2006 Truck going into 4 low on its own
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Lost Lake, Wis
2006 Truck going into 4 low on its own
I posted this in the appropriate forum more than a month ago and didn't get help, now it's REALLY bad.
The trans was replaced a year ago.
I have narrowed the symptoms down to usually doing it when the truck gets wet. I can drive into a car wash all happy, but driving out I get the 4 low light flashing and the truck wants to shift to 4wd.
Tonight it's raining and I fired up the truck and the 4lo light flickered, the servo was grinding back and forth and the trans case went into neutral. I've never used neutral before so it took me a while to figure that out. I pushed the little neutral button and the trans case clunked back in.
I tried to drive to town and the 4lo light flickered a little like it does when wet, and then it engaged at 45mph! All of a sudden I heard a grinding noise and quickly pulled off the road and it shifted into 4lo at about 15mph with a bang!
More findings: It won't shift into 4lo or even flicker the light if I am in 4hi.
A couple times I have had it in 4wd with the selector in 2wd and no lights showing. I noticed when I made a turn that the truck was in 4wd....
Is there a fuse I can pull or something to disengage the servo or lock it in 2wd until I can get this figured out?? I have NO good dealers near me.
EDIT: I was outside just now and the truck is sitting all by itself, locked, off for two hours, and I suddenly heard the 4wd servo shift. All on its own.... Spooky
The trans was replaced a year ago.
I have narrowed the symptoms down to usually doing it when the truck gets wet. I can drive into a car wash all happy, but driving out I get the 4 low light flashing and the truck wants to shift to 4wd.
Tonight it's raining and I fired up the truck and the 4lo light flickered, the servo was grinding back and forth and the trans case went into neutral. I've never used neutral before so it took me a while to figure that out. I pushed the little neutral button and the trans case clunked back in.
I tried to drive to town and the 4lo light flickered a little like it does when wet, and then it engaged at 45mph! All of a sudden I heard a grinding noise and quickly pulled off the road and it shifted into 4lo at about 15mph with a bang!
More findings: It won't shift into 4lo or even flicker the light if I am in 4hi.
A couple times I have had it in 4wd with the selector in 2wd and no lights showing. I noticed when I made a turn that the truck was in 4wd....
Is there a fuse I can pull or something to disengage the servo or lock it in 2wd until I can get this figured out?? I have NO good dealers near me.
EDIT: I was outside just now and the truck is sitting all by itself, locked, off for two hours, and I suddenly heard the 4wd servo shift. All on its own.... Spooky
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Alaska
Found this on another forum hope it helps.
Vehicle Application: 2004 Dodge Durango 4.7L, Vin N, Eng Cfg V8 2005 Dodge Durango 5.7L, GAS, Vin D, Eng Cfg V8, USA/Canada
2004 Dodge Durango 5.7L, Vin D, Eng Cfg V8 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Sport 5.9L, DIESEL, Vin C, Turbo, Eng Cfg L6
2005 Dodge Dakota 4.7L, Vin N, Eng Cfg V8 2007 Dodge Dakota Slt 4.7L, FLEX, Vin P, Eng Cfg V8
2005 Dodge Durango 4.7L, GAS, Vin N, Eng Cfg V8, USA/Canada
Customer Concern: Transfer case shifts into 4 wheel drive by itself intermittently for the customer. There is a code C1404 stored in the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM). Road tested and the problem is not present right now.
Tests/Procedures: 1. This code can be set and the system can go into 4 wheel drive by itself if the 5 volts to the transfer case shift motor gets shorted low. There is a condition that can cause this and it is related to the A/C pressure sensor. The A/C pressure sensor will short out and cause this to happen. Being that this is intermittent, the pressure sensor can be disconnected to eliminate it or simply replace it.
2. If the 5 V reference is OK, monitor the transfer case mode sensor voltage on the White/Dark Green wire at the transfer case mode sensor. If erratic, replace the transfer case mode sensor/shift motor.
Potential Causes: Air Conditioner (A/C) Pressure Sensor
Transfer Case Mode Sensor
Tech Tips: The transfer case mode sensor is part of the transfer case shift actuator.
Diagnostic Codes: C1404
Vehicle Application: 2004 Dodge Durango 4.7L, Vin N, Eng Cfg V8 2005 Dodge Durango 5.7L, GAS, Vin D, Eng Cfg V8, USA/Canada
2004 Dodge Durango 5.7L, Vin D, Eng Cfg V8 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Sport 5.9L, DIESEL, Vin C, Turbo, Eng Cfg L6
2005 Dodge Dakota 4.7L, Vin N, Eng Cfg V8 2007 Dodge Dakota Slt 4.7L, FLEX, Vin P, Eng Cfg V8
2005 Dodge Durango 4.7L, GAS, Vin N, Eng Cfg V8, USA/Canada
Customer Concern: Transfer case shifts into 4 wheel drive by itself intermittently for the customer. There is a code C1404 stored in the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM). Road tested and the problem is not present right now.
Tests/Procedures: 1. This code can be set and the system can go into 4 wheel drive by itself if the 5 volts to the transfer case shift motor gets shorted low. There is a condition that can cause this and it is related to the A/C pressure sensor. The A/C pressure sensor will short out and cause this to happen. Being that this is intermittent, the pressure sensor can be disconnected to eliminate it or simply replace it.
2. If the 5 V reference is OK, monitor the transfer case mode sensor voltage on the White/Dark Green wire at the transfer case mode sensor. If erratic, replace the transfer case mode sensor/shift motor.
Potential Causes: Air Conditioner (A/C) Pressure Sensor
Transfer Case Mode Sensor
Tech Tips: The transfer case mode sensor is part of the transfer case shift actuator.
Diagnostic Codes: C1404
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Lost Lake, Wis
Daily update:
Started the truck and the 4lo started flashing. Shifted to 4hi and I could hear the servo move. Shifted bad to 2hi and the servo moved and the 4lo light started flashing and the servo moving. Shut truck off.
Popped the hood and took fuse 10 out of the fuse box on the left side fender well. It says it's for the 4wd system.
Started truck, no flashing lights. Shifted to 4hi and the servo moved and the truck went into 4hi. Drove across the driveway and turned and the wheels bound up. Shifted back to 2hi and the wheels unlocked and I drove to town (15 miles) with no lights, no flashing, no service 4wd light.
Stopped for fuel and put the fuse back in and still no lights, no warnings, nothing.
Next step is to go out and get out the garden hose and start spraying the TC to see if I can make it fail. Kind of like a roof leak, I'm starting at the bottom and working my way up. Maybe I'll find a short or a bad connection.
Started the truck and the 4lo started flashing. Shifted to 4hi and I could hear the servo move. Shifted bad to 2hi and the servo moved and the 4lo light started flashing and the servo moving. Shut truck off.
Popped the hood and took fuse 10 out of the fuse box on the left side fender well. It says it's for the 4wd system.
Started truck, no flashing lights. Shifted to 4hi and the servo moved and the truck went into 4hi. Drove across the driveway and turned and the wheels bound up. Shifted back to 2hi and the wheels unlocked and I drove to town (15 miles) with no lights, no flashing, no service 4wd light.
Stopped for fuel and put the fuse back in and still no lights, no warnings, nothing.
Next step is to go out and get out the garden hose and start spraying the TC to see if I can make it fail. Kind of like a roof leak, I'm starting at the bottom and working my way up. Maybe I'll find a short or a bad connection.
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Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Sunny Southern California Land of Fruits and Nuts
The transfercase is controlled by the totally intergrated power module (TIPM) you need to pull the codes from that module first to see what you have going on. Could be TIPM or the shift motor itself.TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM)
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Lost Lake, Wis
Hourly?? update:
Smarty sees no codes. Just the "No voltage drop detected when heater grid engages" code.... Had that since I put those heavy duty batteries in more than a year ago.
Something weird to note: My tach is working more or less. It may read 200 rpm's low, but it hasn't done anything but swing wildly for the last two years....
Now it is almost accurate!
Okay, spray hose on transfer case = nothing.
Spray on entire transmission = nothing.
Spray on fuse box in engine compartment = nothing.
Spray firewall, top of trans, dog who is wondering what I'm doing = nothing but a wet dog.
Spray TIPM on engine block = WOW!!
Trans jumps into 4 lo and won't come out!
I'm letting it dry out now (the dog too) and I'm going to carefully spray water on each connector on the TIPM and see if I can narrow down the problem area... I think there's a short.
Smarty sees no codes. Just the "No voltage drop detected when heater grid engages" code.... Had that since I put those heavy duty batteries in more than a year ago.
Something weird to note: My tach is working more or less. It may read 200 rpm's low, but it hasn't done anything but swing wildly for the last two years....
Now it is almost accurate! Okay, spray hose on transfer case = nothing.
Spray on entire transmission = nothing.
Spray on fuse box in engine compartment = nothing.
Spray firewall, top of trans, dog who is wondering what I'm doing
= nothing but a wet dog. Spray TIPM on engine block = WOW!!
Trans jumps into 4 lo and won't come out!
I'm letting it dry out now (the dog too) and I'm going to carefully spray water on each connector on the TIPM and see if I can narrow down the problem area... I think there's a short.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,694
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From: Lost Lake, Wis
Nothing I wiggle does anything for me.
I disconnected and reconnected and wiggled every connection I could. The TIPM (if that is what is on the block) does nothing for me.
Then I pulled the #9 fuse in the fuse block (in my owner's manual it's called the Integrated Power Module), the one on the driver's fender. That #9 fuse does nothing.
The truck is now unable to shift at all from 4hi, the indicator is not showing anything. The serve 4wd light is on. No turning of the know does anything. Dead.
So I decide to see what is inside of the fuse box on the fender. I unscrewed the cover (5 torx screws) and started wiggling the body out.... then I stopped. There must be power in there, maybe I should disconnect the batteries. Ahhhh heck with it, I screwed the screws back in and snapped the lid on. I thought I'd go drive the truck around in 4hi and let it get warm and maybe dry out the connections.....
And what do I find when I get in the truck? Everything works. The service 4wd light is off and the **** shifts through the 4hi / 2hi/ 4lo like nothing has ever been wrong.....
Coud it be a bad connection between the fuse panel and the fuse panel base??? This is killing me! I need this truck to do my work.
I disconnected and reconnected and wiggled every connection I could. The TIPM (if that is what is on the block) does nothing for me.
Then I pulled the #9 fuse in the fuse block (in my owner's manual it's called the Integrated Power Module), the one on the driver's fender. That #9 fuse does nothing.
The truck is now unable to shift at all from 4hi, the indicator is not showing anything. The serve 4wd light is on. No turning of the know does anything. Dead.
So I decide to see what is inside of the fuse box on the fender. I unscrewed the cover (5 torx screws) and started wiggling the body out.... then I stopped. There must be power in there, maybe I should disconnect the batteries. Ahhhh heck with it, I screwed the screws back in and snapped the lid on. I thought I'd go drive the truck around in 4hi and let it get warm and maybe dry out the connections.....
And what do I find when I get in the truck? Everything works. The service 4wd light is off and the **** shifts through the 4hi / 2hi/ 4lo like nothing has ever been wrong.....
Coud it be a bad connection between the fuse panel and the fuse panel base??? This is killing me! I need this truck to do my work.
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From: Lost Lake, Wis
Well I didn't split open the TIPM. I did learn that the TIPM is the thing on the fender on an 06. I also learned the stupid thing cost a lot of money and causes headaches ranging from headlights randomly turning off to blinkers not working to 4wd issues.
So to minimize the possibility of ruining a $700 - $900 TIPM I didn't open it.
I did pop the TIPM out of the holder and wiggle every thing behind it and took out each connector and looked at them and plugged them back in.
So back out to the driveway I went with a perfectly functioning 4wd system. I drove it down the road, I shifted through the ranges. Then when it was working so great I hit it carefully with water, right on the TIPM. Nothing. Then the thingy on the block. Nothing. Then the transfer case connector. Nothing. Then I hosed the heck out of everything and still nothing.
Now I'm completely lost. I suppose I should take it in the shop and rent a car for my trip up north this week. I can't imagine they will find anything wrong though because I can't make it fail now. But next week I have a lot of trailer pulling to do as I move from two different job sites and I'll have four men in the vehicle depending on the truck to get them where they need to be! And they'll be 300 miles from home.....
So to minimize the possibility of ruining a $700 - $900 TIPM I didn't open it.
I did pop the TIPM out of the holder and wiggle every thing behind it and took out each connector and looked at them and plugged them back in.
So back out to the driveway I went with a perfectly functioning 4wd system. I drove it down the road, I shifted through the ranges. Then when it was working so great I hit it carefully with water, right on the TIPM. Nothing. Then the thingy on the block. Nothing. Then the transfer case connector. Nothing. Then I hosed the heck out of everything and still nothing.
Now I'm completely lost. I suppose I should take it in the shop and rent a car for my trip up north this week. I can't imagine they will find anything wrong though because I can't make it fail now. But next week I have a lot of trailer pulling to do as I move from two different job sites and I'll have four men in the vehicle depending on the truck to get them where they need to be! And they'll be 300 miles from home.....
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 979
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From: boyden, IA
I had isues with mine shifting into 4wd on its own shortly after I bought it. Long story short it turned out to be a presure switch in the AC system going bad and mimicing the signal of the 4wd ****. They are all tied in to one system on the 06 and newer electronics.
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From: Lost Lake, Wis
As a follow up.... I hate it when people don't follow up!!!
I took the truck to a specialty diesel shop I trust. It took four days to get it in, but they scanned it, found the 5 volt signal the computer looks for wasn't there. Traced that back to the TIPM and found corrosion on the mounting block and wiring.
They recommend a new TIPM and had a price of $715 for a new one from Dodge and they were asking Dorman for a price, but I said forget the Dorman one, let's get a OEM. I read somewhere that the new Dodge TIPM's had some sort of new seal or panel to help prevent issues like this.
Total costs so far is $89 for diagnosis and they have ordered the TIPM and expect an hour and a half for install and Star tool scanning to verify proper functioning of all systems.
They didn't accept any money from me, they unplugged the trans case wires and sent me on my way with an appointment for a week from now when I can get back to their shop.
I hope this ends the saga, or I WILL post back here again....
I took the truck to a specialty diesel shop I trust. It took four days to get it in, but they scanned it, found the 5 volt signal the computer looks for wasn't there. Traced that back to the TIPM and found corrosion on the mounting block and wiring.
They recommend a new TIPM and had a price of $715 for a new one from Dodge and they were asking Dorman for a price, but I said forget the Dorman one, let's get a OEM. I read somewhere that the new Dodge TIPM's had some sort of new seal or panel to help prevent issues like this.
Total costs so far is $89 for diagnosis and they have ordered the TIPM and expect an hour and a half for install and Star tool scanning to verify proper functioning of all systems.
They didn't accept any money from me, they unplugged the trans case wires and sent me on my way with an appointment for a week from now when I can get back to their shop.
I hope this ends the saga, or I WILL post back here again....
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Lost Lake, Wis
It's not fixed...
I got a new TIPM for a total cost of around $1000 and the 4wd low light came on again within two weeks. I took it back to the shop and they spent almost 4 hours under the truck and got it to fail twice but can never repeat it. They didn't charge me for the time which was pretty nice.
The shop said it may be the air conditioning pressure switch (I think they just search the web like we do...) and they could order one. In the meantime they suggested I pull the servo power again. Well this is winter and I need 4wd in the snow, so that wasn't gonna happen.
They suggest I pull the plug to the air condo switch if it acts up. Well one time it was acting up bad, and I tried to get that stupid plug off but it must have a hidden latch somewhere because it's stuck good! I'm taking the truck to them and having them pull it off. I don't need air condo right now, but I need 4wd. Lucky for me I don't drive too much when work is slow in the winter, but it does act up every now and then. No rhyme or reason why, no buttons or settings or anything will change it, it just does it.
I'll keep posting....
I got a new TIPM for a total cost of around $1000 and the 4wd low light came on again within two weeks. I took it back to the shop and they spent almost 4 hours under the truck and got it to fail twice but can never repeat it. They didn't charge me for the time which was pretty nice.
The shop said it may be the air conditioning pressure switch (I think they just search the web like we do...) and they could order one. In the meantime they suggested I pull the servo power again. Well this is winter and I need 4wd in the snow, so that wasn't gonna happen.
They suggest I pull the plug to the air condo switch if it acts up. Well one time it was acting up bad, and I tried to get that stupid plug off but it must have a hidden latch somewhere because it's stuck good! I'm taking the truck to them and having them pull it off. I don't need air condo right now, but I need 4wd. Lucky for me I don't drive too much when work is slow in the winter, but it does act up every now and then. No rhyme or reason why, no buttons or settings or anything will change it, it just does it.
I'll keep posting....