Hello all,

I have a 98 Durango that I was running in 4wd PT today, and after a while I had started to hear a popping noise with a studder as if gears were trying to shift. I wasn't sure if it was the road I was on, since the road was rough at spots (winter tearup). As I went and hit smoother roads, I noticed the noise at random. At one point I heard a growl as if it was out of gear. I then pulled off to the side and checked the tranny fluid, and the level seemed to be fine. I didn't see any fluid around on the ground either.

I then proceeded to go down thru the gears down to 4wd FT and then back up to 4wd PT, and finally 2wd. I started to go and got to around 30mph and heard the popping again, it still would do it at random even up to 45mph. I then pulled over and looked for fluids again, but didn't see anything. The growl would happen at random and I kept trying to push the shifter back to 2wd.

Anyone have an idea of what maybe causing this to happen? I had bought the vehicle not to long ago, and only ran it in 4wd once before. Otherwise as far as I know it may never have been ran in 4wd.

Forgot to add... its a 5.2L with auto tranny. 121k miles.

Any help/input is appreciated. Thank you ahead of time.

Does anyone have

 

well my first question is WHY WHERE YOU RUNNING IN 4WD part time ON DRY ROADS??????? that is very bad for the t-case and doing so for extended periods will cause damage, also is there fluid in the t-case??????? (they do NOT share a fluid reservoir)

are your tires the same size?, and also the 4wd part time is not meant to be used above (i THINK) 35 or 40 mph, it was designed for low tractions situations, so this makes sense

now we also need to know where on the truck this "popping noise" was coming from, front back, driver-side or passenger side??? a popping noise could be a very large number of things and where it is coming from will help us narrow it down

 

I was on roads that for the most part were snow covered because it was snowing at the time. And was the conditions caused it to be somewhat slick on the roads. There were dry/clear parts where it had drifted off.

I didn't know about the speed limitation, since the only thing I had to go by was the visor sticker that tells what the modes are for. But at the time I heard the noise I was doing a maximum of 40mph, and most of the total driving was below 40mph.

As for the transfer case having fluid. I haven't had a chance to look, since it was dark already. I was only about 7 miles from home when it first started a random pop. So I brought it home, and I have no garage so I didn't want to lay underneath it in the snow.

The popping noise is coming from the front driver side. And that is where I feel it jerk/studder when it pops.

Tires are all the same size. The only difference is that the passenger side front is a new tire. (Where I bought the truck from a few weeks ago had replaced that tire because it was bad. The others are all matching from the same time.)

Thanks for the response and help.

 

There wouldnt be too much of an issue with the tires unless the older tire i the front has way less than the new, but you may have a issue with the CV starting to go, but the mention of growling has me pointing to the differential (which is always live) or a bearing. Be safe, check the diff first... That goes, you go with it $$$$$

As you mentioned earlier ft/pt, you meant 4 high/4 low, not full time

 

The growling noise when it happens I notice that the shifter vibrates if that helps to define it. It would do it and it almost seems like it is slipped out of gear. I had read in the forums last night before going to bed, that to take it out of 4wd properly I should go into reverse for a bit? Would this cause this to happen? It is almost like it is wanting to switch between 2wd and 4wd when the pop happens.

Thanks again for the help.

 

Sharps NAILED it in his first post.


You hav a NV242HD transfer case. YOU NEVER USE 4PT ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN VERY SLIPPRY CONDITIONS PERIOD!

Most likely with axle bind you probably took out you transfer case or differentials. You only use 4FT for normal driving. Read the visor on the drivers side!

Transfer Case
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen-...ight=axle+bind


Read this!

 

Thank you for your help. I appreciate all the input. Definitely something learned from you all. Took it over to a friend of mine who is a mechanic and he checked it out. Looks to be a transfer case. Ended up that this friend and I have a mutual friend that is a mechanic, and his son was trained to rebuild transfer cases. So looks like I at least have someone that I know that will be handling it for me. I always thought that the 4wd PT was similiar to the Auto 4x4 found in SUV's like the blazer. So there was something else learned. Like I said thank you all again.

 

this could have been caused by running in ANY FORM of four wheel drive with that one tire being of a different size than the rest, so get ALL 4 TIRES REPLACED WITH THE RIGHT SIZE!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Sharp and Hydra,

I have been reading alot through the forums, and I have seen varying opinions. Overall in your opinion, is it safe to use the Durango in 4x4FT (HI) mode all the time? Once I get the t-case issue fixed, and put tires on it. I travel through 4 states, and alot of back roads, but also alot of highway where available.

In my blazers and jimmy's I have kept it in 4wd HI and driven everywhere with no issues. I didn't know if I would also be able to in the Durango given this has that 4wd PT gear in between 2wd and 4wd FT(HI). Generally if it stays dry out for a good period of time with no snow, or when I do use it at times in warm weather (generally use them in winter for work), I keep it in 2wd HI mode.

I have read about going into reverse and turning the wheel both ways to make sure I am out of the 4wd PT mode, when shifting back to 2wd mode, so I will definitely make sure to do that.

Any other advice would be appreciated since I am new to Durangos.

And thank you all for the help along the way.

 

From my experience, the D handles well in all kinds of weather conditions. The only time I use 4WD Hi or Lo is when the roads get very slippery or when I need to make it out of a parking spot which is snowed in. Other than that, I keep it in 2WD. BTW, I have 2WD as my regular setting. The 4WD Hi and Lo are temp for my tranny. I hope there wasn't too much damage from you being in 4WD PT.