Hey guys

I just got a new-to-me winter beater -- 2001 Durango 4.7 4x4
It was in pretty good shape, very little rust, 193,000 km and brand new tires. I paid $3500 Canadian for it, so I was not complaining. If it can get me through a few winters out here (snow gets deep, I live on a farm with a 350' driveway) I would say it paid for itself.

Stupidly, I didn't test the 4x4 feature before I bought it. I've never had 4WD before... I have had AWD on an old Subaru, so I didn't realize you had to 'kick it into 4 wheels' as they say in country music. LOL

When I did (in Neutral), it made quite a terrible crunching noise. We drove around a couple of blocks, and it crunched the whole time. Switched it back into 2WD and it stopped.

Any ideas? I'm thinking I need to get it serviced, but really... how necessary do you think the 4 wheel feature is? I did buy the vehicle for use in the snow, but for the amount of times I might need it (hell it's already January and not a drop of snow yet), it might not even be worth fixing.

Ideas?

Jo

 

please tell me you were at a complete stop and weren't reving the gas... you can go from 2hi to 4hi when your driving if your driving slowly... was it a crunching noise or more of a grinding noise like trying to shift a manual without using the clutch

 

No I was stopped at a stop sign and I'd put it in neutral. It was more of a grinding noise. I was with a motorhead friend and he wasn't sure either.

 

Just to clarify, you were completely stopped, sitting in neutral, engaged the 4wd and it made a grinding noise BEFORE you began moving again, correct? This is important as it rules out any of the front drivetrain components.....

Bob

 

Thanks for the suggestions, but I ended up taking it in. It was the CVJ on the drive shaft, all rusted to **** and the gasket/rubber housing was gone. Replacement part: $375 + labour. Dammit. However, I'm glad it works now, as it's snowed a ton last night, and they don't plow the roads out where I live.

 

Glad to hear its fixed. But since you just bought the vehicle and unless you know how the previous owner took care of it, would highly recommend you change the gear oil in the differentials and replace the transfer case fluid with fresh ATF+4.

Then your set to go. The 4x4 will come in handy from time to time. You might be surprised.

 

Until I got my Durango I never thought 4WD was that big of a deal, now I don't know how I drove in snow without it. It seems to have much better control in certain situations in 4WD that it doesn't in 2WD, mainly going around turns in the snow, and no more getting stuck spinning my wheels in the middle of intersections on ice.