My 05 Dakota just started having the service 4 wheel drive light come on and go off and now I think it's stuck in 4 hi. I really don't use the 4 wheel drive I just run it every now and then to keep it moving. The only thing I have done lately is I changed my radio out so the switch might have gotten bumped around some. Where do I start to figure out what is going on??? And how do I get the 4X4 to disengage so I can pull the fuse so it doesn't drop into 4 low when I'm going down the highway. Please help any information would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance.

 

First thing is to get it back to 2wd. Probably have to play with the switch a bunch (you always could take the TC Motor off and spin the TC Selector by hand, if you need to. I did.)

Next is gunna be to pull fuse 42 (I think), and then replace the TC motor. Pretty common thing on these trucks. Same thing happened to mine, and I could feel it going into 4hi. I was also installing heated seats at the time, so I ran a wire to interrupt the TC from the cab. Now if it starts acting weird, I can cut power to it without having to pull the fuse.

 

Thanks I think I got it out and I pulled the fuse so hopefully it won't try to kill me going down the highway. I'll check into that part next. Is there any way to tell if it's bad or going bad?

 

It could also be a corroded terminal or connector at the TIPM and/or PCM where it's connected near the firewall.They are prone to corrosion.Have also seen corroded and melted connector at the shift motor itself and as mentioned a runaway shift motor or 4wd dash switch.Anyway,several things to take a look at.