Hey all, I just bought a 2005 Laramie last week. It has 67,000 miles. Either way that doesn't matter too much.

I'm taking it back to the dealership to address this problem but wanted to go into it with some knowledge. I've never owned a Dodge and this is my first 4wd vehicle as well.

It has the electronic shift 4wd. Yesterday I hopped in it and started it. It said it was in 4 hi and the service 4wd light as on. Eventually, I restarted the truck and it was back in 2 hi and normal.

Tonight, I got in and started it. first time the neutral light was on. Stopped it, started it and the second time the 2wd light was blinking. Stopped it, started it and then it was in 4 hi, same as before. After starting and stopping it about 5 times it finally displayed as normal 2wd.

Got home, turned it off. AFTER the vehicle was shut off I heard the transfer case engage. I turned it back on and found it in 4 hi again, with the service light on. After turning it on and off several times again, I was able to get it back into 2wd. I can't even manually shift it when this happens. I'll put it in nuetral and move the control **** back and forth between 2wd and 4 hi but nothing. It pretty much just does what it wants right now.

What are some possible issues so that way I don't go into tomorrow drooling at what the mechanics say it is?

Thank you in advance

 

At 67,000 miles the fluid should have been changed twice, bet it's still got the original fluid and that could very easily be the only problem.

Although with the "push button" transfer case there are more things to go wrong. Unlike a manual shifter, an electronic transfer case has a motor to shift positions. So it could be the lock solenoid (pretty cheap fix), a bad feedback sensor or the motor itself.

When I bought mine I had to look all over for a new truck with leather interior (Laramie package) that had a manual shifting transfer case...

 

great thank you!

Would temperature (outside) play any factor? I got to thinking, the times it has done it, the temperature outside has been at it's coldest (around 32F). Morning and Night. It has not done it mid-afternoon.

Appreciate the response, hopefully it's nothing major. I really enjoy this truck and don't want to start off on a bad note with it!

 

Wow, I bet you did. I didn't even know that was an option for the 3rd gens!

Back OT, I would second checking the fluid, especially if it is only having problems when it is colder (fluid is thicker).
Hope you get everything worked out and enjoy many happy years with your RAM! Welcome to the forums o.o/

 

glad i got a manual t case on the ram, i never liked the button on my ford

 

Just wanted to give a quick update.

Of course, it wouldn't give me any problems today. The dealership tried as well but it wouldn't do it.

They checked the fluid and said it looked good, like it had been changed recently. We're thinking it's the switch. Going to keep a log of when it does it and take it back after a few days.

Thanks for the replies, I feel a bit better now knowing it probably won't be a big issue and the dealership said they would cover whatever it is, no matter how big.