Just bought this rig and the 4wd isnt working. The original owner said he rarely ever used the 4wd, but about once a year he would put it in and put a mile or so on it. He said the last time he went to do this, which was the end of last year, it didnt go into 4wd and the lights didnt even come on on the switch. Ive read alot of reviews on this and another durango forum about the issue, but did not find anything i would consider to be conclusive. does anyone have an idea what would cause this to happen?
Just to summarize the issue, no 4wd.
Symptoms:
No lights on switch
No 4wd engaging
no lights on dash indicating an issue


Is there a fuse for this or relay? Murphys law says it cant be as simple as the wire coming loose from the switch.

 

4.7l or 5.9L.

The 5.9L switch is an easy and inexpensive fix. The 4.7l switch... not so much.

IndyDurango

 

5.9L, what switch do you think it is?

 

i thought the dash switches where the same except for 4x4 being different from awd? (im guessing on what you mean by switch)

 

after reading more and more info online, it seems like no one has a clue in a solid diagnosis of this problem. But it also seems like everyone and their brother has the same issue.

 

I would check the electrical harness that plugs into the transfer case. Some seem to have corrosion at this plug so it doesn't create a clean connection and create the circuit. Make sure you have a clean (great) connection here 1st thing. Also check for power at the switch and out of it.

Second, here is more diagnostic procedures:

OPERATION
As the position of the selector switch varies, the
resistance between the Mode Sensor supply voltage
pin and the Mode Sensor output will vary. Hardware,
software, and calibrations within the Transfer Case
Control Module (TCCM) are provided that interpret
the selector switch resistance as given in the table
below: SELECTOR SWITCH INTERPRETATION
SELECTOR SWITCH INTERPRETATION
Step Resistance
Range (ohms)
Required
Interpretation
A <200 Shorted
B 400-700 NEUTRAL
C 1050-1450 4LO
D 1850-2300 4H
E 3050-5950 2WD/AWD
(Default)
F 9.5-12.5K In between
positions
G >15.5K Open
For resistances between the ranges B-E shown for
each valid position (T-Case NEUTRAL, 4LO, 4HI,
2WD/AWD), the TCCM may interpret the resistance
as:
² either of the neighboring valid positions.
² as an invalid fault position.

TRANSFER CASE - NV244 21 - 543
REAR RETAINER BUSHING AND SEAL (Continued)
For resistances between the ranges E and F shown
for AWD/2WD and in-between positions, the TCCM
may interpret the resistance as:
² the AWD/2WD position.
² an invalid fault position.
² a valid in-between position.
For resistances between the ranges F and G shown
for in-between positions and fault condition (open),
the TCCM may interpret the resistance as:
² a valid in-between position.
² an invalid fault position.
For resistances between the ranges A and B shown
for the fault condition (short) and , T-Case NEUTRAL,
the TCCM may interpret the resistance as:
² the T-Case NEUTRAL position.
² an invalid fault position.
The LED’s in the selector assembly are illuminated/
flashed in the following manner to indicate a particular
condition or state.
² A solidly illuminated LED indicates a successfully
completed shift and the current operating mode
of the transfer case. While a shift has been requested
but not yet completed, the LED for the desired transfer
case position is flashed.
² A flashing operating mode LED for the desired
gear indicates that a shift to that position has been
requested, but all of the driver controllable conditions
have not been met. This is in an attempt to notify
the driver that the transmission needs to be put into
NEUTRAL, the vehicle speed is too great, or some
other condition outlined (other than a diagnostic failure
that would prevent this shift) elsewhere (Refer to
8 - ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES/
TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE -
OPERATION) is not met. Note that this flashing will
continue indefinitely until the conditions are eventually
met, or the selector switch position is changed,
or if diagnostic routines no longer allow the
requested shift.
² If the driver attempts to make a shift into transfer
case NEUTRAL, and any of the driver controllable
conditions are not met, the request will be
ignored until all of the conditions are met or until
the NEUTRAL select button is released. Additionally
the neutral lamp will flash, or begin to flash while
the button is depressed and operator controllable
conditions are not being met. All of the LED’s except
the Neutral will flash if any of the operator controllable
conditions for shifting are not met while the
Neutral button is depressed. This 9toggle9 type of feature
is necessary because the TCCM would interpret
another request immediately after the shift into
transfer case NEUTRAL has completed.
² No LED’s illuminated indicate a fault in the
transfer case control system.

SHIFT MOTOR DESCRIPTION
The shift motor (Fig. 85) consists of a permanent
magnet D.C. motor with gear reduction to convert a
high speed-low torque device into a low speed-high
torque device. The output of the device is coupled to
a shaft which internally moves the mode and range
forks that change the transfer case operating ranges.
The motor is rated at 25 amps maximum at 72° F
with 10 volts at the motor leads.
OPERATION
The transfer case shift motor responds to the
Transfer Case Control Module (TCCM) commands to
move the transfer case shift sector bi-directionally, as
required, to obtain the transfer case operating mode
indicated by the instrument panel mounted selector
switch.