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2003 Dakota wont move unless in 4H

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Old Oct 13, 2015 | 09:18 PM
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Default 2003 Dakota wont move unless in 4H

Wife was driving and said she heard some clicking noise. Shortly after the truck lost forward power and she pulled over. Engine runs fine but truck will not move in any gear. If you change selector from AWD to 4H the truck will drive. I'm thinking front transfer case but not sure. Any ideas?
 
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Old Oct 14, 2015 | 12:15 AM
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Sounds to me like like the differential in the transfercase may have come apart. Front differential is also possible, though.
 
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Old Oct 14, 2015 | 08:21 PM
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Could also be a bad ring/pinion in the rear differential.

Is the rear driveshaft still in place?

Pull the cover and check the gears. I don't think the front differential is bad, I think it's the only reason you're moving now. When you put the t-case into 4WD it locks the front/rear driveshafts together.
 
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Old Oct 14, 2015 | 09:57 PM
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Originally Posted by 00DakDan
Could also be a bad ring/pinion in the rear differential.

Is the rear driveshaft still in place?

Pull the cover and check the gears. I don't think the front differential is bad, I think it's the only reason you're moving now. When you put the t-case into 4WD it locks the front/rear driveshafts together.
by the same token, if the front was shot, the differential in the T-case would send all drive to the less-resistive front. So it could technically go both ways.

Easy way to tell? Put it in AWD and have a friend put it in drive while you watch the rear driveshaft to see if it turns. You might be able to see the front driveshaft (I don't have a 4WD so I don't know how far down it goes). Whichever one turns and the vehicle doesn't move is the one that's shot.
 
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Old Oct 15, 2015 | 08:31 PM
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Originally Posted by magnethead
by the same token, if the front was shot, the differential in the T-case would send all drive to the less-resistive front. So it could technically go both ways.
Good point.
 
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Old Oct 17, 2015 | 01:04 PM
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OK, I pulled drive shaft and towed home. With drive shaft removed the truck will not move either in AWD or FWD. makes the grinding noise which is coming from the front transfer case.
 
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by jrlaplante
OK, I pulled drive shaft and towed home. With drive shaft removed the truck will not move either in AWD or FWD. makes the grinding noise which is coming from the front transfer case.
which driveshaft? The front or rear?

There's only one transfercase in the middle of the truck. Are you saying the front axle is making noise when towing?
 
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 09:53 PM
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Rear drive shaft. Now will not move and noise is coming from underneath drivers side when truck is put into drive.
 
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