4wd question

HER_CRD · **Posted:** Sun Mar 01, 2015 6:55 pm

Has anyone had any experience with a Select Trac transfer case that doesn't seem to engage? I had lost 4wd last weekend even though the dash indicated it was engaged. All indicator lights on the dash seem to work. The cable is also connected and functioning properly.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Mar 01, 2015 7:31 pm

HER_CRD wrote:

Has anyone had any experience with a Select Trac transfer case that doesn't seem to engage? I had lost 4wd last weekend even though the dash indicated it was engaged. All indicator lights on the dash seem to work. The cable is also connected and functioning properly.

Are you sure 4 WD wasn't working? The dash light sometimes stays on even if it is kicked out of 4WD.

HER_CRD · **Posted:** Sun Mar 01, 2015 7:49 pm

Positive. I was stuck out on a lake during ice fishing and had to be pushed out. Engaged before driving out and probably went about half mile before getting stuck.

HER_CRD · **Posted:** Wed Mar 04, 2015 2:42 pm

Anyone?

02blue · **Posted:** Fri Mar 06, 2015 10:43 pm

When was the Tcase serviced last? Are your tires matched and in good shape. Do you use the 4wd often? All will affect function, engaging and disengaging, I speak from personal experience.

HER_CRD · **Posted:** Fri Mar 06, 2015 10:52 pm

Have about 76000 miles. I haven't touched it. We are the second owner so I can't say for it hasn't had work done. Tires are roughly half tread and seem to be ok. 4wd is has been used off and on the last few months.

The wife told me today it is working through. Haven't verified yet.

02blue · **Posted:** Sat Mar 07, 2015 12:15 am

Definitely need to drain and refill with ATF+4. Might have never been changed. I had one tire that would lose pressure and get down around 25PSI. That was enough to keep the 4wd from engaging and disengaging efficiently. The light would lie to me.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Sat Mar 07, 2015 9:48 am

02blue wrote:

Definitely need to drain and refill with ATF+4. Might have never been changed. I had one tire that would lose pressure and get down around 25PSI. That was enough to keep the 4wd from engaging and disengaging efficiently. The light would lie to me.

Whoa, please explain how tire pressure has input into transfer case engagement? I thought that Transfer case engagement was strictly a mechanical cable mechanism? Is there more at play than most of us realize? :shock:

02blue · **Posted:** Sat Mar 07, 2015 11:38 am

WWDiesel wrote:

02blue wrote:

Definitely need to drain and refill with ATF+4. Might have never been changed. I had one tire that would lose pressure and get down around 25PSI. That was enough to keep the 4wd from engaging and disengaging efficiently. The light would lie to me.

Whoa, please explain how tire pressure has input into transfer case engagement? I thought that Transfer case engagement was strictly a mechanical cable mechanism? Is there more at play than most of us realize? :shock:

My take is any driveline binding will affect engagement and disengagement so uneven tire pressure would alter. I have personal experience with this since as soon as my one rear tire gets low (20-25 PSI) and the rest are around 33 I have trouble engaging and disengaging. I'm not by any means an expert but hopefully others will chime in with a more detailed explanation.

HER_CRD · **Posted:** Sat Mar 07, 2015 11:49 am

Interesting. My wife just took off with the jeep so I'll check tires tomorrow. How does atf effect engagement?

02blue · **Posted:** Sat Mar 07, 2015 12:07 pm

HER_CRD wrote:

Interesting. My wife just took off with the jeep so I'll check tires tomorrow. How does atf effect engagement?

It's probably not as simple a system as you might expect. That's why we don't just throw gear oil in there and call it a day. Proper lubrication is essential for it to function properly. Dirty or inadequate fluid quality or quantity will cause issues just like in other applications.

Edit: Sorry, maybe you didn't realize the fluid for the Tcase is ATF+4.

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