s manual or consult a professional mechanic to help identify and replace the faulty sensor.
Overheating transfer case
The transfer case sends power from the transmission to the front and rear axles via the drive shafts. It also helps synchronize the rotation of the front and rear wheels. You can activate the transfer case manually or via an electronic switch.
A common sign of a bad transfer case is shifting issues, and your vehicle keeps popping out of 4WD. You may also hear grinding or growling noises when changing your speed, indicating low fluid levels, bad bearings, or damaged gears.
The transfer case can overheat due to low transfer case fluid or overuse. When this happens, it cannot transfer the necessary power to the front and rear axles. This triggers the 4WD light to start flashing when you try engaging.
When the car’s computer notices the transfer case overheating, it can deactivate the system to prevent further damage. Therefore, pull over to a safe spot, turn off your vehicle for an hour to allow the system to cool down and then try activating 4WD later.
Failing rear differential locker
A differential (diff) locker helps your 4×4 vehicle with the boost it needs to turn corners efficiently. For this to happen, the four wheels on your 4×4 need to run at different speeds. Therefore, the differentials on all the front and rear axles will direct power to the easiest wheel to rotate, thus providing different power to each wheel according to its needs.
The differential lock holds this differential in place, making all the wheels move at the same speed, allowing your vehicle to handle difficult terrain and boost forward movement.
Therefore, if you’re driving on a slippery road and need extra traction, you’ll need to activate the differential locker. If it doesn’t engage, the Isuzu D-Max 4WD light will start blinking, indicating a system problem. Try driving slowly on a slippery surface to confirm if the diff lock is working. The front wheels should turn; if they don’t, the rear diff locker is faulty.
When the diff locker fails, you will notice unusual noises from the differential area, broken axles, or oil leakages around the rear wheels.
A professional mechanic will read the trouble codes from the control module, diagnose the issue and repair it. To avoid these issues in the future, keep up with the scheduled maintenance of your Isuzu D-Max and ensure you use your 4WD system correctly to avoid damaging your engine in the long run.
Conclusion
When the Check 4WD light comes on in your Isuzu D-Max, try resetting it by disengaging the 4WD system. If resetting doesn’t work, take your car to a professional for troubleshooting. Some issues that will cause the 4WD light to blink include an overheated transfer case, incomplete gear shits, faulty sensors, and failing diff lockers. Try to avoid these problems through regular maintenance and check-ups.