Needed four wheel drive today and the transfer case would not stay in gear, 4 low or 4 hi.
My daughter had to hold it in hi or low with her foot. Why?
Any ideas before I take it to the Dealer?
It was like there was know detent to hold it gear, no click, it just would fall out of gear and back into 2 wheel drive or neutral.

 

I would make sure the linkages are not binding in any way. Get under the truck and give them all a shot of lube then with the truck off just run through the ranges with the shifter.

If you have added anything under the truck like wires etc have a look to make sure none of them are interfearing with the shifter linkage.


Good Luck


Jason

 

think I would inspect the vacume lines............

 

Does it growel or make noise? Are the tires all the same size? Have you checked your tire inflation lately? Check the U-Joints on the front drive shaft, the one by the T-Case could be stiff causing it to vibrate. Also check the oil in the T-Case, if it is low or silver you could have bearing problems.

 

Thanks for your replies.

When you pull the lever back into 4 Hi it feels like a wet noodle, all over the place and no detent, so it just pops out. Same for 4 Low except it pops into neutral.
Always has been very stiff to move from 2 Hi. Anyone experience this?

 

two items i would consider. one look at the linkage and make sure it it all in place also the lever has a piviot point and they can sieze up there. two internal transfer case problems which can be a broken fork or burned off guides. have you checked the fluid level to be sure that is full? if itl low you may have done damage.

 

I'm going to take a stab at it. I just went through my T case a month and a half ago, and there are 3 brass things that have a kind of ramp and a small groove. They ride on a snap ring inside the 4wd gear and syncro assembly. These little brass things are what makes it lock in. It is not hard for them to fly off of the snap ring if the shaft is moved inward or outward without being held in place by snap rings (this is what made assembly frusterating for me!). They are roughly smaller than the tip of your pinky. I'm going to put my money on that, because the *snap into place* feeling is found inside the transfer case, not in the linkage.

I'd take it to a trans. shop, you'll save a lot of $$ versus paying dealer prices! You could even crack it open yourself...

 

I just uploaded a photo in my gallery of what the inside of our T cases look like, just gotta wait for it to get approved...

 

Done.


phox

 

Thanks for the input .
do you think that those locking clips could fall out or break?

the truck has 75000 mi on it -warranty coverage?
if not how long and how difficult for me to repair, any special tools?
I worked as a mechanic for 12 years late 70s and into 80s.

Mark

 

Truck went to dealer and they said the transfer case was broken internaly. They don't know what but that it is covered under warranty
I should get truck back next week to finnish bombing

 

Good to hear that it was covered under warranty. Are they just junking it or will the rebuild it? I'm still curious what the official dagnosis is...