Newbie

I just bought a 2000 Jimny JLX in the rain. so was a quick purchase, looked under chasis, pretended to look at engine, all looks and drives fine.

She's got a lift kit done on it and big dirt tyres, so suites my purposes.

I had an SJ413 when I was younger.

Newbie questions...

1: what are the flip over tabs on the wheels for 2WD to 4WD, I know it separates something but can't remember what.

2: what does the JLX mean?

3. Is it possible to change over the steering wheel as she's a bit worn.

thanks.
 

Welcome to the forum sounds like it's on manual hubs so you will need to twist them to engage drive to the front wheels, though it also means you can have 2wd with low ratio if you don't engage them, useful for controlled manoeuvres on high grip surfaces. JLX is the upper trim specification though what it actually includes on a 2000 Jimny I don't know. The steering wheel can be swapped like for like as far as I am aware but I don't know if they are fully common for the entire production of the gen3.

Thanks Lambert, they look like they are the manual hubs yes - I believe they are an after market to switch out some kind of pneumatic system - am I right?

But what is that for?

At the moment they are turned to 2WD not 4WD - yet I can drive just fine and I can also switch over to 4WD, I tested it.

so I don't understand.

Graham

Lambert is probably busy this time of the morning on the farm, so I will answer.

Your Jimny is normally 2WD, that means engine power turns the rear wheels only.
When you engage 4WD H a transfer box under the vehicle engages the front drive shaft and turns the front axle drive system. At the same time vacuum hubs on each front wheel engage, these connecting each front wheel to the front axle drive system. So you now have 4WD, that's on a standard Jimny. The same is true in 4WD L.
Your front hubs have been converted to manual operation, that means to connect the front wheels you need to get out of the vehicle to finish engaging 4WD,  turn your hub to 4WD and the front wheels are connected to the axle drive system.

It's a common fix for the failing vacuum system which is no longer used.

So the manual hubs connect (4WD) or disconnect (2WD) the actual front wheels to the front axle drive shafts.
So this is independent of the 4WDH/L selector inside the vehicle which diverts drive to the front axle drive shafts via the transfer box.

On paper you could leave the hubs permanently in the 4WD position, this just means the font axle turns all the time, driven by the wheels. The transfer box provides isolation when you are on tarmac in 2WD as it no longer diverts power to the front axle, so front and rear are effectively disconnected.. Note the Jimny should never be used for any distance in 4WD H or L on tarmac or a high grip surface.

Hope this makes sense, if not just ask.

Much appreciated Mike, starting to wrap my head around it,
yes so theres a couple of points to connect the 4Wd

1 the gear shift and 2 the wheel hubs.

So I probably wasn't in 4Wd so when I shifted to check.

Bottom line so, I prob best leave them in 2WD on hubs? as I do a mix of road driving and prob get away with just 2Wd at the moment as I drive across some mud to get to my residence - get out and switch to 4WD.. bit of a ball ache, getting in and out, but at least I understand now.

cheers
Im sure there'll be many more questions to come!

Yes, it's unlikely you had full 4WD when you shifted to check. The front wheels still being disconnected from the front axle, so simply rotating without drive.
If you got across your mud like this then no reason to engage the hubs, leave them in 2WD. If you intend to tackle anything more tricky just put the hubs in 4WD before you proceed, you can then select 4WDH/L/2WD from inside the vehicle as required. When you have finished put the hubs back into 2WD.
OH and welcome to the forum.