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4 Wheel Drive Broken

speeder

speeder

SM 2003
Full Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2002
Messages
259
Location
Newport News, VA
I had to unload a lawn tractor from the bed of my av. So I did as I have always done in the past, put the back tires into the ditch and roll the tractor out (few inches down instead of a few feet). The front tires remain on the paved street. Put the truck into 4hi and drive out, at least that is how it always worked with the ram I had before. I put the av in 4hi or 4low and it made the sounds and lit the light like it went into 4x4 but the rear tires just spun and there I sat, no front tire pull at all. I went to the dealer the next day (after being towed out by the nieghbors Dodge). The dealer checked it all out and said everything was working fine. All 4 tires were spinning on the rack and there were no "problem codes" in the computer. Has anyone had any similar problems or any sudjestions. I repeated the ditch test and had to get towed out again. I have only 4x2 and this is not a good thing :C: no offence to the Z66ers out there.
 
Did you try applying the parking brake to limit the slippage on the rear wheels? (I know this works for 2wd to get the other tire to spin also) also did you try putting it in auto 4wd? I haven't run into this problem, but I have only tried my 4wd once or twice.

-Gatorjedi
 
You engage the 4 wheel when you were in the ditch? I ask this because, in order for the 4 wheel drive to engage you have to roll a little to lock the hubs. Your tranfer case may have engaged but if your hubs didn't then your fron wheels would not spin.

I'm pretty sure that may be the problem. Try the same manuver again but back down the ditch with the 4 wheel engaged.
 
I am an avid off roader and I have used my 4x4 several times in mud, deep sand and fine loose packed dirt and to climb up hills I have been nothing but absolutely happy with the 4x4 abilities of my avalanche perhaps you should take the Avalanche to another dealer and have them take a look at it. You might even ask the Service Manager to take a ride and demo the problem to him. Your avalanche should not be having any problems in dry dirt conditions just watch the ground clearance it can be deceiving. Good Luck with your problem I hope you get it resolved.
 
SoCalZ71 said:
You engage the 4 wheel when you were in the ditch? ?I ask this because, in order for the 4 wheel drive to engage you have to roll a little to lock the hubs. ?Your tranfer case may have engaged but if your hubs didn't then your fron wheels would not spin.

I'm pretty sure that may be the problem. ?Try the same manuver again but back down the ditch with the 4 wheel engaged.
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Great advice - I suspect you will get a gold star :)

Speeder let us know how the next test works - I supect you will be very happy.
 
john113972 said:
SoCalZ71 it correct you do need to engage 4 wheel drive and drive the av to let the hubs lock. ?You will want to follow his advise
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??? Yikes, so you need to plan getting stuck so you can prep the 4 wheel drive. The last 4x4 I had was a '70 Ford. More than once out in the muck locking the front wheels. I guess things are improving. :2:
 
OK . . . if the conditions are questionable, you should be running in 4-auto which locks the front halfshafts and shifts the transfer case in and out. BUT . . . if I understand this, pity the poor soul who slides off the road into a snowbank while in 2-hi . . . what you're saying is that there may be no way to engage 4-hi if the front wheels can't turn? That's disconcerting . . I figured the hubs (or more correctly the half shafts at the front diff) would lock when the front driveshaft turned . . not true?

Hmmm. . . I'm pretty sure that I've engaged 4WD on my S-10 Blazer from a stop several times with no problem. But then, I don't know that I was so stuck that 2WD didn't get things going by itself . . .

Anyone have more insight on this topic?
 
Thanks everyone for the help. I did shift to 4hi while moving and then backed into the ditch. I also tried the auto setting (and every setting). I was at my local AV doctor (dealer) this am and he called me just a minute ago. he saidthat there has just been released a technical service bulleten on this. The clutch in the transfer case seems to slip on the avs. :eek:. They also told me that the new design on the 4x4 system makes it so that you do not have to be rolling for the hubs to lock. It is still advised to be moving 1-2mph when shifting into 4lo.
 
speeder said:
I was at my local AV doctor (dealer) this am and he called me just a minute ago. ?he saidthat there has just been released a technical service bulleten on this. ?The clutch in the transfer case seems to slip on the avs. :eek:. ?They also told me that the new design on the 4x4 system makes it so that you do not have to be rolling for the hubs to lock.
Click to expand...

Speeder - can you get us a copy of this TBS and post it? I had my transfer case rebuilt because it was trshed inside and I would love to see if I am going to have further problems.
 
I am on my way there now (to pick up a rental car) :( I will let you know what I find out, or if they will give me a copy of the TSB.
 
Service dept. was closed :-[ So I couldn't get the TSB. Just the Enterprise Rental counter was open. It will be 2-3 days before I can get the info (the repair time). I will post it when I get it. :cautious:
 
I just got the AV back yesturday :cool: they wouldn't give me a copy of the bulletin. Here is what they wrote :
"check for bulletins and call T.A.C. issued case number and told to proceed with bulletin 02-04-21-005 recondition transfer case as per bulletin clutches burnt in transfer case replace all hard parts, seals steels and clutch plates check condition of front axle all hard parts ok F4002 7.8"
then they give a long list of parts followed by
"call tech assist case#5881841 talked to Frank Brown

Can anyone tell me what T.A.C. is, and does all this mean that someone is tracking my AV and its problem?
 
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