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No 4 wheel drive !

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Old Jan 12, 2009 | 03:49 PM
  #1  
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No 4 wheel drive !

Help,
My TRK is a Snow Plow TRK ..well not right now as the 4 wheel Drive quit .
Man if it is not one thing it is an other !
Whats the most likely cause ? Any guesses ?
Is there a on line schematic as to what operates this system ?
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Old Jan 12, 2009 | 04:27 PM
  #2  
John Faughn's Avatar
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From: St Paul , MN.
2 things , the transfer case , then the vacuum .
1st transfer case , does it shift the same as always / not feel any different ?
2nd , you need the vacuum pump to be making vacuum , then the switch on the transfer case needs to be sending vacuum to the front axial , then the vacuum motor on the fr. axial needs to be doing the locking of the axial .
The easiest may be to go to the ft. axial [ with the shifter in 4x4 ] and see if the is vacuum to the vacuum motor , if there is , it could be dirt/lube/maintainance to get to work , or the diaphragm in the vacuum motor leaking .
If no vacuum at ft. axial , follow hose to sw. on transfer case , to see where you do have vacuum , hopefully the pump is making vacuum .
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Old Jan 12, 2009 | 06:39 PM
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See if this helps Diagnosing 4WD Engagement Problems
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Old Jan 12, 2009 | 07:03 PM
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Check all the vacuum lines going to the front axle and to the t-case. I hd a problem a few yrs ago on my old dodge where the 4x4 stopped workin. I had gone through alot of deep drifts on the county roads and all the ice and snow packed under the truck pulled the lines off the axle from the weight of it. It's an easy check, if this isn't your problem then look elsewhere into the 4x4 system. At least you could rule out the lines coming off then.
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Old Jan 12, 2009 | 07:48 PM
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OK gang, Thanks SO much, You nailed the problem.! A snow drift I was plowing unhooked the vacuum hoses near the transfer case ! (not a good place for a junction )
So other then crawling around in a VERY wet snow melt...no problem. Will it do this again ? you bet !
I have to devise a more sure fix...................................
Gees, Will I ever feel sorry for Detroit and the crap they have made ? NO !
All this truck has ever cost me other then the base price is a new Eng. A new trans trans.
All sorts of front end parts..
and on and on
If the Imports ever make a big truck ...I might be 1st in line to buy......
I
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Old Jan 12, 2009 | 07:55 PM
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Oh for got to mention lift pumps , VP 44s, and several million dollars of other crap . Is every one as happy with the truck as I am ?
I have had this for about 5 years...
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Old Jan 12, 2009 | 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by thumper549
OK gang, Thanks SO much, You nailed the problem.! A snow drift I was plowing unhooked the vacuum hoses near the transfer case ! (not a good place for a junction )
So other then crawling around in a VERY wet snow melt...no problem. Will it do this again ? you bet !
I have to devise a more sure fix...................................
Gees, Will I ever feel sorry for Detroit and the crap they have made ? NO !
All this truck has ever cost me other then the base price is a new Eng. A new trans trans.
All sorts of front end parts..
and on and on
If the Imports ever make a big truck ...I might be 1st in line to buy......
I
Can I have your G56 when you sell it?

My dually had its problems when I picked it up (320k km on it when I bought it), mostly electrical. My 12v, other than low fuel pressure (which was a free fix) has been problem free. I'm quite happy with it.
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Old Jan 12, 2009 | 09:06 PM
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Well.... I doubt that I will EVER sell it as I am so up side dwn money wise (unwise LOL )
It has been becoming a UNdodge since I have owned it , as I refine it it is less Detroit all the time,'
It is no longer Cummings..just looks like one
No longer New Venture as they did not pass that test,
No longer front end parts or steer box as they fit too loose.
I do give it one 4 star the ride is great !'The TRk sucks !
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Old Jan 13, 2009 | 07:30 AM
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From: Cape Coral, FL
You have a 10 year old snow plow work truck thats been bombed? How many miles of hard work does it have under its belt? It sounds like any kind of truck you put through that kind of life will need replacement parts. A brand new truck with that setup is probably pushing $80K. I don't think it's a matter of being upside down moneywise, but whether the truck is giving you what you need. JMHO....
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Old Jan 13, 2009 | 08:48 AM
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You are plowing with it, what do you expect? I don't think towing heavy loads all day can be as hard on a truck. I have a 96 12V could not be happier with it.
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Old Jan 13, 2009 | 11:32 AM
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It just started "snow plow" this year. In my opinion the junction @ the vacuum source is wrong from any stand pt.It is an other Dodge engineering mistake.
As far as a old truck....Again I do not why people rise to the defence of a poorly designed machine.
It should have never been made with the NV 45, should have never come with steering not fit for a model T
Should have never come with the bad pumps and and a bunch of other stuff
What I am saying is It is the best truck offered...but there is room for improvement............A Bunch, don't you think so too ?
This truck has only a 160,000 miles on it. !!!
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Old Jan 13, 2009 | 12:05 PM
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From: Streator Illinois
Don't know it is really a poor design, more so done because Marketing says people need 4X4 at the pull of a lever or a touch of a button.

It would have been far cheaper to leave the lockouts on.

But then the majority of owners would have bought their 4X4 from the company that offered the fancy system.

As soon as I can afford it, all that garbage is gone from mine......
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Old Jan 13, 2009 | 03:20 PM
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At a glance it is a good looking TRK, ...they just forgot to get the inner parts correct.
What to do. Buy a Duramax with a ALUMIUM head ? No thanx, there is a problem in the mail . LOL
Buy a diesel V8 ? No thanx
The world market will offer a great 1 ton pretty soon with Detroit gone
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Old Jan 14, 2009 | 10:15 AM
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From: CT
Originally Posted by thumper549
Buy a Duramax with a ALUMIUM head ? No thanx, there is a problem in the mail . LOL
since when are the aluminum heads on the duramax causing problems, besides in the ASSumptions of your own mind? They have not caused any problems with the duramax, I know OMG hard to beleive right?

Vacuum actuators are the stupidest things ever. I spent forever trying to redo the vacuum lines and troubleshoot the 4wd system on my friend's 2nd gen 24v, and sometimes it would work, othertimes it wouldnt. All of the vacuum lines held vacuum, so I finally gave up on it. Granted the truck had 220k miles on it, but then again my other friend's 02 dmax with 210k has had zero problems with the lazy-man's push button 4wd.............LOL

ben
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Old Jan 14, 2009 | 11:13 AM
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OK , I can not be on the planet this long and be this dumb ! ( Or can I ?)
Logic says if a Aluminum head will not last on a gas engine ....then a Diesel ? No Way !
Seems Every Diesel Eng, sooner or has head retention issues Even the big ones.
I do not see how Duramax will escape this Esp. with a Aluminum which is also prone to changing shape !
If there were a place to place bets .......................you know what I would do....
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