Why Your 4WD Stops Working: SIMPLE PREVENTION SOLUTION! 

This is actually sound advice, unlike many youtube mechanic advice... this is actually accurate.... monthly is a bit overkill, but it's can't hurt (as long as people remember NOT to drive on dry pavement in 4x4 more than a couple feet. The reason this is good advice... Modern trucks with electronic 4x4 activation instead of the traditional manual Transfer case lever on the floor... the electronic ones use an actual electric motor to do the shift, instead of you doing it with a lever.. so this simply keeps the actuation motor & linkage & slide collars from developing surface corrosion preventing it from moving & potentially burning out the actuation motor. The same theorey should be used for the Emergency Brake... this applies to electric or traditional manual cable operated..... Most people that drive automatic transmissions almost never actually USE their Emergency brake (some call it a parking brake, technically only the traditional manually operated ones are "emergency brakes" because they indeed can be used anytime, reliably.. with or without keys & can be adjusted to light drag resistance or full lockup. (manual Ebrakes are actually MUCH more usable & reliable... The point being..... WHen you DON'T use the E Brake regularly... surface rust can develop on the equipment & then it won't work when you need it. Usually the brake WILL go on... the problem is they won't release because they get rusty.... Why would you need aN Ebrake or parking brake when the transmission holds it every day? well.... what if there's a driveline failure? There are MANY things that can break that would cause the transmission/driveline to NOT keep the vehicle from rolling away... If any one of those fail...without a working E brake... there's nothing keeping it from rolling away. **Side note education**... The PROPER way to use an E brake.. especially if parked on a hill or with a trailer or loaded heavy etc...Have you ever parked on s steep hill or had a trailer & it's really hard to pop it out of park?? when it does... it's harsh....that's because you don't want the weight on the transmission park pawl.. you want the load on the Brakes... the correct way is to come to a stop, keep your foot on the brakes, shift to Neutral... then firmly apply the E brake... then SLOWLY let up on the regular foot brake... you want the Ebrake to hold tight enough that it doesn't roll at all... if it groans or slow rolls... apply the Ebrake tighter... (if it's electric.. it can only tighten what the actuator motor will allow & it's likely out of adjustment... but a manual Ebrake you can apply tighter.... once it holds... THEN put it in park... Keep the load on the brakes, not the transmission park pawl.... Sorry for the long comment, Hope it helps someone.....

This is some wise advice! It makes sense, if you don't use it you lose it. It is good to make sure all of your accessories are in working order!

I was taught as a young driver, that ANY system, carburetor, transmission, transfer case, needs "exercise" once in a while to keep running smooth.

True, that's what i did since I bought my truck and I use the 4wheeldirive options even when I don't need it

Agree 100% as I had a similar think happen in my Lexus SC430. I bought it in 2006 from the original owner and have driven it since then. Two years ago I was driving it and went to adjust the outside mirrors which I honestly have never done. They would not move so when I got home I dissembled them and found the motors were frozen so I gently rocked them and used "Gunk Electric Motor Cleaner" and got them working again. Since that time I make sure I put the motors through the paces (up, down, left, right) at least once a month.

I will give that a try even though I have never had any issue with my 4WD. I also have a Chevrolet K2500 snow plow and every year in the winter when you first try 4WD it doesn't work and it rarely get driven in the summer. I will start trying that on it also.

I have a 2500 series four-wheel-drive truck every oil change when I’m under the truck. I also spin the front driveshaft by hand you can hear the transfer case chain moving as well as the front end gear set. This helps keep the chain lubricated as well as the gears inside the transfer case as well as the front end gear set. I’m still trying to figure out if the front end gear set actually turns when the four-wheel-drive system is not engaged . Also, don’t forget to do your research and see if your front driveshaft has any grease Zerks - If so, make sure you give them a couple of good squirts before every winter.

Good advice, it would also be a good idea to take your truck somewhere off any kind of pavement and actually engage and drive it in 4wheel drive to make sure everything works

Taking my 2019 Ram 1500 in the dealer for this tomorrow. This is the 2nd time this problem has occurred. My friend recommended me to do this with shifting. He does it on his Chev.

I run mine once a month. I will engage 4 H on the go in a straight line for about a 1/4 mile then stop and engaged 4L for the same distance. That way the lubricant gets move around the seals and gears. This will cover the 4A as well. I don't feel like spinning my rear tires to make the front axle activate. As long as you make the shaft engage and disengage, you will be working all the components necessary for seal and gear lubrication.

you need to drive it. just by pushing the buttons thats not lubricating anything these are splash systems

Excellent advice. I bought a 2019 4x4 new in may, 2019. From then til jan, 2023 it had been but in 4 wheel drive maybe 4 times. Well in the winter of 2023 I needed it to get into my driveway because of ice and boom! no 4 wheel drive. Under warranty I took it to the dealer and they said nothing other than, "we're putting in a new transfer case". Weird. I bet this is why. Now I own a 23 Maga Cab Dooly 4x4 and will be doing this regularly. 👍👍

Great tip, thanks. I actually use my 4WD when I can. Going up a gravel road 4WD. Pulling my trailer up a hill - 4WD. Wet roads - 4WD.

That’s a beauty video!

At the risk of sounding like a grumpy old man ( which i am ) there is something to be said about the old systems. One would lock the freewheeling hub, grab that shorter stick coming thru the floorboard and shift into 4. Good to go.

it makes perfect sense

You are absolutely correct. My 2019 Power Wagon would always take way too long to engage or would not engage at all. I started using this technique a couple of years ago, and now it almost always engages immediately. If it doesn’t, it only takes about 30’ to maybe 50’ to lock up.

I use mine just to make sure it's working keep the fluids work moving every month and a half even if it's not snowing

Thats why I have a manual shift for 4wd .. never have to worry about the electronics and in 4wd immediately, no wait.

We have a 2003 yukon and 2006 envoy , never had 4wd issues by using this method. Even though we live in GA where rarely needed still do this monthly

I put my rebel in 4x4 when I come down the street to my neighborhood and then to the house about once a month.

If I'm not mistaken, the Ram owners manual states you should engage 4WD while the vehicle is in motion in drive, not stopped or in neutral. I think it's meant to be engaged anywhere from 5 MPH to 55MPH if I remember correctly.

That's why I own a land cruiser

I engage mine every 3 months. I read that the actuator can seize up if not used. I was going to buy an old 4Runner to replace my old one for my off roading. The owner never engaged it. I tested it and sure enough. It never engaged. The owner took it to the dealership and they said the actuator is seized and will likely need it replaced because they can’t re-engage it. That’s an $800 repair…

Agreed. Its also a good idea to drive the vehicle in 4wd for just a few feet too, just not on flat dry asphalt.

My 2016 Tundra manual says to drive 10 miles in 4WH every 1000 miles to keep everything lubricated. So I do that when driving straight down the highway, preferably on a rainy or snowy day.

I don't have buttons or an automatic transmission, mine is equipped with a Millennial AntiTheft device 😁😁

I think you wanna drive a little also to lubricate the gears.

Should do it while in motion . Not doing nothing with the gear’s sitting still … all you’re doing is making the electronic motor in the transfer case switch nothing is moving in park . At least the high gears obviously need to stop for the low.

I wait til thunderstorm run in 4 hi. 13miles min. Every month. Lube it up and know whats going on.

I had a issue with my 4WD in my Envoy. Bad bearing in right side of the front axle. Solution remove the axle. Still have a locking rear axle and hi/lo ratios. Just load 150 lbs of salt and Kitty liter in the back and go. As long as the snow is not touching the frame. At that point it is time to wait for the plow or fire up the snow mobile. The old Crew Cab 82 300 CI I-6 also did not do well when the snow touched the frame. Snow does drift and 3 tons does not ride on top of it. Had a use for a snowmobile then and still do.

Good point. Why dont you drive it in 4x4 a for a little while too? Might help the other parts in the system lubed like the transfer case,no?

This is exactly what happened on my 2020 1500…I think I have to send it in to be looked at. I’ll be doing this regularly once I figure out why my low is not operating properly.

Nope ! By just pressing the buttons you don't actually do anything, in order to get it lubricating you need things to be functional.. actually you need to drive it.

The 4wd actuator has failed in my 2022 ram 1500. It never changes mode and the serv 4wd light occasionally displays. I’m awaiting a new one to be shipped from the USA to Australia.

Generally your manual will recommend you engage 4x4 once a month and drive a bit.

Just need to go offroad more often an flip it into 4lo and 4hi!

You just cycle though but don't drive at all in 4 high, 4 low, all wheel and back to 2 wheel ?

I would engage it and drive it a little bit. Just to push buttons makes no sense to me. I throw mine on every once in a while and drive maybe a half mile.

Excellent tip, can it be done in park as well, or just neutral?

Don't forget about the gear oil in the transfer case & differentials. Just using the 4x4 isn't enough if you're thinking of keeping the truck \ SUV long term. If not then drive it like you stole it.

I do this at least annually, (GMC Envoy 2002) and through the winter (Ontario) for this explicit purpose. My son's Toyota Tundra (2000) has stopped working and despite my best attempts, he has not yet sought professional repair. Although he is now out on Vancouver Island where you just don't need 4X4 However, I say, get it fixed sooner, for cheaper

I use my truck daily as a service truck pulling a trailer,and I can,t stress enough to change oil in transfer case at required intervals,transfer cases,tranny fluids and diffs are commonly neglected

Do you know why the indicator light for 4WD Auto is green, and all the others are yellow?

👍👍🥳🥳

have an 89, run my 4x4 once a week

I just bought a ram 1500 all new to owning a 4x4 should you also take a short drive while engaging the modes?

I had a issue with my DT 2019 the ligh keep blinking and took some time to be engaged.. what you think could be.. thanks

Question why would it stay blinking until I pick a different setting? Example I click on 4wd auto which starts blinking but never becomes solid till I click on 4wd high then the 4wd auto stays solid and the 4wd high light stays blinking. Hope you could understand that

I engage mine every 3 months never have a problem

Sorry but just pressing the buttons is not doing really anything. You actually have to move the truck lol.

Gotta get a pickup.

my 2005 ram works in 4 hi, but not in 4 low. the light flashes. what does that mean?

Wow you don’t even drive with it on? Just buttons?

I wonder if that would've helped my transfer case clutch failure at 65k. Now dealer says t case needs to be replaced. Imo the new clutch pack t cases are junk. If you want a real 4 wheel drive dont get an auto 4 wheel that doesnt lock mechanically.

That advice is not limited to just 4 wheel drive components. Anything you don’t regularly use should be exercised occasionally. Especially AC!

In short, Use it or lose it.

0:57!!

Can u always run it on 4wd auto? Or it should always be 2wd?

Seems like an intelligent human here. You musta won that dodge in a raffle or something. Free is free I guess.

Just by pressing the buttons?

The biggest bs i have ever heard. Things get stuck?😢

common sense use it or loose it just like your own body move around our loose your motion

Most of the sheep lumbering around in there newer junk trucks never ever use 4wd they're just grocery getters

Great PREVENTIVE above, but useless REMEDIAL advice.

You aren't actually a mechanic, are you? And you don't even do your own oil changes, do you?

Just don’t get a Ram