4WD WILL NOT disengage!! Mud nowhere to be found.

305

Asked by Momm Aug 25, 2014 at 07:47 PM about the 2005 Dodge Durango SLT 4WD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Is there a way to manually disengage 4WD? I've tried everything I can think of to get it
to disengage - patiently driving backwards & forwards at low speed, switching in drive
and in neutral, tapping the brake pedal (lol), taking key out for a few minutes and trying
it all over again...and again. I even got my ex to crawl under and try tapping the TC shift
motor while I switched and shifted (and he lives, no worries) I don't want to detach the
wiring to the shift motor while it's still stuck in 4wd and I'm concerned about what
turning on dry pavement is doing to my "baby". There HAS to be a way to get it to
disengage...anyone?

11 Answers

143,535

May try removing positve battery cable for a few minute,s,may reset,but if this doe,s not work,may have to replace,actuator on transfer case.

7 people found this helpful.
305

Tried disconnecting the battery and removed and replaced the fuse as well and checked the wiring to the shift motor (although not thoroughly - just a quick lookover) Thinking of jumping the shift motor to see if the problem is before or after - it's pretty much electrical before, mechanical after, true?

3 people found this helpful.
143,535

Yes it will be the actuator on the transfer case.

8 people found this helpful.
305

There's no power between the fuse block and the shift motor...The TCM works when jumped, no fuses are blown and there's power to all, the relay works, there is power to the switch, tried a different FCM (not reprogrammed, and didn't do a thing), no codes come up on diagnostics, I've lifted one tire, two tires, (trying four tires after lunch)... anyone have a schematic for the wiring harness between junction block and FCM? Running out of ideas here...

4 people found this helpful.
305

So, guess I should've posted the outcome. After weeks of choosing gravel over pavement, and pulling off to spin a bit in gravel to eliminate any binding, I can thank the Barrie roadworks department for fixing the truck I hit a series of potholes and thought I heard the transfer case motor....sure enough the 4wd light was off! I pulled off onto a curb, unplugged it (covered in plastic and tied up later), and just let it stay that way with no more problems. I still don't know if it was electrical or a matter of debris, but I'll save that for a time when I'm either desperate or feeling adventurous.

10 people found this helpful.
40

Momm, Did you ever figure out what the problem was? Mine has shifted itself into 4 lock, and I can't get it out, so that I can unplug the transfer case motor.

4 people found this helpful.
120

Hello, I've had the same issue. Was stuck in sand for a while pulled out and the 4 low wouldn't disengage along with traction off even if its just on AWD. Solution: Run it neutral and the 4low will slip off to normal.

3 people found this helpful.
120

Hello, I've had the same issue on my 2008 Dodge Durango. Was stuck in sand for a while pulled out and the 4 low wouldn't disengage along with traction off even if its just on AWD. Solution: Run it neutral and the 4low will slip off to normal.

9 people found this helpful.
50

Hi People, I've got a similar story and would like some advice please. My 99 Durango 5.9 4x4 is stuck in High 4wd and won't disengage, also the green 4wd icon on the dash is not illuminated either. Have noticed it creaking when I turn at low speed from starting. It's been parked up for a few months while I've been working overseas, but it went in and out of 4wd when I backed my ice-cream caravan up before I left. Plenty of fluid in trans. Any suggestions welcomed! Thanks from KJ in NZ

5 people found this helpful.
100

I had problem with truck switching into 4x4 by itself when I stop to switch back into two wheel drive I could hear it switch by it self back into 4 wheel drive My problem was the heater fan it would only run when I had it turned all the way up.but it was affecting the four-wheel drive when it was on try turning all electrical things off and see if that will work for you.

3 people found this helpful.

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