What Happened????

Slick50 · 05-11-2004, 08:00 PM

Has anyone had this happen with their Titan? I was driving in 2WD going about 25 MPH and turned the 4WD knob to "4H" (no, I did not push in and turn the knob to 4L). The truck then jerked and made some aweful grinding sounds. I turned the knob back to 2WD, but it would not shift back. I drove the last 1/4 mile to my driveway, desparate that the transfer case was going to fall apart. This sucks big time. Any ideas as to what may have gone wrong. I am contacting the dealer tomorrow. I only have 550 miles on the truck. Very deppressing.
slick50

tnbowhunter · 05-11-2004, 08:34 PM

sounds to me it was trying to go into 4lo.
did you ever get it out of 4 wheel drive?

Slick50 · 05-11-2004, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnbowhunter

sounds to me it was trying to go into 4lo.
did you ever get it out of 4 wheel drive?

Yes, after I went into the house to calm down and read the manual--I went back, started it up, put it neutral, and turned the knob back and forth from 4H to 2WD. The 4H light went out, and I back it up some in the driveway and then forward. The front wheels icon on the dash was flashing at first, but then it went out. Now, all dash lights are as they should be.

Yes, I think you are right, it may have been trying to go into 4L, which must be engaged only from a dead stop. I got under the truck--no fluids (except the A/C condensate). Maybe the wiring at the switch or something. I surely hope there is no damage. This is very strange.

bestatchess · 05-11-2004, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slick50

Yes, after I went into the house to calm down and read the manual--I went back, started it up, put it neutral, and turned the knob back and forth from 4H to 2WD. The 4H light went out, and I back it up some in the driveway and then forward. The front wheels icon on the dash was flashing at first, but then it went out. Now, all dash lights are as they should be.

Yes, I think you are right, it may have been trying to go into 4L, which must be engaged only from a dead stop. I got under the truck--no fluids (except the A/C condensate). Maybe the wiring at the switch or something. I surely hope there is no damage. This is very strange.

Definitely sounds like it went into 4LO. There is a TSB on a transmission switch that causes 4LO to flash even when in 2WD. I wonder if this could be related.

TrojanDan · 05-11-2004, 10:36 PM

Probably a stupid question, but what kind of surface were you driving on? Sounds to me too like it went into 4lo, or tried to. Hope the stealer has good news for you when you take it to them.

Slick50 · 05-12-2004, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrojanDan

Probably a stupid question, but what kind of surface were you driving on? Sounds to me too like it went into 4lo, or tried to. Hope the stealer has good news for you when you take it to them.

I was driving on pavement with my family in the truck, had just made the turn, going 25 MPH when I switched it 4H. Then the jerking, grinding noise and I immediately returned the knob to 2WD, but it did not respond. Made it to my driveway (1/4 mile away), read the manual, set the trans in neutral and switched it back and forth again. This time the dash lights returned to "normal", i.e., 2WD and the dash wheel icon showed 2WD.

This morning I drove to work and realized that even though the switch is in 2WD mode, and the dash icon shows 2WD--the truck is driving in 4WD. I kept it under 60 MPH, and am making an appointment with the dealer. Wish me luck!
slick50

GB Titan · 05-12-2004, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slick50

I was driving on pavement with my family in the truck, had just made the turn, going 25 MPH when I switched it 4H. Then the jerking, grinding noise and I immediately returned the knob to 2WD, but it did not respond. Made it to my driveway (1/4 mile away), read the manual, set the trans in neutral and switched it back and forth again. This time the dash lights returned to "normal", i.e., 2WD and the dash wheel icon showed 2WD.

This morning I drove to work and realized that even though the switch is in 2WD mode, and the dash icon shows 2WD--the truck is driving in 4WD. I kept it under 60 MPH, and am making an appointment with the dealer. Wish me luck!
slick50

Since the switch and dash icon show that its in 2WD, how do you know that its driving in 4WD? Perhaps the grinding sound when switching into 4WD was caused from engaging it on pavement. 4WD is meant for engagment on loss surfaces only.

Slick50 · 05-12-2004, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GB Titan

Since the switch and dash icon show that its in 2WD, how do you know that its driving in 4WD? Perhaps the grinding sound when switching into 4WD was caused from engaging it on pavement. 4WD is meant for engagment on loss surfaces only.

Good question. I don't know for sure. But it definitely feels like it is in 4WD. My sense is that it is slightly sluggish and slightly resistive to accelleration, as happens in 4WD. It definitely does not drive as "freely" as it did yesterday.
slick50

FLfinfan · 05-12-2004, 07:36 AM

I know we are suppossed to be able to "shift on the fly" into 4WH, but I never trust that assertion on any vehicle. I always stop, shift into neutral, and then engage the 4WD. I have always done it this way and probably always will. Just don't trust it any other way. Also, some times you have to back up a couple of feet to get the 4WD to disengage. Some Frontiers have had to get their auto locking hubs replaced by the dealer in the past.

**chieflikalotapus** · 05-12-2004, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slick50

Has anyone had this happen with their Titan? I was driving in 2WD going about 25 MPH and turned the 4WD knob to "4H" (no, I did not push in and turn the knob to 4L). The truck then jerked and made some aweful grinding sounds. I turned the knob back to 2WD, but it would not shift back. I drove the last 1/4 mile to my driveway, desparate that the transfer case was going to fall apart. This sucks big time. Any ideas as to what may have gone wrong. I am contacting the dealer tomorrow. I only have 550 miles on the truck. Very deppressing.
slick50

what i would advise from now on is putting your truck in nuetral first befor switching to 4wd

SupraTitan · 05-12-2004, 09:41 AM

I kinda had an issue with 4wd the other day, came to a stop, put in nuetral went into 4 wheel lo, made a clunk(which seemed normal but something i would expect from a domestic truck) 4wd worked fine also it automatically turned vdc off, came to a stop, put it in neutral put the knob back to 2wd, 4 wheel light would not go out, vdc returned to on, axle display totally disappeared but the truck was in 2 wheel drive with the 4 wd light still lit. Shut the truck off and restarted, same thing said F it and continued on, made a stop, truck sat off for 5 min. restarted and everything was fine.

TrojanDan · 05-12-2004, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slick50

I was driving on pavement with my family in the truck, had just made the turn, going 25 MPH when I switched it 4H. Then the jerking, grinding noise and I immediately returned the knob to 2WD, but it did not respond. Made it to my driveway (1/4 mile away), read the manual, set the trans in neutral and switched it back and forth again. This time the dash lights returned to "normal", i.e., 2WD and the dash wheel icon showed 2WD.

This morning I drove to work and realized that even though the switch is in 2WD mode, and the dash icon shows 2WD--the truck is driving in 4WD. I kept it under 60 MPH, and am making an appointment with the dealer. Wish me luck!
slick50

Well that might be one of your problems. Unless that pavement was covered with ice or big puddles, you should NEVER, especially goin that fast, switch into 4wd or even use it on dry pavement. That alone will screw your system up. That clunking could be because the wheels had no opportunity to slip. That coupled w/a system that didn't fully engage to 4hi, or that was tryin to to into 4lo could be the cause of your problem. In the future, never go into 4hi on any kind of pavement unless its really covered with some sort of slipperty surface. Goin around a corner could really damage your system on pavement too.

Slick50 · 05-12-2004, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrojanDan

Well that might be one of your problems. Unless that pavement was covered with ice or big puddles, you should NEVER, especially goin that fast, switch into 4wd or even use it on dry pavement. That alone will screw your system up. That clunking could be because the wheels had no opportunity to slip. That coupled w/a system that didn't fully engage to 4hi, or that was tryin to to into 4lo could be the cause of your problem. In the future, never go into 4hi on any kind of pavement unless its really covered with some sort of slipperty surface. Goin around a corner could really damage your system on pavement too.

You know, I get the message now. However, one of the selling points made to me when I bought the thing was how you could "shift-on-the-fly". During my test drives (and I had several) everyone of the salesman turned the knob to 4H with no negative consequences. Also, 25 MPH is not fast. But, I will never do it again! Unfortunately, the dealer can't take me until Friday morning, and I have to get to work, so I must drive with the truck acting like it is in 4wd, and not go over 60 MPH. I hope this is not going to screw it up even more.

slick50

Dude · 05-12-2004, 03:12 PM

I have shifted to 4H on the fly going down the road at speeds up to 45-50 mph on pavement. I made sure I was driving straight and not turning. I do this every so often to make sure the front gears get some lubrication as I don't go offroad too often. Oh yah, I have had no problems and have not felt or heard anything unusual. The display has worked perfectly. I have yet to try 4LO.

tnbowhunter · 05-12-2004, 03:44 PM

yea yea, I know you shouldn't do it, but about every other week or so I put it in 4 hi for a few miles. I just make sure that I am going straight and that it is in high gear and below 40 mph. I have done this with my last two trucks that were 4x4's one a "shudder" dodge and the truck I traded for the Titan a toyota. I have never had any problems.
Slick one way you can tell if it is in four wheel drive, if you try to turn in a tight circle, like in a parking lot you will notice that it will be difficult to turn and you will definately hear the front tires grabbing. A dodge that I had once was difficult to get out of 4 wheel drive but as soon as I pulled into
the parking lot I could tell a difference.
Hope you get the problem taken care of soon.