q1werty2
Junior Member
I'm sure this has been discussed but I am unable to locate a thread on it. Below is my issue along with some other "side symptoms". I have no idea if they are related.
History - "4WD Shift in Progress" message displays intermittently. This has been happening for two years. I took it in under warranty and the dealer was unable to find out what the issue is and told me not to worry about it. They re-flashed it, but no change. There has been no issues with this message and 4x4 has worked as expected. I just learned to live with the message.
December 23rd - the ESC light comes on while driving on the interstate from Texas to Alabama. I figured it is a bad wheel sensor and will deal with it later. As usual, the "4WD Shift in Progress" message comes on and off throughout the trip.
December 25th. "4WD Shift in Progress" message comes on, but this time it is accompanied by the "4x4" orange light indicating the truck THINKS it is in 4WD. After moving about 100 feet I heard a loud grinding noise followed by a loud pop from front of truck. I was driving about 10 mph when this happened. I stop and play with/jiggle the 4WD shifter and the light goes off. I drive it to where I am staying for the holidays with no issue.
Next morning the exact thing happens in the driveway so I take it to my brother's house for inspection. It appears the front actuator is engaging by itself even when the 4WD lever is in 2WD. When I played with the 4WD shift lever (just jiggled it) the 4WD light would come on and off. When the light was on, the ESC light went off. When the light was off, the ESC light came on. I am making no correlation between the 4WD and ESC lights as it seems ESC would be disabled any way in 4WD. Just stating what I observed.
I unplugged the connector from the front axle actuator and the truck drives fine. I even put it up on jack stands to make sure it was really in 2WD, and it is. I have the "SERV 4WD" light on, which is expected with the connector unplugged.
December 31 - drove back home to Texas with no issues. ESC light is still on. SERV 4WD light is still on. "4WD Shift in Progress" light is no longer happening (I'm guessing because the front actuator is unplugged)
Please note - I have an actual lever on the floor to select 4WD mode. I do not have a knob on the dash or an actuator (plunger) on the transfer case. There is no way for the transfer case to be engaged unless I physically move the 4WD shift lever. Just adding that in here so no one suggests I have a bad selector knob/switch. My truck does not have the knob on the dash.
The only think I can think of is that there is a sensor somewhere that is bad, but I sure as heck can't find it.
Recap - Front axle actuator engages by itself, even when shift lever is in 2WD position.
Current State: Front axle actuator is unplugged, and will remain so until I figure out what the fix is.
Any help from the forum would be greatly appreciated.
Truck info:
2014 2500 Tradesman (base model)
84,000 miles
100% stock except for wheels/tires which are same size as originals
Thanks in advance,
Scott W.
History - "4WD Shift in Progress" message displays intermittently. This has been happening for two years. I took it in under warranty and the dealer was unable to find out what the issue is and told me not to worry about it. They re-flashed it, but no change. There has been no issues with this message and 4x4 has worked as expected. I just learned to live with the message.
December 23rd - the ESC light comes on while driving on the interstate from Texas to Alabama. I figured it is a bad wheel sensor and will deal with it later. As usual, the "4WD Shift in Progress" message comes on and off throughout the trip.
December 25th. "4WD Shift in Progress" message comes on, but this time it is accompanied by the "4x4" orange light indicating the truck THINKS it is in 4WD. After moving about 100 feet I heard a loud grinding noise followed by a loud pop from front of truck. I was driving about 10 mph when this happened. I stop and play with/jiggle the 4WD shifter and the light goes off. I drive it to where I am staying for the holidays with no issue.
Next morning the exact thing happens in the driveway so I take it to my brother's house for inspection. It appears the front actuator is engaging by itself even when the 4WD lever is in 2WD. When I played with the 4WD shift lever (just jiggled it) the 4WD light would come on and off. When the light was on, the ESC light went off. When the light was off, the ESC light came on. I am making no correlation between the 4WD and ESC lights as it seems ESC would be disabled any way in 4WD. Just stating what I observed.
I unplugged the connector from the front axle actuator and the truck drives fine. I even put it up on jack stands to make sure it was really in 2WD, and it is. I have the "SERV 4WD" light on, which is expected with the connector unplugged.
December 31 - drove back home to Texas with no issues. ESC light is still on. SERV 4WD light is still on. "4WD Shift in Progress" light is no longer happening (I'm guessing because the front actuator is unplugged)
Please note - I have an actual lever on the floor to select 4WD mode. I do not have a knob on the dash or an actuator (plunger) on the transfer case. There is no way for the transfer case to be engaged unless I physically move the 4WD shift lever. Just adding that in here so no one suggests I have a bad selector knob/switch. My truck does not have the knob on the dash.
The only think I can think of is that there is a sensor somewhere that is bad, but I sure as heck can't find it.
Recap - Front axle actuator engages by itself, even when shift lever is in 2WD position.
Current State: Front axle actuator is unplugged, and will remain so until I figure out what the fix is.
Any help from the forum would be greatly appreciated.
Truck info:
2014 2500 Tradesman (base model)
84,000 miles
100% stock except for wheels/tires which are same size as originals
Thanks in advance,
Scott W.