How to get transfer case to Neutral

[Terry Jay]

A 2012 with 4 position electronic transfer case. The Neutral button is there and the light flashes. How do I get the Transfer Case into Neutral for towing? Have tried pushing the button while engine on in both neutral and drive, with no result.

 

[SnoKing]

A 2012 with 4 position electronic transfer case. The Neutral button is there and the light flashes. How do I get the Transfer Case into Neutral for towing? Have tried pushing the button while engine on in both neutral and drive, with no result.

What does your owners manual say? SNOKING

 

[Terry Jay]

What does your owners manual say? SNOKING

It tells how to shift from 2wd to 4h or 4l, NADA about going to Neutral, except to note the button. Sometimes it wants Drive at low speed, sometimes Neutral, but nothing about putting the transfer case in Neutral for towing.

 

[Kirwin]

Look in the owners manual under recreational towing.

 

[Kirwin]

Be sure to read the notes and cautions on the page but basically:

From the owners manual page 572-574
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop. Shift automatic transmission into PARK.
2. Turn OFF the engine.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the ON/RUN position, but do not start the engine.
4. Press and hold the brake pedal.
5. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
6. Press and hold the transfer case NEUTRAL button (located by the selector switch). The NEUTRAL indicatorlight will blink while the shift is in progress. The light will stop blinking (stay on solid) when the shift to NEUTRAL is complete.
7. After the shift is completed and the NEUTRAL light stays on, release the NEUTRAL button.
8. Start the engine.
9. Shift the transmission into REVERSE.
10. Release the brake pedal for five seconds and ensure that there is no vehicle movement.
11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 with transmission in DRIVE.
12. Turn OFF the engine.
13. Firmly apply the parking brake.
14. Shift the transmission into PARK
15. Remove the key fob from the ignition switch.
16. Attach the vehicle to the tow vehicle using a suitable tow bar.
17. Release the parking brake.

 

[Mikey-KE7LBB]

Be sure to read the notes and cautions on the page but basically:

From the owners manual page 572-574
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop. Shift automatic transmission into PARK.
2. Turn OFF the engine.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the ON/RUN position, but do not start the engine.
4. Press and hold the brake pedal.
5. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
6. Press and hold the transfer case NEUTRAL button (located by the selector switch). The NEUTRAL indicatorlight will blink while the shift is in progress. The light will stop blinking (stay on solid) when the shift to NEUTRAL is complete.
7. After the shift is completed and the NEUTRAL light stays on, release the NEUTRAL button.
8. Start the engine.
9. Shift the transmission into REVERSE.
10. Release the brake pedal for five seconds and ensure that there is no vehicle movement.
11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 with transmission in DRIVE.
12. Turn OFF the engine.
13. Firmly apply the parking brake.
14. Shift the transmission into PARK
15. Remove the key fob from the ignition switch.
16. Attach the vehicle to the tow vehicle using a suitable tow bar.
17. Release the parking brake.

What ever happened to the manual lever?? It was way easier back in the day when you could just move the thing sticking out of the floor and simply let out the clutch or shift AT into any gear?? If it doesn't move, you are good to go.

 

[Kirwin]

What ever happened to the manual lever?? It was way easier back in the day when you could just move the thing sticking out of the floor and simply let out the clutch or shift AT into any gear?? If it doesn't move, you are good to go.

It is in the same place. Procedure is different obviously.

 

[Terry Jay]

Be sure to read the notes and cautions on the page but basically:

From the owners manual page 572-574
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop. Shift automatic transmission into PARK.
2. Turn OFF the engine.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the ON/RUN position, but do not start the engine.
4. Press and hold the brake pedal.
5. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
6. Press and hold the transfer case NEUTRAL button (located by the selector switch). The NEUTRAL indicatorlight will blink while the shift is in progress. The light will stop blinking (stay on solid) when the shift to NEUTRAL is complete.
7. After the shift is completed and the NEUTRAL light stays on, release the NEUTRAL button.
8. Start the engine.
9. Shift the transmission into REVERSE.
10. Release the brake pedal for five seconds and ensure that there is no vehicle movement.
11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 with transmission in DRIVE.
12. Turn OFF the engine.
13. Firmly apply the parking brake.
14. Shift the transmission into PARK
15. Remove the key fob from the ignition switch.
16. Attach the vehicle to the tow vehicle using a suitable tow bar.
17. Release the parking brake.

Thank you very much. I was looking in the documents that came with the truck, a thin glossy book. I downloaded the complete manual, did not realize it was out there. Your help is very much appreciated.

 

[CMB]

Interesting- Does the engine need to be off to shift the transmission into park from neutral while the t-case is in neutral? If you can't or shouldn't shift into park while running can someone explain why? Does the transmission rely back pressure from the wheels not moving to shift into park?

Thanks,

 

[KCJackson1]

What ever happened to the manual lever?? It was way easier back in the day when you could just move the thing sticking out of the floor and simply let out the clutch or shift AT into any gear?? If it doesn't move, you are good to go.

Only the Tradesman and Power Wagon have floor-shift transfer cases. SLT and up are all dash dials.

 

[Newsa]

What ever happened to the manual lever?? It was way easier back in the day when you could just move the thing sticking out of the floor and simply let out the clutch or shift AT into any gear?? If it doesn't move, you are good to go.

Manual lever works great and is my preference over the dial selector

 

[Kirwin]

I think the reason for shutting off the engine is the transmission output shaft will spin even with the transmission in neutral due to drag in the transmission. With the transfer case in neutral, the drive line is not connected to the transmission which of course would normally hold the output shaft still. If you keep the engine running and just shift into park after placing the transfer case in neutral the parking pawl engages with the output shaft turning, and you don't want that. That's like jamming it into park with the vehicle moving. Except of course the vehicle motion puts a lot more force on the pawl.

Interesting- Does the engine need to be off to shift the transmission into park from neutral while the t-case is in neutral? If you can't or shouldn't shift into park while running can someone explain why? Does the transmission rely back pressure from the wheels not moving to shift into park?

Thanks,

 

[CMB]

WOW-point well received. I attempted this and heard something that didn't sound to good. I really hope I didn't hurt anything. As soon as I heard (and felt) the contentious sound I stopped. The service 4WD light came on. I shut the truck off said a quick prayer then restarted the engine and all is well. I'll be changing the trans fluid soon so I guess we'll see how much damage I really did.

...........Do you think I hurt it???

Thanks for letting me borough your post

 

[Kirwin]

WOW-point well received. I attempted this and heard something that didn't sound to good. I really hope I didn't hurt anything. As soon as I heard (and felt) the contentious sound I stopped. The service 4WD light came on. I shut the truck off said a quick prayer then restarted the engine and all is well. I'll be changing the trans fluid soon so I guess we'll see how much damage I really did.

...........Do you think I hurt it???

Thanks for letting me borough your post

I don't think you hurt anything. Experience is a good teacher! Others have done it I assure you!