Transfer case not working

Tiny
08COLORADOPGH
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 CHEVROLET COLORADO
  • 3.7L
  • 5 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 118,000 MILES
On the truck listed above LT model? Does the transfer case motor switch first or the front axle actuator? I am thinking my TCCM is bad.
Thanks.
Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019 AT 3:31 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,476 POSTS
It's supposed to work with the t-case going into gear then the axle. That way the front axle parts are all brought up to speed before the axle engages. What is the problem you are having?
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Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019 AT 4:01 PM
Tiny
08COLORADOPGH
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
The transfer case motor makes a noise but doesn’t switch to 4h. The light goes right back to 2h. First I thought it was the front axle actuator so I replaced it. Then I replaced the transfer case motor. It still does the same thing. Every once in a while it switches to 4h when I try it. Could it possibly be one of the sensors on the transfer case? If the transfer case was bad wouldn’t it stop working completely? The fluid is about a inch below the fill plug.
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Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019 AT 5:36 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,476 POSTS
There are not many things to go wrong with the system really. It triggers the transfer case first, once the actuator puts it into 4WD it triggers a switch in the actuator and the front axle actuator activates and you go into 4WD. When the axle disconnect locks in it trips a switch for the 4WD light. I would pull the actuator off and have someone cycle the switch to see if it moves freely. If it shifts to 4H but drops right back to 2WD the issue is more likely the TCCM.
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Thursday, December 5th, 2019 AT 5:49 PM
Tiny
08COLORADOPGH
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
Thanks Steve. I will let you know on Saturday after I do a few tests.
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Thursday, December 5th, 2019 AT 7:25 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
STEVE W. Is one of our best! Please let us know what happens.
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Sunday, December 8th, 2019 AT 6:16 PM
Tiny
08COLORADOPGH
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
I think I had a problem with a connecter next to the battery. I sprayed it with QD contact cleaner. I also cleaned up my grounding points on both inside front fenders. The 4wd is working fine now. I will let you know if it acts up again.
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Sunday, December 8th, 2019 AT 6:33 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,476 POSTS
Great to hear, bad grounds are such a common thing I forget to mention them sometimes. It's one of the few things I like about the newer vehicles, on many they run the grounds back with their own wiring instead of using a handy local piece of chassis and a screw.
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Monday, December 9th, 2019 AT 8:21 AM

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