Why does my 1998 frontier blow meter fuse after engaging 4wd

If you have turned the lock tabs until they click in or out which ever the case may be for 4wd drive then maybe the transfer case is not selecting 4wd If it is vacuum actuated or electronic operation I would be checking their actions be for e I went any further.

Hi Brent,

Wow! That is a dilema! The only thing I can think of is that there is possibly a wiring harness that is rubbed through and when the engine rocks when the clutch is engaged, the wiring harness is shorting to ground. If you can tell me exactly WHICH fuse is blowing I can possibly help you to locate the source of the problem. Please also include WHICH ENGINE your Nissan is equipped with and let me know if it is 2-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive.

There are 2 switches (one on top of the transfer case left side above shifter) this then sends power to the electric actuator to engage the front axle. Quite often the actuator is internally shorted causing fuse to blow. I'm sorry I don't have a schematic in front of me. The second switch is on the front axle and will illuminate the 4wd light when engaged. It could be shorted but won't inhibit 4wd operation (its a separate circuit). Remove the connector at the front axle actuator and jumper it directly to battery (using a fused jumper). if it operates, and fuse doesn't blow, then you have a wire chaffed to ground. Most often its near the front axle harness that gets rubbed thru. If the fused jumper blows then obviously the actuator is no good. I hope this helps some.

you mean the compressor stays engaged? or the blower keeps blowing? If the compressor stays engaged the CCRM may be bad. real common. Your dealer will have them in stock. but dont guess, because if you guess wrong, you cant give it back.

There is an electric actuator on the front axle that engages 4WD. This part commonly fails resulting in no 4WD. Unhook the electrical connector to this part and see if heater still blows fuses. If It does not blow the fuse, the problem is in the actuator. If it still blows the fuse then it could be in the wiring. Buy a repair manual and trace the wiring schematics.

I would check the wiring harnesses associated with the 4WD. It sounds to me like you have a harness rubbed through or pinched. If the fuse blows without engaging the 4WD, look before the switch (which may be on the transfer case if it is a manually shifted transfer case, which I believe those were) If it doesn't blow until you try to engage it, look after the switch. I'd be especially suspicious of the harnesses where they run around the transfer case and where they get to the axle shifting mechanism. It could be something else on the same circuit if there is anything else, which would also blow with it off, but I believe that circuit probably doesn't run anything else.

you have a crossed wire thats blowing the fuse. Check all wires to the starter also to the fuse box and to the battery

your doing it right but your accuater is bad 59.00 auto zone easy install

Hello;
Sounds like yoou have a short either in the switch pod or in the 4wd electrics. Check for pinched wires or bare wires grounding out at the front axle and at the transfer case.
Thanks;
Rich
RPM Northwest

Check you fuse panel to see if you have a fuse blowed???? If not, my father have to instal a new motor that switches itno gear????