Ok so I have a 1996 dodge ram 2500 4x4 5 speed and I took a little drive tonight up the mountain. all went fine except the dirt road i was on got a little sloppy due to the snow we've been getting so i went to throw it in 4 high and noticed that the 4wd light was blinking at me. I couldnt really tell for sure because i wasnt in a situation where i really needed it but the 4x4 seemed to be working. i did notice though every once in a while i heard a clunk when it was in 4x4. kind of sounded like it was in the front. could be a bad U-Joint in the front but figured id throw that in there. AND...my brake lights quit working sometime throughout the day. My running lights work and blinkers work but the brake lights dont lite up. and the fuse is good i already checked and replaced it for good measure. And im putting a clutch in it soon...what are a few good choices that arent going to cost much more than $500? Ive found a few south bends that sound fairly pleasing

 

The blinking sounds like a motor in the T-case, or the engagement motor on the front axle possibly( not sure if these are electric or vacuum ) ?
I would jack it up front and rear and put it in 4H and see if all 4 are spinning... and turn the wheel to both sides and you may find your clunk also....

 

Alright thanks i'll give that a shot sometime after work this week. And as far as i know theyre vacuum.

 

its a vac system that runs the front disconnect. could be a leaky line, check the vac lines coming off the t case to the front disconnect first there should be a red and a black line going into it.

 

What he said

 

I didnt get a chance to do it after work today. I was diagnosing my brake lights. ive brought that problem down to the conclusion that it is the switch that comes in contact with the brake pedal. But the 4x4 will be diagnosed right after i get this resolved. Thanks Guys!

 

ok so i figured out my brake light problem. thats all in the turn signal switch. as for the 4x4 i only had time to check it real quick. the 4x4 does work. i couldnt tell where the noise was coming from due to the loud *** truck but im going to try again next week. this weekend is hunting season for this guy

 

Lol... kewl, shoot something k

 

well the hunting wasnt very good. BUT! I did narrow down my 4x4 problem. I still havnt gotten a chance to crawl under it and look at my vacuum lines but i did have to use the 4x4 today and it is working. The light quit blinking too. I noticed that anything more than about 15 miles an hour is when the clunking noise happens. So as long as i dont go more than 15ish with it in 4 hi im good