Hey guys - I am hoping I can get some info to help diagnose my 4x4 issue. I have had problems with shifting in and out of 4x4, sometimes it will shift into 4H or 4L with no problem but shifting back to 2WD is almost impossible. Other times I can shift into 4H but not 4L or vice versa. But I always have trouble shifting back to 2WD. The dashboard lights seem to be screwy as well, they will say I am in 4x4 but I am not. Sometimes it will say shift can not be completed pull forward, as soon as I try to pull forward I am unable to as if the truck is in Neutral but I am actually in Drive. It will then try to shift but then I hear an awful grinding noise, I am assuming that is because I tried to pull forward and the drive shaft was spinning but I actually hadnt moved at all and that is just the gears not meshing properly. I feel as though this is an electronic problem due to the fact that once I am in 4x4 everything works as if it just came out of the factory. It is just shifting in and out thats the problem. I am familiar with the mechanical side of the 4x4 but not the electronic side. I know there is the switch which talks to the control module. At that point does the control module send a signal to any relays that control the transfer case motor or does the control module control the TC motor directly? What tests can I perform to see which part is bad?

Truck is a 2014 XLT Offroad. Thank you for any help.

 

Its probably an iwe issue

 

I have already checked the vacuum system and both IWE’s are working properly.

I feel like this is an electrical problem and whatever the problem is, it is not allowing the 4x4 to shift properly. My thoughts are either the TCCM, transfer case motor, or a fuse/relay. I check fuses last night and all were good. Are there any true relays for the 2014’s? I checked every fuse the manual listed and none were relays.

 

If it's going into neutral that sounds more like a transfer case issue instead of an IWE issue.

 

I tend to agree. Could be the shift motor or something inside. I'd check the fluid level, then drain it to see if there is any containment in the fluid like metal shavings and see if you can see anything through the drain hole.

 

Makes sense. So this happened back last winter when I was hunting. I put it into 4x4 drove about 2 miles on an extremely muddy road. Got onto some grass and tried to put it back to o 2wd and that’s when everything started happening. What are the chances the transfer case motor could have been damaged?

I changed the fluid a while back and did not notice any metal shavings and tried to look in as best I could but nothing out of the ordinary. I guess I will try swapping out the transfer case motor and see if that is it. I’m trying to do as much as I can without taking it to a shop since that will be extremely expensive.

 

Not sure that would have damaged the motor. Maybe if it got covered or completely submerged. They could be a sealed motor so that may not be the issue. With that last bite of information, make sure all the electrical connections are tight. I would also pull the connectors off of the motor and make sure they are clean. Maybe the connector the motor got corroded/dirty and that is your only issue. I hope it will be that easy. If you have a helper, you could switch from 2WD to 4WD to see, feel and hear if the motor is smooth, etc.

 

I will take a look at all the electrical connections, hopefully it is as simple as that. I'm just hoping that is not in the transfer case itself. I did read somewhere that if the 4x4 doesn't get used often the TC motors tend to have a higher failure rate than normal. Not sure if that is true at all or not.

 

I've heard that also but, I don't for a fact how true or false that is. Some guys says you should exercise it frequently and others will say it's not needed. Me, I do it to make sure it still works for the off chance I may need it.

 

So checked all of the electrical. Did not see any obvious damage to the wiring or connectors, I did do some cleanup. But the problem is still there. I keep getting more nervous to keep testing it with the way it makes noise when trying to shift. Any ideas on what to check next? TC motors are fairly inexpensive so is it worth changing out to see if thats the problem or is there another step to take before that.