FWD problem

[HermanoHabanero]

Hi. I have a 2001 Mazda B3000 with a transfer case shifting problem. The transfer case will not shift into 4wd until the engine has heated up to operating temperature and the cab has been thoroughly heated. If the weather is very cold, sometimes I have to drive the truck five or six miles before the transfer case will engage into four wheel drive. I have replaced the shift motor and the dash switch, to no avail. Any ideas on the source of the problem? Thanx, SvH

 

[2011Supercab]

What kind of oil is in the transfer case?

 

[Curious Hound]

I agree. Sounds like wrong oil in it. Should be ATF. Mercon something blah blah blah. Check owners manual. I’m at work and can’t look right now.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Isnt there a module in the cab on the newer ones?

Wonder if thats it

 

[HermanoHabanero]

What kind of oil is in the transfer case?

The oil is the same oil that was in the case before the problem occurred, SvH

 

[fastpakr]

The oil is the same oil that was in the case before the problem occurred, SvH

That doesn't answer the question.

 

[HermanoHabanero]

That doesn't answer the question.

Well, I don't really know what oil is in the the case or even if it is the right level. I guess I could drain the oil and put new (recommended) oil in to the right level. All I know is that for the the first three or so years I owned the truck everything worked properly and about six months ago the delayed activation started happening. SvH

 

[HermanoHabanero]

Isnt there a module in the cab on the newer ones?

Wonder if thats it

Yeah, I have thought of that fact being something of import.

 

[fastpakr]

Well, I don't really know what oil is in the the case or even if it is the right level. I guess I could drain the oil and put new (recommended) oil in to the right level. All I know is that for the the first three or so years I owned the truck everything worked properly and about six months ago the delayed activation started happening. SvH

Drain just enough to see what color the fluid is.

 

[Curious Hound]

Just going by the original description of the problem, the oil in the transfer case is the most logical thing to check. Oil that is too heavy or thick would make it difficult to shift until the truck is driven enough to warm up the oil and lower its viscosity.

being a 2001, I believe the electronic shift is handled in the GEM. Earlier trucks (gen3nd earlier, if I’m not mistaken) had a separate control box, usually mounted behind the driver seat. But the electronics wouldn’t care if you drive the truck a while. They generally either work or don’t work. Sometimes a loose solder joint on a circuit board may be intermittent due to temperature. But it’s usually fairly high temperatures when you see that.

You could also have a loose electrical connection somewhere that vibrates and works intermittently.

One other idea would be dirty contacts in the shift motor assembly. That’s pretty easy to clean up.

 

[HermanoHabanero]

Just going by the original description of the problem, the oil in the transfer case is the most logical thing to check. Oil that is too heavy or thick would make it difficult to shift until the truck is driven enough to warm up the oil and lower its viscosity.

being a 2001, I believe the electronic shift is handled in the GEM. Earlier trucks (gen3nd earlier, if I’m not mistaken) had a separate control box, usually mounted behind the driver seat. But the electronics wouldn’t care if you drive the truck a while. They generally either work or don’t work. Sometimes a loose solder joint on a circuit board may be intermittent due to temperature. But it’s usually fairly high temperatures when you see that.

You could also have a loose electrical connection somewhere that vibrates and works intermittently.

One other idea would be dirty contacts in the shift motor assembly. That’s pretty easy to clean up.

Hey, thanx. These ideas give me something to think about.