4x4 light on while 2H is selected

160

Asked by young958 May 27, 2011 at 07:11 PM about the 2003 Dodge RAM 1500

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Hello all, I'm new to this site and was hoping someone could help me out. I have a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 5.9L with 101km's. Today I shifted the 4x4 into 4L while the transmission was in neutral and it made kind of a clunking/grinding sound but drove ahead fine afterwards once I put the transmission in drive but when I put it back to the 2 High position the 4x4 light stayed on and when I put it in 4 High the 4x4 light went out. Tomorrow I'm going to hit up a dirt road or something to see if the 4x4 is actually engaged while in 2 High but for now does anyone have any ideas or have you seen or heard of this before? Thanks.

19 Answers

33,355

were you ata complete stop when you went into 4low? also did you go right from 2H to 4L? if you did and werent completely stopped you prolly damaged your range/mode shift forks.

8 people found this helpful.
160

I was completely stopped, and went from 2H to N to 4L but it was hard to shift from N to 4L.

4 people found this helpful.
33,355

is your transfer case a manual lever or do you have the electronic selector?? if you have the electronic selector, the shift motor could be bad, the way youd know if your in 4wheel drive is if you go onto a road and take a turn if your front end binds and the rear tires hop your in, if not your out

4 people found this helpful.
160

It seems to be just the light, I had it in a field yesterday while my manual shifter was in 2H and got on the gas and only the rear tires spun and then I put it in 4H the 4x4 light went out but when I gave it a shot of gas it hooked up in the front end immediately........weird but as long as it seems to be working I'm happy with that I guess but any thoughts?

12 people found this helpful.
33,355

hmm thats really strange, i really dont know id have to see it sorry i cant be of more assistance

3 people found this helpful.
190

I have the same issue with my dodge the light is on in 2h and once I put it in 4h the light goes out

19 people found this helpful.
70

i have the same issue I have a 1998 dodge ram 2500 and when I put it in 4 wheel drive the light goes off and when I put it back to 2 hi the light goes off

7 people found this helpful.
510

I have the 4x4 dash light stay on. My 98 Ram 1500, will shit in and out of 2WD and 4X4, but the light stays on .

51 people found this helpful.
120

I have a ?. I try to put my 2009 ram on 4x4. I got the truck with a skull onthe shifter. I got the 4x4 light on but, I cant tell wich on. 4L or 4h? Can u tell me how?

6 people found this helpful.
120

Also, I made a left turn and the truck felt like it did'nt want to go....can u help me?

6 people found this helpful.
220

I have another situation with my 4x4 RAM 1500 2006. All the 4wd lights stay one and does not engage into 4WD H or Lo. The lights stay on and the switch button turns but lights stay on. It does not enter into 4H or 4L. N lights stay on too. When I put on the engine, I have all 4wd light on except the neutral lights. What can be the problem? How do I fix it. I changed transfer switch and front drive selector which was broken. situation remains the same.

22 people found this helpful.
70

My 4wd light comes on when accelerating hard and goes out once the "load" is off the drivetrain....!?!?

7 people found this helpful.
10

I have a '97 ram 1500,5.9,4×4. The tranny got water in it during a flood,so took to jiffy lube to have complete flush,filter,gasket done. They replaced the fluid with ATF. Not ATF-4,now wont shift right. Wont into 3rd automaticly,would not having atf4 do it,or was it the water.

1 people found this helpful.
5

Sounds to me like the hi-low switch or a linkage problem Mine does the same thin 4wd light is on in 2wH off in 4wH Happened while stuck in snow rapid shifting between forward and reverse to get out worked normally before then . Weird

50

I don't know if this is accurate but since this just happened to mine, a friend told me it is a switch sensor attached to the front axle, it's a $5 part he said and just unplug it and then unscrew it, I am not a mechanic but he is so I will try it, but I doubt I will find this forum again so thought I would pass on that information

5 people found this helpful.
20

Some idiots on here just give random answers that is no answer. My friend I also face that issue. I drive a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado and want to know why it clunks and why it says in my message center "Service 4X4" while I am in 2 Hi. Thanks for a real mechanics reply otherwise being broke doesn't allow me to get it fixed at the moment.

2 people found this helpful.
70

Have a 2006 dodge ram 1500 5.7 the 4wd lights stay on in the dash with the abs and brake light. Any idea what it could be

7 people found this helpful.
10

Having the same problem with my 2005 power wagon 4x4 light is on in 2h have pulled the plug to the axle the tcase and the fuses and light is still on. Anyone know how to fix

1 people found this helpful.

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