A little advice please

[Rottweiler]

New here and believe me, I tried searching before asking a question.


I have that clunking that so many have asked about. I don't use 4 wheel drive at all BUT I have tried using it in the winter . When it snows I put it in 4 hi and drive away from my house and maybe a mile up the road I get that clunk and then after another maybe 100 yards a clunk and another 400 yards and another clunk and then 100 yards and a clunk. It is not a even clunk it comes at random times. It seems as if it is popping in and out of 4 wheel drive not so much a internal problem with a gear or something. I have no blinking lights or flashing lights,everything seems normal with the lights on the switch. If the roads are even a little bit dry I don't put it into or try using 4 wheel drive. I am willing to read and listen to any suggestions you may have. Thanks

 

[wildbill23c]

Kind of hard to say really, without having the vehicle available to test. Could be a CV joint, bad half-shaft, or bad drive shaft. Could also be the transfer case is not engaging properly and keeps going in and out of 4WD.

Is the noise happening at a specific speed, while turning, etc.?

 

[adsm08]

It could be driveline wind up. Especially if it only does it in 4x4. That is one of the big reasons I prefer manual 4x4. You can be in and out in a second. Even on bad roads 4x4 isn't for driving. It's for starting and turning. Unless it is really deep slippery crap 4x4 shouldn't be engaged for more than a few hundred feet.

My process is generally 4-hi 1st, pop it back to 2-hi as I shift in 2nd gear. After that I only put it 4x4 if I am starting to loose it. Once you are moving just keep a light foot on the gas. Remember, more throttle makes more torque. In slick stuff you want low torque. Wheel slip happens when torque exceeds traction.

 

[Rottweiler]

Thanks for the replies. I never ever use 4 wheel drive without snow on the ground. I have never driven over 35 -40 mph with it in 4 wheel drive. And yes it does seem as if it is going in and out of 4 wheel drive. The clunk or crunch is pretty loud and it almost acts like it would be a gear missing a tooth but if that were the case it would do it over and over at the same interval and it does not. This does it in straight line driving

 

[jagarundi]

I have a similar issue with my 1998 Ranger. One difference though, with mine it clunks intermittently in low gear. In 4 high there are no problems, only in 4 low. 4 low has not been used much in my truck, so I don't think there is a problem because of overuse. Also, the only time I use 4WD is in the snow. This is a weird problem -- I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance!