transfer case works in low but not in high

[garyra8668]

i have a 93 xlt 4x4 automatic. i can get the thing to drive in low 4x4 but not in high, either 2 or 4 wheel drive. the 4x4 and low gear lights and push buttons work like they should. could this be a shift motor problem, or something else? all the other threads i read on here have the oppsite problem that i have, they can't get into 4x4 low. i can't get it to move in 2 hi or 4 hi.

 

[nexis]

If your push the buttons, and the lights go off but it stays in 4 low, i would suspect you have a problem inside your transfer case Pull the sift motor off, and see if you can turn the shaft with a pair of pliers, if it spins freely, you need a new transfer case.

 

[garyra8668]

it doesn't stay in low when the lights go off. it's like it goes into neutral. it works like it should in 4 low. the tranny doesn't ingauge in 2 hi or 4 hi.

 

[MrShorty]

Are you sure it is a transfer case issue and not a transmission issue? From the way you've described it, it sounds more to me like the transmission is slipping/not engaging rather than something in the transfer case.

 

[garyra8668]

the tranny shifts fine in 4 wheel low.

 

[DeRocha]

the tranny shifts fine in 4 wheel low.

But how does the vehicle drive in 2x4 at all speeds? Does the transmission give you any hesitation?

 

[MrShorty]

the tranny shifts fine in 4 wheel low.

I once drove an old Toyota with a bad clutch. One interesting observation was that the clutch only slipped in 2H/4H. In 4L, the clutch didn't slip because the gear reduction in the t-case made it easier to move and the clutch didn't slip. The hypothesis behind my post was similar -- the transmission slips such that not enough torque is getting through the transmission to move the truck in H, but, with the gear reduction in the tcase, there is enough torque getting through in L.

1st test (I knew there should be something): If a transfer case is stuck in N (or otherwise acting like it is in N), then the park (P) position of the transmission will likewise have no effect. Do this carefully -- I don't want to hear that you accidently pushed it into a ditch or something. Put the tcase in 2H and the transmission in P and push. If you can't push it; if it is obviously in P, then the transfer case is properly engaged and the problem is probably in the transmission. If you can push it like it is in N, then something is wrong in the tcase or farther.

 

[garyra8668]

in 2H, in park, it does roll freely. i haven't had a chance to put it on the lift yet, but i'm thinking shift motor.

 

[MrShorty]

That does sound like a t-case issue. Shift motor would be the first thing I would suspect. Pull the shift motor off and see if you can rotate the shaft to 4H/2H with a pair of pliers. If you can get the tcase to shift manually, then it's almost certainly a shift motor issue.