I've got a 2006 Ram Big Horn 4x4 that I bought back in June of this year. I've never had to use the 4x4 but always just assumed it worked. The other day I went to try it out just b/c I was curious. The 4Hi light comes on my dash and just blinks a bunch. I also hear a noise at the front of the truck that sounds like something is trying to engage. I tried this while driving and while parked and the light just continues to blink. I assume it's supposed to blink and then go solid when it engages. The 4Lo does the same thing when I throw it in neutral then turn the ****. I don't know if any of this is normal. Please help.

 

I've learned you can never just "*** U ME" something works...

hopefully someone will chime in with some help. I don't have much info on this particular issue.

 

previous owner of my truck had that problem, I think he replaced the actuator motor and that didn't work. He put the old one back in and it started working again, still works to this day. The shop didn't have a clue why

 

We are all assuming that OP is following the process correctly. Have you tried putting your vehicle in Neutral and then turning the 4x4 ****? Mine ONLY and ONLY works in Neutral. If you vehicle is in Drive or Park, the light will just blink and not shift to 4x4.

 

Your 4Hi might not be working correctly since the light should blink and then stay lit, and the noise is just from 4x4 switching I believe.

 

I have tried putting it in neutral then turning the **** to both 4lock and 4lo. In both cases the light just blinks and I hear noises up front like something is trying to engage.

 

It seems like the actuators are working correctly or there will be no noise. Maybe dirt/debreesor something is keeping hubs from locking. It could be something really really simple. Classic case where its worth spending $60 for dealer to look at it. you may get your 4x4 to work! Good luck. and please post when you get this resolved. I do not use my 4x4 at all except when pulling my boat out of a slippery dock.

 

take the actuator off and take a check for debris etc...before you go to the stealership.

 

I searched high and low for a new Laramie truck with a good old fashioned stick for 4WD engagement when I bought mine. Was hell finding one, but I found one!

I bought a new Cheby Z71 in '02 with the push button 4WD deal and had a problem with it the third time I went out hunting and used it. Was a bad seal and a vacuum leak. Had a buddy with a second gen Ram who couldn't engage 4WD from day one with the **** deal. In his case, they pinched a vacuum line at the factory.

When you turn your ****, the indicator light flashes and the control module in the transfer case tells the encoder motor to move. When the transfer case enters 4WD mode, it activates a vacuum switch to engage the front axle. The axle switch then tells the TCCM that it's engaged. Upon receiving this signal, the 4wd indicator light will come on steady.

First guess: Vacuum Leak (and by far the most common).

Other possible causes: bad vacuum switch, bad actuator, electronic (switch) issue, bad encoder motor or problem in the front axle.