First let me start off by saying that I'm both new to this forum and relatively new to 4WD vehicles. The only one I previously owned (and still own) is a Mountaineer that has a switch for 4wd.

My "new" Ram 1500 obviously has the shifter on the floor. I was able to find out from calling a Dodge dealer that you can shift in/out on the fly <45mph (tested, works). My issue is different.

It grinds when I put it into 4WD low and when I pull it back into 2WD from neutral. The xmission is in neutral at the time. Also, when I put it in 4WD high and then back into 2WD, the 4WD drive light stays on for quite a while but you can tell that it comes out of 4WD right away. Is this normal, and it just stays this way until the hubs unlock or something?

I apologize for posting such elementary questions here. Some forums don't deal well with simple newbie questions but from what I've seen so far this isn't one of them so I hope to not get flamed...

Thanks!

 

First thing, with these dodges when shifting from either 2H or 4H into 4L, put the truck in neutral and just shove the 4wd shifter fast and hard. There are no synchros so if you try and shift it slow into 4L it will grind bad, so don't be gentle, just shove it in, and the same goes when your going back into 2H or 4H. As for the light, the 4wd is a vacuum operated cylyinder on the front axle, so sometimes it can take a little while for everything to register, and can sometimes take a minute for it to kick out of 4wd. It can also get stickier the less you use it, but doesn't sound like anything unusual. Sometimes the light will come on and turn off instantly and sometimes it takes a few seconds.

 

From my personal experience with it, +1 for what Dakine said.

 

+1
the shift on the fly is 2h/4h only.
low is a completely different game. trans in neutral. 1-2 mph. don't stop in N.
if you do stop in N, turn off ignition, finish shift.

when shifting out of 4wd, don't rely on the light -go by feel. stop. back up a little. go forward. you will feel the coupler slide over and the tension come off the front.
the 4wd engage/disengage CAD operation is a very inexact science.
i replaced mine with a posilok cable.

 

it doesnt take much to stop and put it 2wheel just to be safe, but def. not from 4L to 2H

 

+1. makin the shift from 4hi to 4low needs to be one fluid motion in neutral.

2hi to 4hi i put it in N then drive it home.

 

Works like you said . Thank's for indulging the newbie!

Chris