I have read all the 4x4 threads on here and still have a ?. I have 2hi, 4hi, N, 2low on the shifter. part time 4x4 light on the dash. When I am in 4hi and take it slow it works fine, But when starting off or like yesterday when I stopped in a small drift outback, I give it gas to fast or punch it to get out of the drift, the only tires spinning are the back ones. So my ? is, is the 4x4 working right, or is there a bigger problem? This is my first Durango and only my second dodge (first one was a 84 ram charger) ony have had the durango for 2 months and am the third owner. Any help would be great.

 

sounds to me like the 4x4 isnt engaging bc you should have an even split of power to front and back wheels when the 4x4 is engaged, but if you are drifting with it you are not going to succeed with the 4x4 engaged the front wheels will pull you out of it before it becomes a problem

check the linkage btwn the shifter and the t-case underneath, it could be as simple as that popped off causing it to not engage

 

Also, not all the tires are going to spin in 4wd...

 

I guess i need to crawl under and look at the linkage. thanks for the help

 

true, but he should have one front and one rear spinning no?(assuming he is not moving, and does not have a lsd in it)

 

You have a NV231 Transfer Case.

This is a manual transfer case engagement. Therefore, if you are putting it into 4X4 then no torque is going to the front you have a problem.

1. The shifting linkage is not adjusted correctly or damaged/missing.
2. A broken chain inside.


Only the NV242HD Part Time Case can only spin the rear wheels or front. Also this can happen in the R/T case (NV244).



Lastly, the Part Time light that you see on the dash is for the NV242HD case. They used the same instrument cluster. If the NV242HD case is used in production the light is used, if the NV231 case was used they didn't use it but the window is still there.

 

the light on the dash is like this
4wd
part
time
when I shift the transfer into 4hi the light comes on.
Is this wrong?

 

The light is working just fine. Ive got pretty much the same set up. the 4wd part time light comes on when its 4wd hi... same light for the 4wd low... dodge just used one interment cluster for all their durango's to keep costs low.. if the front wheel doesnt turn when thr light is on then you have a bigger issue.. does it bind when you take tight turns in 4wd???

 

^ Yep ^

 

Ok, after some work found that the transfer case and the shifting linkage are working fine. This only leaves the front hubs. What locks the front hubs in? I know that chevy uses an electric actuator, and they are junk. Does a durango use the same thing or something diffrent?