Hi,
I'm new to the forum. I bought a Ram 1500 at an auction 2 weeks ago. I fixed already the tailgate and a stuck parking brake.
The next thing i need to do is the 4x4.
I read many of the 4WD threads on here but couldn't find a solution for my problem.

I have the manual floor 4wd shift.
The 4WD is not engaging and there are no lights flashing on the dashboard.
When i put it in 4WD i can't spin the drive shaft by hand, but i can spin the passenger wheel by hand. From my understanding it shouldn't spin either. I'm not sure what to check next.

Most of the informations i found are for the 2nd gen Truck, but i think it's not the same system as my truck. The other common 4wd problem is the TIPM for the 2006-2007 trucks, this shouldn't refer to me either.
Any suggestions?
Thanks for your help

 

Generally... if the TIPM was the issue you would get DTCs showing up indicating there is a malfunction.

I think you might need to take a look at the linkage from the lever to the transfercase...

if the linkage is okay then you might want to drop the transfercase pan and take a look to see what's going on in there.

 

Thanks for your reply.

I will check it once it stops snowing

 

I went under my truck and my friend changed into 4WD and back to 2WD a couple of times, the linkage is working fine, the drive shaft is engaging too.
Can it be a problem wih the transfer case then?
Do I have also a fork on my axle that needs to engage like in the 2nd gen?

When it gets warm i will put the truck on 4 stands and check everything again

 

what happens if you try to drive around in 4wd? does it bind up almost immediately? or does the truck seem like it's in neutral?

 

It's my first time to have a 4x4. So i don't know what the differences should be.
But i don't feel any differences between 2WD and 4WD when i'm driving.
Yesterday i rode on a parking lot covered in snow. When i was in 4WD the front wheel wasn't spinning, i assume it should. Or is the weight difference so big between front and rear that it won't spin?

What do you mean with bind up and if it feels like it's in neutral?
When i put it into 4WD it seems to engage the drive shaft almost immediately. I read that sometimes you need to drive a few feet to engage it.
Sorry, if i misunderstand something wrong

 

Find a dry & empty parking lot put the truck in 4x4 and turn the wheel to full lock and try to drive in a circle... you'll feel what we mean by "bind up".... I doubt there is an issue with your 4wd at this point.

 

Ok, thanks.
I will try it out once the snow melts.
Why i thought it's not working is because i could spin the passenger front wheel with my hand although 4WD was in. I read about it in the 2nd gen RAM threads, it doesn't apply to me?

 

I checked it again.
I rode circles on dry pavement and it's not binding up and no hopping.
I put it on stands and the Transfer case and Driveshaft is working fine, but the Front Axle is not engaging.
What can cause this?

 

Busted Transfer-Case would definitely cause this... Among many many other things.

You'll have to drop the pan and get a good look at it all to find out for sure, these are one of those problems that can't be solved without getting dirty my man.

Happy Hunting!