4x4 problem Ram 2013+ 8-speed 44-44 transfer case

[GP4L]

I'm guessing that once rear slip is detected, the clutch progressively engages based on engine load / throttle position. Which would explain why the rears can spin "easily" on slippery surfaces and "low" engine load. Like, if light throttle is used, the demand for acceleration is relatively low, and maybe that's why the front's aren't getting any/enough torque.

Unless I missed something, none of the video's I've seen have the drivers throttling it hard on whatever slippery surface to demonstrate the lack of 4WD in the 4WD modes.

But take video's of your tests and post em up!

 

[loveracing1988]

I'm guessing that once rear slip is detected, the clutch progressively engages based on engine load / throttle position. Which would explain why the rears can spin "easily" on slippery surfaces and "low" engine load. Like, if light throttle is used, the demand for acceleration is relatively low, and maybe that's why the front's aren't getting any/enough torque.

Unless I missed something, none of the video's I've seen have the drivers throttling it hard on whatever slippery surface to demonstrate the lack of 4WD in the 4WD modes.

But take video's of your tests and post em up!

At that point if you could compare individual wheel speed sensor data you could see how much slip there is in the clutch.

 

[black14sport]

I'm guessing that once rear slip is detected, the clutch progressively engages based on engine load / throttle position. Which would explain why the rears can spin "easily" on slippery surfaces and "low" engine load. Like, if light throttle is used, the demand for acceleration is relatively low, and maybe that's why the front's aren't getting any/enough torque.

Unless I missed something, none of the video's I've seen have the drivers throttling it hard on whatever slippery surface to demonstrate the lack of 4WD in the 4WD modes.

But take video's of your tests and post em up!

This is exactly the problem.It has been confirmed with 3 dealerships and by myself. The argument I have with ram is that it's not staying locked and disengages when you let off the throttle. So basically 3 modes of auto 4wd.

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[black14sport]

This why I mentioned a computer hack or rewiring of some sort to fix it so it doesn't have that chance to "think"

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[GP4L]

This why I mentioned a computer hack or rewiring of some sort to fix it so it doesn't have that chance to "think"

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Right. What tuners are able to modify parameters in the TCM? I know that the Diablo Trinity can't. Talked to Hemifever about that already - also the reason I'm probably not buying one/ will be waiting for that access to become available from somebody.

I'll be happy to guinea pig software. Brutal Chicago winter is right around the corner.

 

[loveracing1988]

Right. What tuners are able to modify parameters in the TCM? I know that the Diablo Trinity can't. Talked to Hemifever about that already - also the reason I'm probably not buying one/ will be waiting for that access to become available from somebody.

No tuner can do that. That would have to come directly from ram.

 

[GP4L]

No tuner can do that. That would have to come directly from ram.

Yeah, you're right.

Know what we all should do? (per Moe's suggestion) We need to petition Diablo to develop a capability for transmission and transfer-case control with their tuner. If enough of us want it, they'll probably deliver it. Would sure beat a $1200 part, plus labor, plus *guaranteed* warranty voiding, to solve the issue without an Auto feature.

 

[black14sport]

I just contacted Ram customer service for the second time and for once the person I talk to actually agreed with me until he talk to his fellow coworkers that it is designed to work this way. Pretty sad even the customer service representatives agree with us but they still won't do anything about it. I asked about possibly getting a good deal on trading it in on another RAM and they said I'm at the complete mercy of the dealership.

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[Cleave]

I just contacted Ram customer service for the second time and for once the person I talk to actually agreed with me until he talk to his fellow coworkers that it is designed to work this way. Pretty sad even the customer service representatives agree with us but they still won't do anything about it. I asked about possibly getting a good deal on trading it in on another RAM and they said I'm at the complete mercy of the dealership.

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That's really disappointing to hear. It seems like this should be relatively easy to fix too - just a reflash.

I've only had my Ram for a few months and have had no need to use 4wd drive yet. Really not looking forward to winter now. My last ride was a little Nissan Frontier and that thing was a beast in the snow. I'm gonna be really irritated if the Ram doesn't perform as well.

 

[Hemi395]

That's really disappointing to hear. It seems like this should be relatively easy to fix too - just a reflash.

I've only had my Ram for a few months and have had no need to use 4wd drive yet. Really not looking forward to winter now. My last ride was a little Nissan Frontier and that thing was a beast in the snow. I'm gonna be really irritated if the Ram doesn't perform as well.

I came from a Frontier as well and if you still have the stock Goodyears, it won't be as good as the Frontier in the snow. However my Ram did pretty well in the snow last winter even with the 44-44 and we got pretty slammed.

 

[Cleave]

I came from a Frontier as well and if you still have the stock Goodyears, it won't be as good as the Frontier in the snow. However my Ram did pretty well in the snow last winter even with the 44-44 and we got pretty slammed.

Yeah I'm thinking I will need to pony up the cash for a good set of AT's before the snow really starts. These Goodyears are awful - even worse than the BFG Long Fails that came on the Frontier. Glad to hear your Ram did alright in the snow with the 44-44. I drive quite a bit and need this thing to perform.

 

[black14sport]

I forgot to mention after arguing with him for a while about all the four wheel drive modes being basically the same as Auto he did a little bit of research on his own finally and discovered that the difference between lock and Auto is that lock has a 50 50 split in power between the front and rear when it does lock. The auto has variable amount of torque going to the front depending on how much the rear slips. He also said a lot of things that we all already know like in order for it to stay engaged you have to keep on the throttle no matter what mode you are in.

He also said that in 4 wheel drive lock and low the only thing that makes the front engage is rear wheel slippage it does not matter how much torque is being put out unless you are in auto.

I'm not sure how much of this is true or made up but thats coming directly from RAM customer service, considering I had to tell them there were two different transfer cases in these trucks

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[black14sport]

^ I know probably 90% of us probably already knew that but there it is "straight from the horse's mouth"

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[black14sport]

So basically it doesn't matter how aggressive tires you have you're still going to spin it before the front kicks in allegedly

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[BigDogg795]

So basically it doesn't matter how aggressive tires you have you're still going to spin it before the front kicks in allegedly

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All I know is, next year when I'm no longer upside down on this truck can't come soon enough.

 

[Andy578]

such a ****** design. they could probably fix it with software but it's pretty clear they want it to work the way it is.

 

[black14sport]

such a ****** design. they could probably fix it with software but it's pretty clear they want it to work the way it is.

Sure is. And they won't escalate the issue to the next supervisor in line because there's technically nothing "wrong" with it. Might as well just keep sticking to fixing it ourselves.

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[iam_canadian22]

So basically it doesn't matter how aggressive tires you have you're still going to spin it before the front kicks in allegedly

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Yup, duratracs here and no difference in how fast it engages

 

[KahneFan]

Interesting about the 4WD Lock issues stated here. I was driving in wet weather today, so I threw my truck in Auto and I couldn't get my rear tires to slip for the life of me. It almost drove as if 4WD was on lock while I had it in auto. I would take it out of 4WD and the back tires would dance without a problem. Throw it in 4WD Auto and the front tires pulled me along right off the line - even when I wasn't trying to break rear traction, I could tell my fronts were engaged. So, to add to the issues listed here, I'm not entirely sure how Auto works since mine was engaged even when I wasn't slipping.

 

[GP4L]

such a ****** design. they could probably fix it with software but it's pretty clear they want it to work the way it is.

But it's not.... People are hating on it because they don't understand it, as usual.

And black2014sport, you're probably right on the money with what you heard. Know what other vehicle operates the same exactly way, with tremendous success? The Subaru WRX STi, since the early 2000's.