on my 03' i needed the 4x4 yesterday, my county road was too muddy to drive slowly and get up the hills.... so i stopped the truck( completely stopped) shifted to 4x4 hi...electric shift.....then proceeded to go forward only to hear an awful grinding/ clunking in the front end. it is in either 4hi, or 4lo..and forward and reverse......any thoughts?

i took it by the dealer this am, and they cannot tell until they have it one a rack.the truck is scheduled to go in on thursday already for other repairs............a-pillar handle busted loose, passenger mirror vibrates BAD, left front hubcap is loose, and i blew an intercooler hose...

this truck is really beginning to bum me out, i only have 35000 miles, and all these problems, on top of the previous issues.........

problem is that there are not any other manuf. that are any better at this point, i have ford, 2003 f550 and 2004 f550...and mechanically they have been fine, but i cannot deal with the cheap looking interior for my personal vehicle...........



anyway, does anybody have any thought on what might be wrong based on my limited description?


thanks, chris

 

Maybe the vaccum engage thingy isn't fully engaging. Have you checked the fluid in the transfer case/front axle?

 

3rd gen trucks no longer have vacuum actuated 4wd. His problem sounds more like an engagement motor issue. It sounds like the electric motor is not fully moving the 4wd selector on the transfer case into gear. Usually 4wd Hi engages better if the truck is moving...you can safely engage it on the fly at up to 50mph.

 

EEEW the Ford interior. I don't blame you.

Don't worry about it. Just get it fixed. They all seem to be using New Venture units. I had pushbutton in my Dmax. Never had a problem

 

HOOT,

the tcase in my ford was a BW 1356 or something like that, it wasn't a nv though......

i was ready to trade off the dodge yesterday and take my loss....but i can;t think of anything better at this point.

maybe they will come out with a 5500 soon, so i can get a hauler setup that is nice looking and tough.


i guess i will just have to wait and see what the dealer comes up with.

on a side note. they have been real cool about my edge, etc.
said not to worry about it with them, that the dealer owner, gm, and service mgr all ahve new dodges with boxes.

they also said they will install aftermarket injectors for 1700.00 and honor the factory warranty with them in it.
not sure whose injectors though.


chris

 

Yes I know the SUperDutys run the BW. It's a stouter unit.

But like I said, don't let it bother you. The good thing about a T-Case is it's not a big deal to fix or replace. Not like repairing a motor or trans and worrying about the consequences. It's still under warranty so... you're good. 35000 and you maight be getting a zero mile t case.

 

That definitely sounds like the push button performance. I have a son in-law that on his Chevy Z-71 gasser has gone to the garage twice in a year and a half with that very problem. The life of ease and convenience is not always best. Mine has the manual shift lever. It works great up to 50mph into 4 hi. Stopped into 4lo. I don't miss the days where you had to back-up to change the transfer setting.
Isn't warranty a blessing. Don't let the dealer get the goldmine and you the shaft.

 

I use my 4 x 4 electric shift on the fly everyday in the back country. I believe one of the biggest reasons 4 x 4s' do not engage is owners don't "exercise" the transfer case on a regular basis (at least weekly), especially for 4 x4s' driven in the city. I've never had one fail yet and I like to think this is the reason. Personally, I'd never go back to a manual shifted transfer case. I use 4 x 4 hourly and would get the miseries manually shifting it in and out of 4 x 4 all the time.

 

found another problem tonight....

what are the odds of the rear brakes still being covered under the warranty? i could her a grinding upon applying the brakes, and upon inspection found that both rear rotors are worn/ grooved from bad brakes?

is this something that i will be left holding the bag on?



chris

 

Normal brake wear,worn pads shoes etc.only covered first 12k.

 

Rear brakes at 35,000 would signal a problem to me. I traded my Dmax in at 72,000 miles and it had original brakes all the way around. Rears should last twice as long as the front.

Do you tow alot?

 

99-up Superduties run the same NVG 271/273 cases we do (Dodge only switched in '03).

STOUTEST t-case on the market.

 

Lots of four wheel dic brakes REARS do NOT last as long as fronts.Smaller pad and a lighter compound.Lots of four wheel disc systems will wear rears 2 to 1 over fronts.Noise Does not indicate worn out.Dirt,sand etc.create noise.

 

hounddog,

i realize that noise does not signal worn out, but it is a sign of problem,, worn, dirt, pebble, etc..
so i got under the truck upon hearing the noise only to find WORN rotors, gouged deep as well. i had the tires rotated recently and the brakes were not noticeably different than the fronts.

also, when i apply the brakes and release, i can still hear the grinding/ dragging...i am thinking the calipers are sticking, but i have never heard of both of them doing it at one time.


thanks, chris

 

wexman.... better ask Duke

Maybe the F450 and up but I do know they were/are using Borg Warners