2005 Jimmy 4x4 problem - Am I getting screwed?

My 2005 Jimmy won't shift between 2wd & 4wd. Dealer says its the encoder motor, which they would be happy to replace at the low, low cost of $1200 CDN.

I've been online and seen suggestions including unplug the battery, check the transfer case fluid or replace the TCCM. Help!!!! I really can't afford to pay $1200. Is there a way I can rule out if I'm getting screwed by the dealer?

[quote=ninepointer]My 2005 Jimmy won't shift between 2wd & 4wd. Dealer says its the encoder motor, which they would be happy to replace at the low, low cost of $1200 CDN.

I've been online and seen suggestions including unplug the battery, check the transfer case fluid or replace the TCCM. Help!!!! I really can't afford to pay $1200. Is there a way I can rule out if I'm getting screwed by the dealer?[/quote go to napa they have the encder moters for 250 and less american dollars depending on the model

You need to check the transfer case computer for code/codes with a transfer case capable scanner.
A good scanner will read out shifting and run test on it.
Post back codes.

Auto button on shift buttons?
Does button lights come on for a bulb test key on.
Fuse good?
Any button lights on or blinking or service transmission light or other lights?

What test did the dealer run or did he give you any codes?

Thanks for the replies :smile: Here's what GM Dealer's diagnosis reads:

CAUSE:
SCAN TEST, CODE DTC002, VOLTAGE TO ENCODER MOTOR OK, ON CIRCUIT P,A.B.C. (501 volts) TEST GROUNDS, OK, POWER OK

CORRECTION:
CLEARED CODE, WORKED TWICE THEN WOULD NOT SWITCH MODES, SWAP MODULE WITH GOOD MODULE, REQUIRES ENCODER MOTOR REPLACED.

Oh ya, its a 3-button shift, no auto button. If I try to shift from 2-hi to 4-hi while in gear, absolutely nothing happens (no shift, no lights, no sound from the encoder motor). If I try to shift while in neutral, the button lights simply blink at me. No other service or transmission lights come on.

After some online reading this evening, I tried this: I unplugged the TCCM for 2 minutes, tapped on the encoder motor with a hammer (I'm presuming its a solonoid?), plugged the TCCM back in, then switched the ignition on/off five times. This got it working, but it took 1-2 presses of the button. After sucessfully shifting a couple of times it stopped working.

Make any sense?

code 2 reads.
Checks circuits and if OK replace encoder motor.

I would start looking for a good deal on a encoder motor.
1200 CDN is way to high for one.


There is several online places that have GN oem parts at a good price.
And some parts places have aftermarket stuff or rebuilt stuff.
Good luck

Thanks MT!!!!:)

Thanks MT!!!!:)

You are welcome and let us know how it goes.

My mechanic relative is sceptical of the dealer's recommendation to replace the encoder motor, since he had already tried this a few months ago by installing a used encoder motor. What are the odds of 2 bad encoder motors? Instead, this past weekend he tried swapping in a used TCCM. That worked fine right after the installation, but by later that same day I was back to the same old problem: still not able to switch into 4WD:banghead: . Why is this so hard? This isn't the friggin' space shuttle:mad:

My mechanic relative is sceptical of the dealer's recommendation to replace the encoder motor, since he had already tried this a few months ago by installing a used encoder motor. What are the odds of 2 bad encoder motors? Instead, this past weekend he tried swapping in a used TCCM. That worked fine right after the installation, but by later that same day I was back to the same old problem: still not able to switch into 4WD:banghead: . Why is this so hard? This isn't the friggin' space shuttle:mad:


Proper testing and good repair info will go a long way on fixing it.
Check for codes first.
Post back any codes.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=572914

http://www.alldata.com/products/diy/index.html

If your mechanic relative's motor is good, and did the same thing as yours did, it probably is NOT the motor mis-function. It is electrical.

See if you can get a factory shop manual ALLDATA, Mitchells', and get a multimeter, and do diagnostic procedure as it says (not haynes chiltons). I bet your motor is good. If it had a sticking part, you WOULDN'T be able to un-stick it by clearing / resetting codes, but you WOULD be able to un-stick it by hitting it with a hammer.

Yes, you DID hit it with a hammer, BUT, you also unplugged it, which is what did the trick.

My
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:04-QEnBVzKIJ::scrapetv.com/News/News%252520Pages/Business/images/us%252520penny.jpg

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:04-QEnBVzKIJ::scrapetv.com/News/News%252520Pages/Business/images/us%252520penny.jpg

My brother-in-law put in another TCCM for me earlier this week. So far so good...