Multiple problems; Help Needed

[guardiola]

I own a 2003 V8 limited with 127173 miles on it.

No matter what I do it wont go into overdrive and it is permanently stuck in L4, I have gone through possibly all threads here to see hints as to what to do.

Also is the problem of poor mileage 11.9mpg at best.

I am frustrated daily, please help

 

[Bossman]

The mileage that you are getting does seem low compared to my experiences with my 03 Limited 4WD V8. I get about 16-18 in town depending on outside temperature (lower mpg in the cold winters).

Things that you can look into for excessive fuel consumption would be (1) dirty or clogged air filter element (2) incorrect tire size (3) dirty or clogged fuel injectors (4) dragging brakes.

Air filter is easy to check, and replace if necessary.

Tire size (and incorrect tire pressure) will impact as well. I run my tires at 32 psi.

A fuel injector cleaner (added to your gas at fill-up) or service may help as well.

The T4Rs are known to have issues with seized front brake calipers.

Hope you get that mileage up a bit with an easy fix.

 

[vvs75]

Tell us in details what have you tried to unstuck L4.

 

[bigwebb83]

sounds like the actuator. try repeatedly cycling it back and forth. do you hear any noise when you turn the switch?

 

[DaveS]

Tell us in details what have you tried to unstuck L4.

^^^ this. What are you doing while switching back to H4?

Your mileage won't get any better if you are stuck in L4 - I am amazed you are getting that! I would stop driving it onroad before you damage the drivetrain - L4 really is designed for low speed driving off-road or to get you through extreme winter conditions or get you unstuck. I don't even know if there is an overdrive in L4 by the way.

How cold is it where you are right now? There is a slim chance things might free up with warmer weather.

 

[chaz]

does the light keep blinking? can u lock the center diff? besides the actuator, it could also be the 4wd control module (check for loose/damaged wires) u could also try unplugging/replugging it. the 4wd switch itself could be bad.

 

[guardiola]

Thank you all for your comments and particularly @chaz who earlier on directed me to a a thread on stuck L4.

I have tried a lot of things, like jacking up the four wheels; reversing while trying to put it in H4; Cleaned the injectors; replaced the airfilter (not the MAF yet); knocked on the actuator under the vehicle but I am yet to try unplugging/replugging the 4wd control module.

Yes, the center diff seems to lock when i depress the button and the light comes on, flashing for a while and becomes stable.

Ever since I noticed this, I have been careful not to speed the car up, I always do around 45mph at most and I also noticed that overdrive has not been achieved since.

Repeated cycling between L4 and H4 gives no sound coming from the tranny or the actuator just the endless beeps when I put it in H4.

I just wish for a miracle, something to take this nightmare away; I am always apprehensive driving the car since for the fear of major damage happening.

Once again thank you all and I will be more than willing to try out suggestions within my limits

 

[guardiola]

bump

 

[guardiola]

stuck actuator

I have been looking for any thread on how to fix a stuck 4WD Hi-Lo actuator.

Mine has been stuck in Lo and any attempt to put it in Hi is met with this disturbing beeps.

Please anyone with clue on how to fix this will be appreciated as this is telling seriously on my fuel consumption as the overdrive is no longer available and the stress on the transmission I cannot but pity the poor thing.

 

[Jeff T]

Don't tell us you have been driving this thing 6 months like this without thinking of taking it to the dealer?

All the coin you spent on gas would have at least paid for a pro to take a look.

 

[guardiola]

It has been sitting in the garage mostly since then. I'm just not comfortable having a unique problem that seems to be with just my vehicle, dont want to be the guinea pig.

I really want to know what has been done to fix this kind of problem; hence my quest for anyone who has any idea of what I am going through here

 

[DC runner]

Unless you have a full service garage to work on yourself, you really should take it to the dealer. I say this as a man who does all his own work. Some things just need to be diagnosed by someone with training and the tools.

Being stuck in L4 could mean a bunch of things, one of them being a bad or frozen actuator. At least get it into them to diagnose.

We can spitball with you all night long, but in reality hands on inspection is what you need. I have only ever heard of it being UNABLE to go into L4. Being stuck in L4 sounds like something mechanical is messed up...

Take it in. Let them look, go from there.

 

[settytb]

I'm seriously wondering about the beeps that you are reporting. In order to go into/out of 4lo you NEED to be in neutral, nothing else will work including park. So, Just sit in neutral or a very slow roll in neutral and shift from 4lo to 4hi. And it should go away. If you are in drive/reverse/park it will just beep and nothing will happen.

 

[ErikU]

If that's what it turns out to be.. .. well.. just.. wow.

 

[ur7x]

I'm seriously wondering about the beeps that you are reporting. In order to go into/out of 4lo you NEED to be in neutral, nothing else will work including park. So, Just sit in neutral or a very slow roll in neutral and shift from 4lo to 4hi. And it should go away. If you are in drive/reverse/park it will just beep and nothing will happen.

I was going to post this.... But didn't have the guts to do so... You would think though... he managed to get it into 4L he must have put it in N then...