In and out of Low Range

[techrat]

Transfer Case Problem - Sticking in 4L

I just recently picked up a 92 SR5 3.0 Auto and really like it. I have put a couple of thousand of miles in the last few months just back and forth to work. I have had good luck so far except for one minor annoyance.

It seems as though the transfer case must be going in and out of low range without the lever ever being moved. It tends to happen when the air temp. is cold and the car hasnt been warmed up.

The typical scenario is that I will not have enough time to warm it up in the morning, hop in and take off up the road. It will shift through all 4 gears but winding out in o/d at 40 MPH/ 4000 RPM.

The typical "fix" will be to stop and back up a ways, and this will often "pop it out" of low range and I am good for the rest of the ride.

It has never gone into low range while moving or even after starting off in high range. It seems to be related to cold air temps (under 40F) and the engine not being warmed up.

It seems a bit strange to me and I suppose that I really need to look at the linkage but somehow don't thing that it is the linkage.

Any Ideas on this?

 

[fourwd1]

Re: Transfer Case Problem - Sticking in 4L

... The typical scenario is that I will not have enough time to warm it up in the morning, hop in and take off up the road. It will shift through all 4 gears but winding out in o/d at 40 MPH/ 4000 RPM.

If you are in LOW range, why would you even let it get to 2nd gear, much less all the way into O/D, before stopping to put it in HIGH ?

Is the 4WD indicator on?

 

[techrat]

If you are in LOW range, why would you even let it get to 2nd gear, much less all the way into O/D, before stopping to put it in HIGH ?

I typically will stop as soon as I have determined that the transfer case has "put itself" in 4Low.

I had mentioned the fact that it will shift through all of the gears to demonstrate that I am not experiencing a problem with the transmission itself.

The issue of stopping to "put it in HIGH" is where it gets tricky. Keep in mind that the transfer case lever is not being set in to low range. All of the symptoms occur with the transfer case lever in 2H.

So that is the real problem.... The transfer case is shifting into low range while the lever is still in 2H.

Lastly, the only way to get it out of low range is to back the car up quite a ways and I can actually feel the transfer case shift into high range. Again, with the transfer case lever remaining in 2H the whole time.

I will continue to appreciate any insight on this issue.

Thanks- Jeff

 

[bassplayer62]

I thought I was alone on this issue. My 94 does the same thing on cold mornings. I live in the mountains at the 5000ft level. Really freaky. I will try the backing up thing. Usually it goes back into 2H after it warms up a bit. I have a steep icy road to go down in the morning, so it actually helps, but it does cause me some concern.