Archived transfer case stuck in gear

[KHauglie]

recently needed to use four wheel drive, while engaging transfer case in 4 low it appears to be stuck and cannot take out of 4 low.



truck is 98. 5 with auto transmission, diesel of course

 

[Bfoot17]

Have you tried shifting gears with the truck rolling?

 

[Headlight]

You need to be moving slowly.

 

[dseabaugh]

Sometimes it just gets bound up tight . I sometimes have to back up or go forward and shift transmision into neutral and can usually shift transfercase out of gear. will not shift in drive or reverse. sometimes I need to be rolling slightly. Last truck was same way. If your automatic is good and tight and your engine idles around 900 or so like it should then it keeps a constant load on the tranfercase unless you shift into neutral. After idiot dealer worked on my pump they had idle around 600 and then there was no load on transfercase at idle and it could be shifted out in drive but low rpms caused other problems. hope this helps.

 

[Driver72]

Make sure you are on a surface which allows slipage of the tires. Running on pavement will cause what is known as torque lock which can lock up a transfer case big time. Get back on some snow/ice run for a ways and slip the tires. Something to try.



Never run further than needed on dry/bare roads.

 

[KHauglie]

Originally posted by KHauglie

recently needed to use four wheel drive, while engaging transfer case in 4 low it appears to be stuck and cannot take out of 4 low.



truck is 98. 5 with auto transmission, diesel of course

 

[dseabaugh]

Get it out??

 

[Loren]

There are several good suggestions here.



I also think that the transfer case is "bound up". This is a result of turning while in 4WD. In a turn, the front drive shaft is trying to turn more revolutions than the rear one, and since the two shafts are connected at the transfer case there is an uneven load created at the case. The gears are meshed with a high load on them and they won't release.



Two additional techniques that have worked for me is to drive the truck, preferably on a gravel road (or other slick surface) in a straight line for some distance. This allows the tires to slip enough to take the uneven load off the transfer case.



Another method that I have used is to stop the truck, set the brake, shut it off, and select neutral on the transmission. This will sometimes allow me to get the transfer case to shift, but the other method (driving in a straight line) is more reliable.



Let us know when it's out.



Good luck.



Loren

 

[mapswain]

Another method that can relieve a bind is to get a wheel up on a curb, or something so that the opposite one looses its contact with the road. This way the bind can be relieved. Jaclking up either end will also do the trick. Anything that will allow the driveshafts to unwind will allow the transfer case to shift freely.