2005 Dakota Quad Cab 4WD SLT V6

My Service 4WD light comes on at times and usually goes off again in a few minutes or miles.

Sometimes when the light comes on when going slow or stopped, the truck will go into 4WD on its own. Neither 4WD indicator lights come on, but it goes into 4WD and at some point after a bit goes back on its own to 2WD.

Sometimes when I unlock the truck or shut if off, get out and shut the door, I can hear the transfer case motor trying to engage intermittently for a minute or two.

Any ideas on what could be wrong?

While I am looking for someone to work on it, is there anything I should check first that doesn't require a skilled mechanic? I am ok with working on vehicles, but don't consider myself much above a novice (am ok replacing alternators, brake pads, rotors and such).

Also, again, while looking for someone to fix this, is there a way to cut the power to the transfer case to prevent it from ghost shifting into 4WD?

 

Had the exact same symptoms - replacing the transfer case motor fixed problem. I pulled the 25A fuse located in fuse box under the hood, or you could also disconnect the connector at the motor (tough to reach - pulling fuse is much easier)

 

X2 on Atlantic. Same happened to me earlier this year. And now I feel like an idiot for not thinking about pulling the fuse. That plug is a b**** to get off.

 

So did you guys both had the behavior of the transfer case engaging after you turn of the truck, get out and shut the door?

I'm asking because I read, in another place online, that behavior is an indicator that I need to replace the front control module.

 

It was mainly when I unlocked with the key fob the motor would start cycling but I think it did do it once or twice just by shutting off and closing the door. The problem got worse as time went on - it was trying to shift into 4 low on its own all the time - even on the highway at speed. I think the stress on the driveline when this happened is what took out the cv joint on the front driveshaft. Luckily no damage to the transfer case.

 

Where is that transfer case motor located?

 

P. 4518 of the service manual has a nice diagram. It's on the front of the transfer case rite above the flange to the forward output shaft.

 

mine was way worse, coming home this summer and I turned the a/c on, well come to find out that the transfer case motor and a/c unit along with other electrical components work off the same harness, doing 70 mph on highway and when I turned the a/c on, truck tried tossing it into 4lo, well when the gears and stuff didn't want to go, what a nasty clanking and banging noise. so becarefull and quickly swap out the switch or do like the rest of us and pull the damn fuse and get it fixed, and while you do that, changed out the fluid