Transfer case not engaging

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Jan 1, 2009 | 04:58 PM

John Casey

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Transfer case not engaging

Switching into 4X4 will happen but with a delay. At slow speeds I can even feel a pulsing as it tries to engage. Only seems to be a problem in the cold.

Took it into the dealer to check it under warranty and told them to look at the left front hub as it was noticeably noisier than the right.

Of course they let the truck sit inside for 1-2 hours until everything was nice and warm and then stated it engaged fine and there was nothing wrong with it. On the drive home same thing happened, phone call to the dealer became and "heated debate" and we were moving so I dropped it.

I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty as you can see from my sig, but it's under warranty so...damn!

We moved to another city so when I get time I'll drop it off at another dealer to have them check it.

What is the likely culprit here? Is this a vac operated unit?

Thanks.

Jan 1, 2009 | 06:25 PM

miller_feed

Hook it, I'll pull it.

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From: Grand Lake, La.

Yes, the front hubs are a vacuum unit. The transfer case is an electrical motor. I do this every year. You might give this a try. Don't count on the dealers to have people that know. click here.

Jan 1, 2009 | 07:09 PM

John Casey

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Good info. Same hubs as the 06?

I'm a little wary of digging into them while its still on warranty. It may give someone an excuse. I'll tackle the local dealer here with this information at least before I do anything myself.

Thanks for the help.

Jan 2, 2009 | 12:42 PM

krewat

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From: Long Island USA

Did the light on the dash come on immediately, or did it not come on until you were really in 4x4? If it came on immediately, it's a hub problem, if not, it's a servo motor/relay problem.

Jan 2, 2009 | 01:22 PM

John Casey

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Light doesn't come on until its actually engaged.

Jan 2, 2009 | 05:37 PM

krewat

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Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf 19a

Light doesn't come on until its actually engaged.

Sounds like the motor is getting weak, or the relays are going bad. Or, the transfer case is getting stiff, which is not good. Change the fluid lately?

Does the motor click-click-click when it tries to go in?

Jan 5, 2009 | 08:41 PM

John Casey

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No sound what-so-ever. Just a noticeable surging while it tries to engage.

Interesting, that since I have posted this it has generally engaged in 1-2 seconds even with the temps down into the single digits. Only 1 time since then has there been a delay (while waiting at an intersection covered in ice of course).

All fluids were "checked" by dealer during last maint in September. There is only 24K miles on the truck and t-case has only been used in the snow with no true off-road use at all.