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4x4 problems

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Old Dec 12, 2008 | 06:02 PM
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4x4 problems

Ok so lately I had to use my 4 wheel drive cause of the snow. Well it seems like it hesitates when I engage it. I am moving but foot off the gas. Never had this problem last year. Sometimes it goes right in but sometimes it takes a little bit. And today I had to back my truck in a ditch to load my snowmobile and put it in 4 lo and it took a few for it to get out. It did it before. Like one time took me a hour and the other 20 minutes. Today took me like 5 minutes. Do I have a problem with it do you think? I dont wana take it in cause it costs me 100 to take it in for warranty work. But if I have to I guess I will. Just never noticed the delay on 4hi and it has been hard to get out of 4 lo everyonce in a while. So I dont know. Any help would be great. Thanks
 
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Old Dec 12, 2008 | 06:23 PM
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Sounds to me like a transfer case shift motor is starting to go out. In my opinion, it'd be worth taking to a dealer if it's still under warranty....
 
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Old Dec 12, 2008 | 06:44 PM
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If when this happens, the 4x4 light on the cluster isn't coming on right away then yes it is the shift motor. The contact plates are rusting up and the system doesn't know what position it's in. Otherwise it could be a sticking actuator under the hood on the passenger side fire wall. They get water in them and tend to bind...
 
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Old Dec 12, 2008 | 07:00 PM
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take a hammer and lightly beat on the shift motor on the back of the t-case.


shift into 4x4

does the hesitation go away? if so, then that motor is corroding up as Wilber mentioned. that motor was $300 the last time I looked, so $100 for the warranty deductible is a good deal IMO
 
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 02:26 PM
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Ok so I came across another problem. Now I know its messed up. Well last night me and my 2 buddies went up snowmobiling up north. Well my one buddies sled broke down and we went back to get my truck. It was snowing really good. I was driving down the freeway and was sliding so put it in 4 wheel. Well it sounded like I was hitting cracks in the road. But then realized it was a clunking noise. So I took it out and it went away. So I had to take it easy. Well I get to were my buddies sled is. Tryed to pull into the parking lot where the sleds park. Just looked like the first bank was big then the rest was fine but there was 2 feet of snow that was softer than I though. Well it wasnt so I tried 4 lo. Well needless to say I couldnt get out had to get pulled out my a damn chevy. The only thing at the bar. But it took me 20 minutes for it to get out of 4 lo. When I was trying to back up in 4 lo only my front tires were spining he said. I dont know if my passanger back one was but drivers one wasnt. So it sounds like I got a problem now. O and I put it in 4 hi today cause roads really sucked and it never made the noise. So I think I should take it in asap
 
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 07:26 PM
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Have you tapped that motor yet? These are classic signs of a sticking shift motor


btw, there isn't any physical way for the front axle to turn without the rear axle turning as well....short of a broken rear driveshaft anyways. The rear driveshaft always has power supplied via the t-case/tranny no matter what position the switch is in
 
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 09:02 PM
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Originally Posted by tylus
Have you tapped that motor yet? These are classic signs of a sticking shift motor


btw, there isn't any physical way for the front axle to turn without the rear axle turning as well....short of a broken rear driveshaft anyways. The rear driveshaft always has power supplied via the t-case/tranny no matter what position the switch is in

No I never got to it. Cause I loaded up posted this and headed up north. Didnt think I was going to need 4 wheel cause they werent calling for snow but they got it. Sometimes it goes in no problem. But that was the first time I ever heard it clunking. I was doing 65 tops. Also thats what I was thinking that the back wheels got to spin for the fronts. They were standing on the driver side and said it wasnt so the passanger must have been. So I dont know. I will call the dealer and take it there this friday. No back up car to get to work which sucks.
 
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