"Flashing 4x4 light" issue

Hey folks, done some searching but didn't come across anything that helped me with this. My 4x4 light is blinking as if it's in the process of engaging/disengaging. This has happened three times now, always after returning to 2WD - the first time, it went away in about fifteen or twenty minutes, the second time took about 2,000 miles and a dealer couldn't figure out what was wrong, and then it went away on its own. This time, I engaged 4H, drove, 4L, drove, back to 4H, drove, all fine. Switched back to 2H and it did so, but the light remains flashing so I can't re-engage 4WD.

Any ideas what the problem is, and how to fix it? It's still be under warranty but I'm extremely limited on available time to take it to another dealership.

 

Blinking normally means in motion.
Any chance you have a copy of techstream? Give us a shot at figuring out which actuator it is...

From memory on transfer from 4hi to 2hi, first the transfer case actuator operates, then only after the transfer completes does the ADD operate.
So if it is actually in 2hi, then have to assume that issue is in ADD or its wiring.

If no techstream, You up for pulling off the tranny skid and putting ohmmeter on the ADD connectors?

 

Sometimes backing up will get it to disengage or engage.

This is why I like manual hubs.

 

No dice on Techstream, I looked at getting it but the legit version is waaaay out of my price range and "alternative" versions looked iffy. I might be able to try that ohmmeter check when I get to the farm in a few days.

 

Second on this. With many vehicles. Also, turning the steering wheel from lock to lock while sitting (on a flat surface) in neutral, foot off the brake, can take the tension out of the driveline.

 

When mine does that, I'll keep switching to 4h then back to 2h usually it'll pop out after a couple tries.

 

When you go back to 2WD can you you here it come out??

G.

 

Same happens with mine at least it did.

Very random. I’ll use 4hi then switch back to 2w and it just blinks. Then after about an hour it’ll finally switch back. I took it to the dealer 4 times. They even charged me to manually un jam the actuator one time. ITS VERY RANDOM. Some days it works fine some not so much. Dealer told me it’s my fault your supposed to switch while on neutral at a complete stop. But suppsably we’re allowed to do it “on the fly” they said no.



When they test drove it always worked fine and never jammed. It’s hiding from them. We tried to induce it for an hour on a dirt road and it always worked. But when I drive it on my own it’ll randomly jam. But not as of lately. I think the permanent fix it soder the metal points of the actuator. It’s somewhere on the forums .

 

@11Bravo4x4 Here is the directions straight from the owners manual. Go back to the dealer, get a refund of any charges for this issue, and tell them to fix it under warranty.

 

Glad you showed me this so I can show it to them. But i did try explaining that day I remember but I didn’t show them that.. if it happens again I’ll show them this and ask for a refund. It was 140$

 

Depends, sometimes it'll clunk hard as it comes out and sometimes it'll be a small click.

 

After the big "clunk" is the light still on?? Unless the wheels are perfectly straight, you may get that clunk when it comes out.

G.

 

So, after trying the suggestions that charles.headlee provided without success, I ended up taking the truck to a local dealership to let the warranty take care of it. They called me back and said I need a new transfer case - apparently mine was full of mud. Where's the breather for that physically located? Or is there any other possible way to flood your transfer case?

 

It's unlikely they will see this, but if you are under warranty, I'd delete this post.

 

....did you leave out a huge part of the story or was that a hangover blur??

 

Negative - I've done plenty of mild off-roading with it, but nothing beyond what it should be capable of. I've never even gotten it stuck, nor forded water more than halfway up the tires. It's mostly spent a lot of time on dirt roads.

 

The transfer case breather comes up into the engine bay IIRC. It is certainly much higher than the rear diff one. There is no reason for your transfer case to be full of mud. But at least they are fixing it.

 

Update! Apparently there was a miscommunication - the transfer case was dusty but not actually full of mud. They replaced it... And the light is still flashing like before.

Any ideas what the issue might be? The techs at the dealership are baffled for now.

 

After that line of crap, you ought to complain to corporate. It’s in the manual that on the fly is ok, you will probably have to fight to get your money back.

 

Since they're tossing parts at it, tell them to slap in a new engine, transmission, ADD, ECU, and 4x4 computer. That'll take care of it!

@BigWhiteTRD is the man with all the deep dives he has done into the 4wd system. He might have a better idea?

He did have a good post above!