4-wheel drive issue

[lexbagley]

2004 2500 hd duramax. Only 1 front wheel will pull, front right. What are the most likely issues.
thanks

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by lexbagley

2004 2500 hd duramax. Only 1 front wheel will pull, front right. What are the most likely issues.
thanks

usually this will be the locking actuator motor / circuit is defective...check for voltage at motor then check that the motor is not open/shorted/ fuses etc...this is the front diff actuator..as this locks the front axles together..

the transfercase encoder motor locks all front / rear diff's together ...

[lexbagley]

If the actuator is faulty, would the front right engage and not the left front side?

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by lexbagley

If the actuator is faulty, would the front right engage and not the left front side?

like I stated the front diff locking actuator locks the front axles together ..thats all it does..it has nothing to do with 4wd..it lockes the left front to the right front..when it works !

[lexbagley]

When the 4 hi is pressed, I can hear and feel the actuator engaging. The 4 hi light will stay on. I will change fluid tomorrow and see what happens.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by lexbagley

When the 4 hi is pressed, I can hear and feel the actuator engaging. The 4 hi light will stay on. I will change fluid tomorrow and see what happens.

why change fluid ? why are you ignoring my testing suggestions..
do you own a volt ohm meter or know how to use it ?

[lexbagley]

Fluid is dark gray, changed probable 60K ago. Voltage was 12.3. Actuator sounds and feels normal as pushrod moves to function properly.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by lexbagley

Fluid is dark gray, changed probable 60K ago. Voltage was 12.3. Actuator sounds and feels normal as pushrod moves to function properly.

if this is the case then the front dif must need to be replaced...

do you operate this in any 4wd position on dry solid pavement..

remember this is only part time 4wd..this is not to be used on solid dry pavement at any time...in any 4wd position..another item that damages the front diff fast is different sized/worn tires tires used with different wear destroys the diff's and stresses out the drive train..

tire rotation is required with these vehicles...

[Streetwise]

Originally Posted by j cAT

if this is the case then the front dif must need to be replaced...

do you operate this in any 4wd position on dry solid pavement..

remember this is only part time 4wd..this is not to be used on solid dry pavement at any time...in any 4wd position..another item that damages the front diff fast is different sized/worn tires tires used with different wear destroys the diff's and stresses out the drive train..

tire rotation is required with these vehicles...

If you change the tire size, will this cause an issue? I went with a bigger tire all around.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Streetwise

If you change the tire size, will this cause an issue? I went with a bigger tire all around.

all the tires must be the same size and worn the same..larger/smaller tires wont hurt because they are all the same ...

[iroc343]

How are you determining that the front right is the only one pulling? With an open differential, front or rear, the wheel with the least traction is the only one that will spin under normal circumstances. Most people don't realize that four wheel drive only means that one wheel one each axle has to turn, unless the vehicle has locking / limited slip type differentials.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by iroc343

How are you determining that the front right is the only one pulling? With an open differential, front or rear, the wheel with the least traction is the only one that will spin under normal circumstances. Most people don't realize that four wheel drive only means that one wheel one each axle has to turn, unless the vehicle has locking / limited slip type differentials.

In any 4wd position on these vehicles the locking actuator locks the front axle together as one....thats what it does ! if not locked there is a problem in the front diff....or the locking actuator is not working....


the rear diff is open until a slip is generated then that too locks so with this vehicle in 4wd on a snow / ice road all wheels will be locked into each other in a true 4wd....