engine OPEL FRONTERA 1998 User Guide

4A2B–2DIFFERENTIAL (REAR 244mm)
General Description
The rear axle assembly is of the semi–floating type in
which the vehicle weight is carried on the axle housing .
The center line of the pinion gear is below the center line
of the ring gear (hypoid drive).
All parts necessary to transmit power from the propeller
shaft to the rear wheels are enclosed in a banjo type axle
housing.
The 9.61 inch ring gear rear axle uses a conventional ring
and pinion gear set to transmit the driving force of the
engine to the rear wheels. This gear set transfers thisdriving force at a 90 degree angle from the propeller shaft
to the drive shafts.
The axle shafts are supported at the wheel end of the
shaft by a roller bearing.
The pinion gear is supported by two tapered roller
bearings. The pinion depth is set by a shim pack located
between the gear end of the pinion and the roller bearing
that is pressed onto the pinion. The pinion bearing
preload is set by crushing a collapsible spacer between
the bearings in the axle housing.
A04RW001
The ring gear is bolted onto the differential cage with 12
bolts.
The differential cage is supported in the axle housing by
two tapered roller bearings. The differential and ring gear
are located in relationship to the pinion by using selective
shims and spacers between the bearing and the axle
housing. To move the ring gear, shims are deleted from
one side and an equal amount are added to the other side.
These shims are also used to preload the bearings whichare pressed onto the differential cage. Two bearing caps
are used to hold the differential into the rear axle housing.
The differential is used to allow the wheels to turn at
different rates of speed while the rear axle continues to
transmit the driving force. This prevents tire scuffing
when going around corners and prevents premature wear
on internal axle parts.
The rear axle is sealed with a pinion seal, a seal at each
axle shaft end, and by a liquid gasket between the
differential carrier and the axle housing.

DIFFERENTIAL (REAR 244mm)
4A2B–3
Diagnosis
Many noises that seem to come from the rear axle
actually originate from other sources such as tires, road
surface, wheel bearings, engine, transmission, muffler, or
body drumming. Investigate to find the source of the
noise before disassembling the rear axle. Rear axles, like
any other mechanical device, are not absolutely quiet but
should be considered quiet unless some abnormal noise
is present.
To make a systematic check for axle noise, observe the
following:
1. Select a level asphalt road to reduce tire noise and
body drumming.
2. Check rear axle lubricant level to assure correct level,
and then drive the vehicle far enough to thoroughly
warm up the rear axle lubricant.
3. Note the speed at which noise occurs. Stop the
vehicle and put the transmission in neutral. Run the
engine speed slowly up and down to determine if the
noise is caused by exhaust, muffler noise, or other
engine conditions.
4. Tire noise changes with different road surfaces; axle
noises do not. Temporarily inflate all tires to 344 kPa
(3.5kg/cm
2, 50 psi) (for test purposes only). This will
change noise caused by tires but will not affect noise
caused by the rear axle.
Rear axle noise usually stops when coasting at
speeds under 48 km/h (30 mph); however, tire noise
continues with a lower tone. Rear axle noise usually
changes when comparing pull and coast, but tire
noise stays about the same.
Distinguish between tire noise and rear axle noise by
noting if the noise changes with various speeds or
sudden acceleration and deceleration. Exhaust and
axle noise vary under these conditions, while tire
noise remains constant and is more pronounced at
speeds of 32 to 48 km/h (20 to 30 mph). Further check
for tire noise by driving the vehicle over smooth
pavements or dirt roads (not gravel) with the tires at
normal pressure. If the noise is caused by tires, it will
change noticeably with changes in road surface.
5. Loose or rough front wheel bearings will cause noise
which may be confused with rear axle noise; however,
front wheel bearing noise does not change when
comparing drive and coast. Light application of the
brake while holding vehicle speed steady will often
cause wheel bearing noise to diminish. Front wheel
bearings may be checked for noise by jacking up the
wheels and spinning them or by shaking the wheels to
determine if bearings are loose.
6. Rear suspension rubber bushings and spring
insulators dampen out rear axle noise when correctly
installed. Check to see that there is no link or rod
loosened or metal–to–metal contact.
7. Make sure that there is no metal–to–metal contact
between the floor and the frame.
After the noise has been determined to be in the axle, the
type of axle noise should be determined, in order to make
any necessary repairs.
Gear Noise
Gear noise (whine) is audible from 32 to 89 km/h (20 to 55
mph) under four driving conditions.
1. Driving under acceleration or heavy pull.
2. Driving under load or under constant speed.
3. When using enough throttle to keep the vehicle from
driving the engine while the vehicle slows down
gradually (engine still pulls slightly).
4. When coasting with the vehicle in gear and the throttle
closed. The gear noise is usually more noticeable
between 48 and 64 km/h (30 and 40 mph) and 80 and
89 km/h (50 and 55 mph).
Bearing Noise
Bad bearings generally produce a rough growl or grating
sound, rather than the whine typical of gear noise.
Bearing noise frequently “wow–wows” at bearing rpm,
indicating a bad pinion or rear axle side bearing. This
noise can be confused with rear wheel bearing noise.
Rear Wheel Bearing Noise
Rear wheel bearing noise continues to be heard while
coasting at low speed with transmission in neutral. Noise
may diminish by gentle braking. Jack up the rear wheels,
spin them by hand and listen for noise at the hubs.
Replace any faulty wheel bearings.
Knock At Low Speeds
Low speed knock can be caused by worn universal joints
or a side gear hub counter bore in the cage that is worn
oversize. Inspect and replace universal joints or cage and
side gears as required.
Backlash Clunk
Excessive clunk on acceleration and deceleration can be
caused by a worn rear axle pinion shaft, a worn cage,
excessive clearance between the axle and the side gear
splines, excessive clearance between the side gear hub
and the counterbore in the cage, worn pinion and side
gear teeth, worn thrust washers, or excessive drive pinion
and ring gear backlash. Remove worn parts and replace
as required. Select close–fitting parts when possible.
Adjust pinion and ring gear backlash.

4B1–4
DRIVE LINE CONTROL SYSTEM (SHIFT ON THE FLY)
Inspection and Repair
Va c u u m P i p i n g
C04RW016
1. Pull out the Hose A in figure and install a vacuum
gauge.
2. Plug up Hose B in figure to prevent the leak of
vacuum.
3. Start the engine and measure vacuum 2 or 3 minutes
afterward.
4. Repeat 1) and 2) but with Hose A plugged and Hose B
pulled out.
5. If vacuum measures –400mmHg, or if it shows a
sudden drop immediately after engine stop, inspect
the hose, tank, and pipe for damage.
NOTE: Be careful not to permit the entry of dust and
water during inspection.
6. Pull out Hose D in above illustration.
7. Plug Hose E in above illustration.
8. Make sure that Hose D in above illustration is under
atmospheric pressure.
9. Pull out Hose E and plug Hose D, and make sure that
Hose E is under atmospheric pressure.
10. If Check 8) or 9) has revealed stoppage, check and
see that there is no bend, foreign matter in the hose or
in the filter. If there is trouble, repair or replace.Check Valve
C04RS004
1. Apply vacuum from the orange colored side(1).
Vacuum:–400mmHg
2. Check leakage of vacuum.
3. Make sure that vacuum cannot be applied from the
black colored side(2).

4B1–5 DRIVE LINE CONTROL SYSTEM (SHIFT ON THE FLY)
4. If vacuum is not applicable as much as –400mmHg,
and if there is resistance on the intake side, replace
with a new check valve.
VSV Assembly
Inspect the vehicle side harness as follows:
412RS071
Legend
(1) Grey
(2) Blue
1. Remove connector.
2. Shift transfer lever to 2H and start the engine.
NOTE: Do not move the vehicle while inspection.
3. Make sure that there is continuity in the vehicle side of
harness. If there is no continuity, check transfer shift
switch and wiring.
Inspect both VSVs as follows:
F04RS004
1. With battery not connected (Usual).
A–C:There is continuity
B:Closed
2. With battery connected
A – B:There is continuity
C:Closed
3. If 1) and 2) fail, replace with a new VSV.
Axle Position Switch
412RS048
1. With ball (1) being free
A – B:There is continuity
2. With ball forced into the switch
A – B:No continuity
3. If 1) and 2) fail, replace with a new switch.

4B1–11 DRIVE LINE CONTROL SYSTEM (SHIFT ON THE FLY)
Functions of Indicator Lamp
Indication of vehicle condition : Indicator lamp is
controlled by 4WD control unit and shows vehicle
conditions as below.
Indicator
Vehicle condition4WD switchTransfer position
switchFront axle switch
Off2WDOff (Close)2WD (Open)2WD (Open)
On4WDOn (Open)4WD (Close)4WD (Close)
Blink (2Hz)OperatingOn (Open)4WD (Close)2WD (Open)
Off (Close)2WD (Open)4WD (Close)
Blink (4Hz)Stop operatingOn (Open)2WD (Open)2WD (Open)
Off (Close)4WD (Close)4WD (Close)
Bulb check :To check the bulb of indicator lamp, the
indicator lamp comes on when ignition key is turned on,
and goes off when the engine is started.
Retrials from 2WD to 4WD :In cold weather or under
high speed condition, the gear shifting (engagement)sometimes does not complete by 3 trials. In such case,
the indicator lamp inform driver of this incident as
aforementioned chart (shown at Retrial in Outline of shift
on the fly system).
Diagnosis
Before Judging That Troubles Occur
(Unfaulty mode)
When Switching from 2WD to 4WD
1.In case that blinking frequency of the 4WD
indicator changes from 2Hz to 4Hz.
When heavy synchronization load is needed, the
motor actuator tries the shifting transfer gear three
times including the activation shifting. While the
motor actuator tries shifting, the indicator blinks by
2Hz. If the third shifting fails, the indicator’s blinking
changes from 2Hz to 4Hz at the same time that the
motor actuator shifted back to 2WD.
Heavy synchronization load occurs by:
extremely lower temperature.
higher speed, rotation difference of wheels during
cornering.
Solution 1: Operate again after stop the vehicle or
slow down.
2.In case that the 4WD indicator continues blinking
by 2Hz for more than 11.5 seconds.
When there is rotation difference of wheels or there
is phase difference between front wheels and axles,
it is difficult to connect front wheels to front axles. The
blinking by 2Hz shows that shifting the transfer gear
or connecting the front wheels is in the middle of
operating. In above case, the indicator’s blinking by
2Hz shows that connecting the front wheels is not
completed (because the indicator’s blinking changes
to 4Hz when the shifting transfer gear is impossible.).
And removal of rotation or phase difference make
connecting the front wheels possible.
Solution 2: When vehicle is running, drive
straight ahead while accelerating and
decelerating. When vehicle is at a stop, move the
vehicle forward and backward from 2 to 3 meters.When switching from 4WD to 2WD
1.In case that the 4WD indicator continues blinking
by 2Hz .
The 4WD indicator continues blinking by 2Hz until
both shifting the transfer gear and disconnecting the
front wheels are completed when switching 4WD to
2WD. When driveline is loaded with torsional torque,
the shifting transfer gear and disconnecting front
wheels are impossible. In this case, removal of
torsional torque on driveline make the shifting
transfer gear and disconnecting front wheels
possible.
Solution 3: When vehicle is running, drive
straight ahead while accelerating and
decelerating. When vehicle is at a stop, move the
vehicle forward and backward from 2 to 3 meters.
2.In case that the 4WD indicator’s blinking changes
from 2Hz to 4Hz.
Check the position of transfer lever. Is it at “4L”
position? In view of the shifting mechanism of
transfer, the gear shifting from 4WD to 2WD at “4L”
condition is impossible.
Solution 4: Push the 4WD switch to 4WD, shift the
transfer lever to “High” position and re–operate
the 4WD switch to 2WD.

4B1–12
DRIVE LINE CONTROL SYSTEM (SHIFT ON THE FLY)
Parts Location (LHD / Diesel Engine Model)
D08RW852
Legend
(1) I–12
(2) I–9
(3) H–7, H–8, H–24, H–25
(4) Fuse Box
(5) C–16
(6) C–94
(7) H–4, H–5(8) P–17
(9) P–18
(10) P–19
(11) H–60
(12) Relay & Fuse Box
(13) H–12, H–16
(14) E–21
(15) E–45

4B1–13 DRIVE LINE CONTROL SYSTEM (SHIFT ON THE FLY)
Parts Location (LHD / Gasoline Engine Model)
D08RW854
Legend
(1) I–12
(2) I–9
(3) H–7, H–8, H–24, H–25
(4) Fuse Box
(5) C–16
(6) C–94
(7) H–5
(8) M–11, M–12(9) M–22
(10) M–23
(11) M–24
(12) H–10
(13) M–26
(14) Relay & Fuse Box
(15) H–12, H–16
(16) E–30

4B1–14
DRIVE LINE CONTROL SYSTEM (SHIFT ON THE FLY)
Parts Location (RHD / Diesel Engine Model)
D08RW831
Legend
(1) I–9
(2) I–12
(3) E–45
(4) E–21
(5) H–7, H–9
(6) C–16
(7) C–94(8) H–4, H–5
(9) P–17
(10) P–18
(11) P–19
(12) H–60
(13) Relay & Fuse Box
(14) H–15, H–16, H–25, H–26, H–27
(15) Fuse Box

4B1–15 DRIVE LINE CONTROL SYSTEM (SHIFT ON THE FLY)
Parts Location (RHD / Gasoline Engine Model)
D08RW853
Legend
(1) I–9
(2) I–12
(3) H–7, H–9
(4) C–16
(5) H–5
(6) C–94
(7) M–26
(8) M–11, M–12(9) M–22
(10) M–23
(11) M–24
(12) H–10
(13) H–12
(14) Relay & Fuse Box
(15) E–30
(16) H–15, H–16, H–25, H–26, H–27
(17) Fuse Box

4B1–17 DRIVE LINE CONTROL SYSTEM (SHIFT ON THE FLY)
Wiring Diagram (LHD / Diesel Engine Model)
D08RW841