I purchased a 2004 Dodge RAM 1500 a few months back. This is my first pick-up and first 4x4 vehicle. I've only ever owned cars prior. I bought this because I have recently moved from a city to buy my first home in a more rural region with more snow etc..More or less wanted this as a winter vehicle and to do hauling tasks (firewood, dump runs, pick up home reno material etc)

This model has the 4WD selector **** on the dash with 2WD, 4 Hi and 4 Lo.

Everything worked well until my wife (I know) took it for her first time up to a mountain for skiing. She claims she got stuck and the 4WD function simply wouldn't work. She had to get pulled out and was able to drive it home. She more or less got stuck in the snow in 2WD then panicked and I'm not sure exactly what she did. She claims she just switched to 4WD and it wouldn't work despite it working perfectly fine for me many times prior. ANYWAY

Now I have the the truck at home and sure enough the 4WD does not work. I drove it to a gravel lot to confirm and no power goes to the front wheels when in 4WD.

What happens when engaging 4WD (High and low):
- orange light comes on and stays on as though nothing is wrong
- no power goes to front wheels
- can hear a clicking sort of sound from front axle area when I apply power
- also notice that when in 2WD driving down the road I can hear intermittent clicking sound from the front axle area (like keys jingling in a can) even when in 2WD. The sound will stop if I make a hard turn and it will come back again when I make another turn.
- no codes on dash from ODB scanner

I am mechanically inclined but have only ever worked on cars. I am not sure where to start diagnosing, what I should check first etc...

Any help to get me going appreciated.

*EDIT: After some googling I have tried to locate an actuator on the front axle but cannot locate one visually. So I got my wife to turn the 4WD **** on the dash while I went under to follow the sound and fond an actuator on the transfer case that makes a sound when the 4WD **** is turned. Could this be my culprit or am I not seeing a front axle actuator (do all 3rd gen RAMs have them on the front axle?)

 

None of the parts diagrams I can find show any kind of disconnect on the front axle itself.....

Does the motor on the side of the t-case just make the noise once? Or does it do it continuously?

 

it just does it once. When the 4wd **** is turned the motor make a sound as though it is engaging or trying to engage.

should i pull it off and inspect its condition?

 

Before pulling it apart, put the front up on jackstands, start the truck, put it in 4wd, turn off the truck. Crawl under, and try and turn the front driveshaft by hand.

 

what year is the truck?

 

The truck is a 2005 1500 5.7L

I haven’t had a chance to get back under it since my last post but soon as I am able I will report my findings here….currently trying to figure out a way to put it on jacks as the above poster suggested. It currently is on a loose gravel driveway so is difficult to jack up….I have jack stands but they will not be sturdy on the gravel so I plan to build a kind of base for them. In the meantime I can climb under as is as it is lifted a few inches

 

Just wanted to update. After some troubleshooting the culprit turned out to be stripped splines on both the intermediate axle and CV axle on the drivers side front.

 

Thanks for the update. Know that your truck is not all wheel drive. You will break stuff if you are in 4x4 and make turns on non-slick surfaces. Have a look at the owners manual for instructions on how to engage 4x4.

 

yes, shouldn't drive 4x4 while on dry hard road. BUT, I recommend that you engage 4x4 any opportunity to keep it exercised. The electric actuators can get sticky if not used and when you need it, like swmbo did, it wasn't there for her.

I was thinking that you were going to find a stuck actuator.

Use it or loose it.
My Toyota says that 4x4 should be engaged for 5 miles at least every 60 days... Occasionally, I will not be off road BUT on a straight wet roadway, a stretch that does not have a turn. if traffic permits, I'll engage on the fly and do my five. I also exercise my differential locker. Again, Use it or loose it....