Greetings All, I own a 2004 durango that has a problem with the 4WD. The electric AWD/4LOCK/LO switch is in AWD but will sporadically go into 4LOCK when in the AWD position without moving the switch. It does this while parked and warming up and when driving. I can hear that hubs locking and the durango is hard to turn when it happens which means actually engageing.
By the way does anyone know what the little <N pushbutton is under the AWD/4LOCK/LO switch?
Thanks in advance for any help!

 

The 'N' is neutral incase you need to be towed,
FF

 

Thanks. I thought that might be what N was.

The AWD/4LOCK/LO shifting is a real mystery. Seems to consitently happen when I start the vehicle cold I can hear the hubs lock. If I push the <N it will flash and go back to AWD as long as I have a pen pushing on the little button.

I'm hoping that it's only a problem in the AWD/4LOCK/LO switch in the dash and was planning on changing it out. But it's strange that the 4WD jumps between AWD and 4LOCK is not constant and periodically goes in and out of 4LOCK. Also I've noticed that if I place in 4LOCK that it may jump between 4LOCK and LO.

Got me scratching my head. My local Dodge dealer said he's never heard of this problem before. Could use some advice.

 

The 2004 has a recall for the eletrical system and instrumnet cluster according to www.safercar.gov . Maybe this has something to do with your problem,
FF

 

Thanks fascistfaction. I've already had that recall done.

It's a strange problem. I've found only one other post online of the same issue.

 

Wishbone:

If you search further, you will see that there are some 04 and 05 Durangos on these forums who have had this issue.

What is strange though, is that there were different resolutions in some of them as opposed to being a standard "boilerplate" fix every time.

If you are still under the 7/70 Powertrain warranty, get to a dealer and let them wrestle with it.

In some instances, they replaced the transfer case. Other times, it was a computer issue.


FYI, our Durangos do not have locking hubs. The power distribution is fixed at 52/48 rear and front by T case design. What you are hearing is the T case shift motor move parts internally to lock or unlock the differential inside the T case.

The front wheels are always receiving power from the transfer case hence the AWD designation.

Don

 

Thanks Don. Greatly appreciate the information.

I have a stong feeling it's the computer. Today the durango worked fine for about 40 minutes. Then it tried to lock the T case. The Anti-Skid Control light wouldn't work after that happened. I assume this is a pretty good indication it's a computer problem. Can they be reset somehow (lifting the battery terminals)?

Thanks, John

 

John:

Now that you mention that your D has the traction control, there was a fellow having similar issues to yours.

In his case, he found that one of his tires was low enough on air pressure that the TC system was activating and causing the transfer case to go to 4 LOCK.

I know this sounds strange, and I was not aware that the TC system could control the T case. In this fellows case though, he said that making sure all 4 tires had equal air pressure cure the issue.

Could not hurt to check.................................Don

 

This is a more wide spread problem than you think. Search for "Duango 4lo"

Does anyone know where the Dodge Durango 2005 transfer case motor is located?

 

RBSS:

I think you are speaking of the transfer case shift motor which is attached to the outside of the T case. There is a multi-conductor harness that plugs into it.

Don