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

[roadshow]

This is what happens when automakers aim to sell to people who buy pickups and never put anything in the bed other than half a dozen grocery bags. There's a market already for those urban girls , they're called "CUV's" with AWD. But naw, they want a pretty pickup truck version of an Audi that'll never get dirty.

The thing that ****** me off is that I managed to get a RAM with true 4wd and from what I've been reading here none of the newer ones will have that when the time comes for me to buy again unless I get into the 2500/3500 which I don't really need.

It's getting harder and harder to buy a 1/2 ton with specs and interiors built like a truck because this sector of the industry is flooded with urban cowboy and soccer mom buyers

 

[black14sport]

Not to mention you can't even get one with a manual transmission anymore

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[mcardoza]

OK, just a followup on my issue.
Chrysler care and Stoneridge Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram
These guys suck!
I recently had a blown transfer case in my 2013 ram 1500. Let's start with the fact that I brought it in a year ago w the same problem. They said no problem found? ...
Suddenly, there was a problem? BS! To add insult to injury, they made me buy $800 in tires so they could properly diagose the problem that wasn't there a year prior to that! A customer orientated shop would have looked for a solution and pulled a set off of a service vehicle or something to fix the problem.
They didn't act like an advocate for my situation and railroaded me into paying for a repair that should have been paid for under warranty. I got the impression that they wanted to charge me more than what Chrysler would have paid them to do the work under warranty. I never felt like they were there to take care of the customer.
Additionally, they baked my battery by draining it to zero and leaving it w a draw on it for a week. I got the battery to recover after 3 days of reconditioning. They said I had a bad cell and left me for dead! They didn't offer to fix it and just pointed the finger at me and th battery. Getting the picture?
Never the less, I won't ever do business with them again! I'll drive to Fremont or sell my truck before i ever set foot in there again!
I bet they gank you when you try to buy a car from them too. It seems to be the culture there!
BUYER BEWARE!

 

[roadshow]

Lol. FCA missed a great marketing opportunity for the 8 speed by not advertising how their "AWD" rivals a Subaru Forester for those snowy trips in the suburbs for milk and eggs. Complete with a short bed for extra grocery capacity since that's all she's ever gonna haul, and a built in ****** holder under the shift "knob"

I'm not going to make fun of people who buy HD models who don't actually need the extra payload ever again because obviously the European influence of Fiat people in tight soccer shirts, sandals and Capri pants has infected the half ton line up the last 3 years.

 

[Hemi395]

For those who are stuck with this spectacular transfer case, there's another option for the fluid. The BW44-44 fluid from the dealer is approx $30/quart or about $20/quart on Amazon. According to BorgWarner, the required fluid is nothing more than Dexron III. They also mentioned that they do not recommend ATF+4 in the 44-44. Amsoil states that their Signature Series Multi Vehicle ATF which exceeds Dexron III specs, will work fine in this tcase.

For the last 2 months I've been running this fluid in my tcase and it works as well as it did before. IMO Amsoil MVATF is a much better fluid than the dealer fluid. It withstands heat much better also which may save these tcases from burning up so easily.

 

[Murphy Slaw]

Am I reading this thread right, that ALL of the upper trim 1500's use that transfer case and the only way to get the good one is with an Express or a Rebel?

 

[crash68]

Am I reading this thread right, that ALL of the upper trim 1500's use that transfer case and the only way to get the good one is with an Express or a Rebel?

Outdoorsman have them(44-45) also but that package went away for 2017. I think the Tradesman also have them. The tel-tale sign of which transfer-case the lack of the "Auto" button on the 4x4 selector buttons.

 

[loveracing1988]

Am I reading this thread right, that ALL of the upper trim 1500's use that transfer case and the only way to get the good one is with an Express or a Rebel?

If you are shopping 2015 and later anything outdoorsman, SLT, express, or tradesman will have the 44-45. Anything above will have the 44-44.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Murphy Slaw]

If you are shopping 2015 and later anything outdoorsman, SLT, express, or tradesman will have the 44-45. Anything above will have the 44-44.

So, I wonder if owners of the 44-44 are having issues. There must be tens of thousands of those transfer case's out there by now getting up in miles and another winter coming on.

I would have to think this will become a very well known issue SOON if they are indeed a weak link.

 

[7777xm]

Mines 2014 has 50k and my 44-44 is going strong. Lots of WOT launches, and even a high speed engagement with a 3.21 rear and 3.92 front.

I wanna say most of ours are doing just fine.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

 

[loveracing1988]

So, I wonder if owners of the 44-44 are having issues. There must be tens of thousands of those transfer case's out there by now getting up in miles and another winter coming on.

I would have to think this will become a very well known issue SOON if they are indeed a weak link.

Only a few people even notice the lack of a true lock in the transfer case, let alone use the truck enough to hurt it. I would bet 95% of users never take the trucks off road, let alone in a situation where you burn up the clutch.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[7777xm]

Only a few people even notice the lack of a true lock in the transfer case, let alone use the truck enough to hurt it. I would bet 95% of users never take the trucks off road, let alone in a situation where you burn up the clutch.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Our clay in GA is slick as snot. 44-44 handles it just fine. Never overheated the t-case.

The few who have had issues don't represent the majority of these things.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

 

[loveracing1988]

Our clay in GA is slick as snot. 44-44 handles it just fine. Never overheated the t-case.

The few who have had issues don't represent the majority of these things.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

I didn't say they did, I said the opposite of it actually. If you want to stuck up for the transfer case go ahead, I've said it before and I'll say it again, there is no positive to this transfer case. For years we've had transfer cases with 4 auto that actually lock when put into 4 hi or 4 low, this one does not. It might work good on clay, sand, whatever, but I know for me in deep snow it was utterly useless. For all I know they have improved these as I had one of the first trucks with it officially in it and a co worker has a 2016 and he says he's never had a problem in deep snow. On the other hand he does have the v6 so not near the torque of the V8 to hurt the clutch.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[iam_canadian22]

I didn't say they did, I said the opposite of it actually. If you want to stuck up for the transfer case go ahead, I've said it before and I'll say it again, there is no positive to this transfer case. For years we've had transfer cases with 4 auto that actually lock when put into 4 hi or 4 low, this one does not. It might work good on clay, sand, whatever, but I know for me in deep snow it was utterly useless. For all I know they have improved these as I had one of the first trucks with it officially in it and a co worker has a 2016 and he says he's never had a problem in deep snow. On the other hand he does have the v6 so not near the torque of the V8 to hurt the clutch.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Mine was fine in all conditions too unless crawling slowly

 

[smurfs_of_war]

Mine was fine in all conditions too unless crawling slowly

Mine served me "just ok". Never had any real issues but found when I was crawling through deep snow if I didn't have my foot into the throttle a bit it was not the best experience. And if it was bitterly cold- forget it. Needed to warm up a bit before it made its presence known. Otherwise it was fine.

Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk

 

[reek]

Mines 2014 has 50k and my 44-44 is going strong. Lots of WOT launches, and even a high speed engagement with a 3.21 rear and 3.92 front.

I wanna say most of ours are doing just fine.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

a little OT but your gear ratios don't match front and rear?

 

[7777xm]

a little OT but your gear ratios don't match front and rear?

They do now lol! Dealer effed up and put 3.21 on a axle replacement. I engaged it at 55 mph.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

 

[Murphy Slaw]

Only a few people even notice the lack of a true lock in the transfer case, let alone use the truck enough to hurt it. I would bet 95% of users never take the trucks off road, let alone in a situation where you burn up the clutch.

Well, that's kind of where I was going.

I'm thinking in MOST situations it might be just fine, if not actually better.

It would be Farmers, Construction Workers, Oil Workers, a lot of trades that would require a 3/4 ton ANYHOW, who have the most issues.

I know that as someone (living in snow country with land.....) in the market for a new 4X4 this thread certainly caught my eye, and has made me think about it.

 

[loveracing1988]

Well, that's kind of where I was going.

I'm thinking in MOST situations it might be just fine, if not actually better.

It would be Farmers, Construction Workers, Oil Workers, a lot of trades that would require a 3/4 ton ANYHOW, who have the most issues.

I know that as someone (living in snow country with land.....) in the market for a new 4X4 this thread certainly caught my eye, and has made me think about it.

There isn't one situation out there where it would be better. It takes a truck that should be able to do some sort of mild off roading and castrates it. Some people have issues, some don't, but there were zero issues with the New Venture transfer cases the pre 2013 had.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[iam_canadian22]

Mine served me "just ok". Never had any real issues but found when I was crawling through deep snow if I didn't have my foot into the throttle a bit it was not the best experience. And if it was bitterly cold- forget it. Needed to warm up a bit before it made its presence known. Otherwise it was fine.

Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk

Ya "just ok" would be better terms, i did burn one up rather easily after all lol