BW44-45 swap on 2006–2011 Non-PowerNet Ram – AlfaOBD transfer case type question

[Adham Hany]

Hi everyone,

I’m posting to get advice and to double-check something with the community, especially from anyone experienced with AlfaOBD and earlier 4th-gen Rams.





Truck details:

• Dodge Ram 1500 DS
• Model year: 2011
• Platform: Non-PowerNet (2006–2011)
• Original transfer case: BW44-44
• Current transfer case: BW44-45

Mechanical status:

• Transfer case is mechanically healthy
• Encoder motor works normally
• 4L engages and disengages correctly
• High / Low ranges are clearly functional
• No fault codes or mechanical noises

Behavior after the swap:

• From 2WD → 4H:
  • 4H indicator turns on
  • Transfer case is in High range
  • Front axle does not engage
• 
  
• From 4L → 4H:
  • Front axle remains engaged
  • 4H works normally
• 
  
• From 4H → 2WD:
  • Indicator switches to 2WD
  • Front axle sometimes stays engaged
  • Reliable disengagement only happens after cycling 4L → 2WD

From all my testing, the issue does not appear to be mechanical.


It looks like a control / logic limitation related to the Front Axle Disconnect (FAD).





I’m aware of the well-known RamForum post where a 2013+ PowerNet Ram successfully used AlfaOBD to change the transfer case type in the BCM (BW44-44 → BW44-45), which fixed FAD behavior and restored true 2WD.





However, on my 2011 Non-PowerNet truck:

• I do not see any “Transfer Case Type” or similar parameter in AlfaOBD
• There does not appear to be any way to code or change BW44-44 vs BW44-45 behavior
• From what I can tell, AlfaOBD does not expose transfer case type configuration on Non-PowerNet platforms

My questions to the community:

• Can anyone confirm whether Non-PowerNet (2006–2011) Rams truly lack any AlfaOBD option to change transfer case type?
• Has anyone found a hidden parameter, workaround, or alternative module that allows proper BW44-45 logic on these trucks?
• Or is this a known limitation of the Non-PowerNet architecture?

The truck works reliably using N → 4L → 4H, but I’m trying to understand whether a more factory-correct solution exists or if this is simply the expected behavior on early 4th-gen Rams.





Any insight or shared experience would be greatly appreciated.





Thanks.

 

[Adham Hany]

I would like to clarify my situation more clearly.

I purchased the AlfaOBD app and also replaced my transfer case (BW44-44 → BW44-45) specifically because I understood that AlfaOBD allows changing the transfer case type using the “Vehicle Config 3: Tcase Type” option.

After completing the hardware swap and connecting AlfaOBD to my vehicle

(Ram 1500 MY2011, Non-PowerNet), I realized that this option does not appear at all under the available control modules and vehicle configuration menus.

So my question is not how to change the value, but rather:

• Was this option never available on MY2006–2012 Non-PowerNet Rams?
• Or should it appear in a specific module/menu that I might be missing?

I just want to understand whether this is a platform limitation, since my decision to purchase the app and perform the transfer case swap was based on the assumption that this configuration was accessible through AlfaOBD.

 

[Ken226]

So my question is not how to change the value, but rather:

• Was this option never available on MY2006–2012 Non-PowerNet Rams?
• Or should it appear in a specific module/menu that I might be missing?

Which is it currently set to?

I did this swap successfully in my 2013 Sport truck, back in 2018, i think. I hated the stock 44-44. I still have the same truck and my 44-45 swap is still working like a champ!



I don't think the 44-45 was an option until 2013, though i have heard of a few rare cases of them appearing in 2012 trucks.

So, I went back into my old BCM config backup .txt file to see what it shows for transfer case type, as it has been a long time since I messed with it. Here is what is set:



So, it would appear that the same logic is used for all those transfer case types. So, just out of curiosity I looked to see which options are listed under 2006-2012 non-Powernet and it shows:







So, it would appear that 244 Analog would be your best option to try. On my 2013 BCM backup file, it shows my current programming to be compatible with the Analog 244, the 44-45, the 44-46 and the 44-48. The Analog 244 is the only one that shows up for the non-Powernet trucks.

 

[Adham Hany]

The problem is those options is not appear .. i dont have transfer case type under 2006-2012 non-Powernet

 

[Ken226]

The problem is those options is not appear .. i dont have transfer case type under 2006-2012 non-Powernet

Make sure you're looking in the right place.

First, connect to the Body Computer:


Then 2nd, click the little icon on the bottom right, that looks like a car with the hood up (active diagnostics).


Then third, in the top drop-down, "car configuration change"

And the other 2 drop-down, as shown here




Are you saying that none of this is there?

Make sure that you click the button that says "connect".

And that the status bar says"connected".

 

[Ken226]

The problem is those options is not appear .. i dont have transfer case type under 2006-2012 non-Powernet

Ever figure it out?

 

[crash68]

Has anyone found a hidden parameter, workaround, or alternative module that allows proper BW44-45 logic on these trucks?

I thought someone on this forum posted about doing this swap but it was a few years ago. I remember them stating something about no option for a BW44-45 and the shifting logic for the BW44-44 didn't work correctly. If I remember correctly they used the other transfer case option successfully.
What are you running AlfaOBD on? What OBD reader are you using, some of the cheaper obd modules can't read all the comm trunks without adapters. This is partly why the developer recommends using an OBDLink MX or MX+