Shop Discount Transfer Case Motors

Hi - hoping someone will have an idea about this issue because my service tech is stumped and we're frustrated and wanting to plan a road trip...

my husband and I have an 07 Commanderhttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/mag-glass_10x10.gif Limited Hemi 4X4, purchased new, not driven on a daily basis, has about 22,000 miles

with a cold start (been sitting overnight), there's a vibration/noise that happens when the vehicle starts to move, either in reverse or forward, seems to possibly start/worsen as you turn (ie. exiting a parking space or our driveway), goes away very quickly and won't come back unless the vehicle sits for a long time - it feels a little like the ABS is catching - there's a grinding/hesitating/bumpy feel to the vibration

we've driven it to the dealership and it won't replicate unless it sits for 24 to 48 hours - we drove it in on a Wed. morning and let it sit until Friday morning, then went up and drove it, got it to do this once when the service guy and a tech were in the car (for all of about 5 seconds that time but at least they no longer think we're crazy) - the tech thought it was the transfer case motor, unplugged it and it didn't do it so they replaced it and it didn't do it - we picked it up, drove it home, went to drive it two days later, and same thing happened - the dealership never let it sit long enough to replicate and assumed it was fixed - no change in the issue at all

we took it back and they visually inspected the brake system, checked fittings, etc., then let it sit overnight, didn't do it, sent it to be detailed, didn't do it, drove it again and didn't do it, we picked it up and it sat three days, did it

they ran diagnostic and nothing showed up, there's never been a check engine light on...it seemed that when it first started, it lasted a couple of seconds (only long enough to wonder if you felt something and then it was gone and wouldn't do it again that day), then it slowly progressed over months (we sometimes don't even drive it in a week, especially this winter) - it started lasting the first 1/4 mile or so driven so we worried it was something progressing to a serious issue and finally took it to the dealership and have been fighting it ever since - heat of the summer may have lessened it because while it's been hotter out, it lasts a few seconds instead of the first minute or two it seemed to be lasting while it was cooler out but I recently parked it on a very hot day at work on an upward incline (about 25-30 degree incline) and when I left for lunch (usually not sitting long enough to duplicate) it did it as I rolled down and turned to exit my parking space and continued for the 1/4 to 1/2 mile that day

we're unsure about what the issue may be - anyone else experienced this?

Well I don't see too many Commanders, so I haven't seen this exact problem but it does sound a little like a steering problem I've seen on newer low mileage Caravans....

The Carvans have a low speed & stopped shudder problem. The is a TSB for it, where the p/s hp line is replaced with a longer one & cooler installed if there isn't already one. I also flush the system. This problem does last longer than the one you are describing but just you mentioning it gets worse when turning I would want to rule it out as a possible cause..... I'm sure they must of looked at it....

I'm away from my data base, so I can't see if the Commanders have any TSBs for this problem but I would look in to it.....

That's about the only thing the pops into my mind at the moment

Thanks for the idea, Sidom - I'm trying to pass along as many ideas as I can to the dealership when I take it back in this week

they said that they'd checked for any bulletins on my issue but didn't find anything that seemed to apply - I will print your response and take it with me :-)

I'm not sure they've thought of a power steering related problem - I think they've all been standing around with their cup of coffee and scratching their heads...

any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated

I have a 97 f150 with a big problem. I thought my transfer case motor was bad so I replaced it. After installing it I put it in four wheel drive and it went into it but hard. Now it will not come out of it. I disconnected the wires that go to it and the light went out but still felt like it was stuck in 4x4. Drove it less than 300 yards to see if it would disengage and it still felt like it was engaged than the truck started making a beeping noise what should I do

You should have the GEM scanned to see what trouble codes it may be storing. Need a high end scan tool interface the GEM.

I finally got the truck to shift into 4 wheel high so that's a start. I tried park,neutral, all gear, forward, and reverse just don't want to go into 2 wheel drive. What else can I try? Any suggestions?

I have a 2000 Chevy blazer 4.3 and the 4wd does not work I have replaced the tccm and it want shift into 4wd but when I try to put it in 4wd the light just blinks but nothing happens and when I push the 2wd the tccm clicks like it shifted from 4wd to 2wd but it never shifted into 4wd what can I do to get it working again. I have no lights blinking or any thing that makes it look like something going wrong PLEASE HELP

The encoder motor is the transfer case motor bolted to the transfer case, the switch on the dash goes bad as well. Gary

Greetings,
So this winter I discovered to my dismay that my 4wd would only randomly work on my Mazda truck. Off and on I would turn the switch to the 4wd position and it would the vast majority of the time have the vehicle remain in 2wd. Any input on this issue would be vastly appreciated; my initial thoughts go towards a leak in the vacuum line.

I believe that your truck doesn't use vacuum to engage the front end. The Ford Ranger and Mazda of that year had the automatic locking hub system that would engage the front axles to the hubs when the transfer case applied torque to the front drive shaft. Often times on those the locking hub on one side would grind or not engage causing no four wheel drive.

Does your transfer case lock the front drive shaft to the rear drive shaft when the four wheel drive doesn't work?

If the transfer case motor runs and the transfer case locks the front and rear drive shafts together, but you still don't have 4wd, you need to inspect the hubs.

If the drive shaft doesn't lock, you either have a mechanical problem in the transfer case or an electrical problem with the transfer case shift system. The GEM controls the functions of the 4wd and does store codes if there is a problem in the system. You may need to have the GEM scanned if you find that you have an electrical issue.