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My 2000 Navigator is stuck in 4 low but the switch is on awd. Now this has happened once before but corrected itself somehow. I've disconnected the battery cable, backed the truck up and tried different switch positions. What the heck is going on????
Either the motor is not taking it out of 4lo, the switch isn't commanding the motor, or the driveline is bound up. As I understand it, the motors can be finiky. If you have other electrical gremlins it could be the GEM.
Well, I had to creep it over to the dealer which is thankfully about 3 miles away. They called me a couple of different times to ask how it got into 4 low. It simply put itself in 4 low on it's own. They got 3 codes concerning the issue. I believe one was a module, the switch and I think the drive motor. Not knowing 100% which it was, they did get it out and told me to come get the truck and pay close attention to when it does it again. They didn't want to go replacing one of the 3 parts with not knowing. I told him to do the cheapest one first, being the switch and see what happens. He did tell me the mechanic tapped the switch inside the truck and it went out but came back on. Hmmm, think that it might be that? I guess I'll have to wait until it happens again and hope it's close to home when it does. Oh yeah, I love the 72.00 diagnosis charge regardless of how long it takes or whether or not they truly diagnose it. I guess that's fair, what do I know.
Ummm, there "tech" tapped the switch. That is some diagnostic crew they have there. (note sarcasm). I guess you now know what to do the next time it happens.
There seems to be only 2 of those items that it could be. The motor should not just switch it on its own. The detents between AWD/4hi/4low are pretty stiff, so the selector on the transfer case is not just going to "float" between gears. Either the GEM module is sending the motor false signals, or the switch is sending false signals to the GEM. The contacts may be going bad in the switch cuasing current to be directed incorrectly through the switch to the GEM.
Steve S.
To many to list.
Originally Posted by NaviShock
Well, I had to creep it over to the dealer which is thankfully about 3 miles away. They called me a couple of different times to ask how it got into 4 low. It simply put itself in 4 low on it's own. They got 3 codes concerning the issue. I believe one was a module, the switch and I think the drive motor. Not knowing 100% which it was, they did get it out and told me to come get the truck and pay close attention to when it does it again. They didn't want to go replacing one of the 3 parts with not knowing. I told him to do the cheapest one first, being the switch and see what happens. He did tell me the mechanic tapped the switch inside the truck and it went out but came back on. Hmmm, think that it might be that? I guess I'll have to wait until it happens again and hope it's close to home when it does. Oh yeah, I love the 72.00 diagnosis charge regardless of how long it takes or whether or not they truly diagnose it. I guess that's fair, what do I know.
Next time, if there is a next time, pull the fuse to disengage 4wd.
Forgot to mention that I did pull the fuse as well to no avail. With the tech mentioning tapping the switch I'm almost inclined to think that it may be the culprit or agree what 79schaefer said with maybe contacts being bad. Either way, IF it happens again I will "tap" the switch first and see what happens.
There tech "tapped the switch" I sure hope they mean tapped as in "electrically jumpered" 72.00 bucks this is some high tech world we live in. It is amazing what dealers can get away with.
Forgot to mention that I did pull the fuse as well to no avail. With the tech mentioning tapping the switch I'm almost inclined to think that it may be the culprit or agree what 79schaefer said with maybe contacts being bad. Either way, IF it happens again I will "tap" the switch first and see what happens.
If you pulled the correct fuse and it stayed in 4wd, then there's no way it's the switch. Are you sure he didn't tap the shift motor?