Flashing Trans selector - WTH does it mean

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cvillechopper

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So, I posted this on another forum and got absolutely no response other than "do you know how to change from hi to lo?", which I do. I've found this forum to be much better so figured I'd ask here. During a snow storm in the area a few weeks ago I was helping pull people out of ditches as I usually do. Never had any issue doing this in 4wd lock, not low. Hook up and this little crossover seems rather difficult to get pulled but I get her out. Turns out she never took it out of park... Anyway, I go to reverse to let the slack out and my transmission selector just blinks at me (P,R,N,D all flashing). No movement. Won't move forward or backward. Tried putting her into neutral (trans as well as transfer case), turned the truck off and back on, etc. Finally tried going into 4wd low and could move. Tried going back into 4wd high and 2wd. Neither would work. The trans case would act like it worked but I'd hear a light tick as soon as I put her in drive or reverse and would get blinking again. Drove the last few miles home (almost) in 4wd low. Ended up having to park 1/2 mile from the house and hike to get a saw. Too many downed trees. Once I got cleared and home, tried 4wd low and 2wd and everything is fine. Has been fine since as well.
Thinking the transfer case just got overheated maybe but wondering if anyone else has seen this. Thoughts?
Oh yeh, my truck is a 2015 1500 Laramie, 5.7 with the 8spd auto trans and just under 60K miles. Electric transfer case with auto 4wd. Only issue it's ever had was a fuel pressure sensor and recently developed the hemi tick. Thanks in advance.
 

crash68

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I'd your getting a flashing light on the shift knob, there's issue with the shifter and transmission not agreeing on the selected gear vs what gear it's actually commanded. It's most likely electrical or communication issue. Check the wiring connection on the transmission.
Probably best to scan for any codes to further troubleshoot the issue.
 

John Jensen

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Your transfer case is clutch operated. My guess is pulling out that car while it was in park overheated the case. Especially if later all is working fine (because the case cooled down?). Just a thought.

Sounds like you use 4WD a lot. You may want to consider the plug & play mod that allows you to lock up the case clutches, so it acts like a no slip case. I put one on my 2016, and it makes a world of difference when needed.
 
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Jeepwalker

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I would think there would be a stored code, if you can read it. That might offer some help.

My first thought is to investigate the wiring to the motor that drives the transfer case gear change. Could be corroded. Or the motor might have gotten 'caught' in some mode and the switches aren't making sense to the computer.
 
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cvillechopper

cvillechopper

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I thought about pulling the codes but my reader is a few hours away still in my mom's car from when I checked it out months ago and forgot to unplug the dongle. Guess I have a trip in my near future.
Funny thing is, if it were a corroded wire or bad motor, I have a difficult time seeing how it would have resolved itself. At very least I would have expected it to happen again in the weeks since.
 

Jeepwalker

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Is it normal now? I thought it was stuck in low. Maybe I mis-read the original post.
 
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cvillechopper

cvillechopper

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Yep. Has been fine since that day after it sat for a while and then I drove it the last 1/3 mile home.
 

Lyle Longboat

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Probably a wire issue, did you check the wires? If it works and then doesn’t, then works again, sounds like a wire shorting out whenever it gets bumped or what not.
 

18CrewDually

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Its documented to happen to others. Theres even a YouTube video of a guy's truck doing it. Usually same type of scenario, working the truck back and forth, ect.
Some examples people blamed it on was a stone or something restricting the motor on the trans, not pressing on the brake and/or they opened the door, shifting above 5 mph, and a couple others I can't remember. The worse part is the YouTuber and the OP's never come back to post what they found. Or they never figure it out.
 
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cvillechopper

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I did get out to see if I had her far enough out and didn't shut it when I went into reverse to take out the slack. That's when everything started to go haywire. I'll have to try and replicate it with the door open. Absolutely had my foot on the brake and was at a dead stop shifting between 4wd auto and 4wd lock to start with and everything after. Thanks for giving me a direction to try.
 

Dean2

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I use 4x4 a lot. Most likely issue given the use scenario and the symptoms you describe is over heated transfer case and or transmission. I seriously doubt you have an electrical issue or it would keep showing up at least intermittently. Not completely defeating the TCS while in 4 lock, which happens when you go to Low range, can also cause issues. I have had my TCS system cut out completely from driving under really slippery mud conditions. It flashed up TCS not working, service immediately. It went back to normal after cooling off, and I now completely disengage it in mud. For towing/recovery, real bad mud etc, low range is a far better option.

There is a lot of protective parameters built into modern vehicles. You can also get the flashing display you describe if you try to change from 2 to 4 or vice versa if not all conditions are met. Have a read through your owners manual, it does a great job of explaining the conditions that must be met for each action. I think you may find your answer, assuming it wasn't heat, which my long odds bet says it likely was.
 
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cvillechopper

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Well, was able to replicate the situation in my driveway. Put transfer case into 4wd lock, put trans into park, opened the door then put it into reverse, immediate flashing and would not move. Same in drive. Was able to move to 4lo with the door open and move. Back to 4ws lock as well as 2wd and no go. As soon as I shut the door, no issues. I'll be damned. NEVER would have come up with that as a possible cause. Thanks.
 

John Jensen

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Yep, called the
V07 (Auto Park) recall. Was pulled/cancelled and incorporated into the V08 AEM emissions update

Cannot exit vehicle when engine is running, not in park and seatbelt is unhooked.
Causes vehicle to stop & engage park

If you want to defeat it get a seat belt extender or clip and leave it plugged in. Or, just fasten the seat belt and sit on it
 

Dean2

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Well, was able to replicate the situation in my driveway. Put transfer case into 4wd lock, put trans into park, opened the door then put it into reverse, immediate flashing and would not move. Same in drive. Was able to move to 4lo with the door open and move. Back to 4ws lock as well as 2wd and no go. As soon as I shut the door, no issues. I'll be damned. NEVER would have come up with that as a possible cause. Thanks.
If you do up your seat belt, step on the brake, then open door, it will go into R or D. Even if the door is just ajar it won't go into gear. I buckle the belt behind me or use a belt cheater from Amazon due to the new trucks having the safety lockout. Idiots being run over by their own trucks is what started it. 4 lo cancels that safety feature. Again, manual actually explains all of that in detail.

Biggest reason I learned to use the cheater is I never wear a beltt off road, driving on ice roads, or crossing lakes etc. If conditions are bad enough you want to be able to dirve with the door slightly open so you can bail quick. You also don't want to be belted in for a lot of other scenarios. The cheater solves all that because I find having the belt buckled behind me all day uncomfortable and it is one more thing to get hooked up on.

I see John was posting same time I was.
 
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Jeepwalker

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Jesus ..that's a ridiculous new safety device, for a truck. Vehicles these days ...don't get me started. I can see lots of reasons why someone would want to do that ..like poor visibility in terrible snow. I think a lot of people have done just that over the years. And what if the door switch suddenly crapps out??? I've rented a number of new cars and SUV's lately and they've taken Nanny-controls waaaay too far. It's like they treat the car buyers like a bunch of idiots.
 

John Jensen

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Jesus ..that's a ridiculous new safety device, for a truck. Vehicles these days ...don't get me started. I can see lots of reasons why someone would want to do that ..like poor visibility in terrible snow. I think a lot of people have done just that over the years. And what if the door switch suddenly crapps out??? I've rented a number of new cars and SUV's lately and they've taken Nanny-controls waaaay too far. It's like they treat the car buyers like a bunch of idiots.
In Ram's case it was a matter of liability. They had at least one case of a customer doing that, and the truck ran over and killed him.
 

Dean2

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Jesus ..that's a ridiculous new safety device, for a truck. Vehicles these days ...don't get me started. I can see lots of reasons why someone would want to do that ..like poor visibility in terrible snow. I think a lot of people have done just that over the years. And what if the door switch suddenly crapps out??? I've rented a number of new cars and SUV's lately and they've taken Nanny-controls waaaay too far. It's like they treat the car buyers like a bunch of idiots.
I have said this before; in the good old days the owners' manual told you how to gap the plugs and points, set the carb, adjust the valve lash and align the wheels. Today's owners manuals tell you to get a qualified service tech to fill you washer fluid, fully explains all of the Nanny safety features and tells users not to drink the contents of the battery. That is NOT progress.:jnono:
 

Mister Luck

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In Ram's case it was a matter of liability. They had at least one case of a customer doing that, and the truck ran over and killed him.

Anton Yelchin​

March 11, 1989 – June 19, 2016

On June 18, 2016, when he failed to arrive at a rehearsal, Yelchin was found by friends after midnight pinned between his Jeep Grand Cherokee and a brick pillar gate post outside his house in Studio City, Los Angeles, the victim of what was described as a "freak accident". As Yelchin got out of his car and went to check his locked gate and mail, the vehicle apparently rolled back down his driveway, which was on a steep incline, and trapped him against the pillar and a security fence. Yelchin was pronounced dead at the scene on June 19, 2016, at the age of 27 the Los Angeles County Coroner's office identified the cause of death as "blunt traumatic asphyxia" and stated that there were "no obvious suspicious circumstances involved

You don’t need to be an idiot to have accidents happen sometimes people are just tired, half asleep, or too relaxed.
or Some don’t handle stressful or emergency situations well.

I think in Anton’s case he wasn’t familiar with his new car, new house, or new life as a successful actor.
 
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Mister Luck

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Thanks man. I'd been leaning toward the overheat scenario but hadn't thought of shutting down the TCS. Great idea.
I have the 44-45 BorgWarner transfercase non auto select and my TCS is automatically turned OFF in 4WD LO

If you have a scanner thats able to look at CAN bus settings you will see the algorithm compilation commands for successful operations and non successful.
 
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