What is the best way to find out if cdl is engaging and working ??

 

Move the lever and see if the dash lights up?

 

With your drivers window down and on pavement cut the wheel to the right or left and give it gas, there will be a noticeably different sound coming from your front tires. Almost like they are being dragged along the pavement, your turning radius will be reduced as well.

and yes the light on the dash coming on is a good start.

 

Light comes on nipple moves I just don’t get that feeling like it’s engaged. Could be something mechanical inside the case ??

When I had my 04 disco you could really feel it when the cdl was locked.

 

You could drop a drive shaft and see if you move, I can not think of another simple way to know for sure

 

Whats up with the throttle body bypass?

 

yes that’s probably the most accurate way

 

Do it.

 

Just brainstorming here (so feel free to tell me it won’t work). Could you put the truck in neutral, engage the CDL and the parking brake then jack up the front and have someone help you to try and spin the front wheels at the same time? If the CDL is locked you shouldn’t be able to do it because the parking brake is on the rear driveshaft. If the CDL isn’t engaged you would be able to spin the wheels as it would just back drive the transfer case through the input shaft to the transmission (which is in neutral so it would be able to spin).

 

Its not that difficult. Just roll down the window, cut the wheel all the way give it gas and listen to the tires on the pavement. If it sounds like they are dragging you are locked.