Exposure

Thanks for the thought onespiritbrain. I've had the car off up on jacks for something else, turning the rear right wheel made tb front left turn. That means the centre is still locked right? Yeah I've been using US manuals, 2001 or 2002 onwards has the transfer case I have with the switch. Good idea on checking the connector for obvious damage. Do you mean the connectors on the transfer case or the connectors on the transfer control module? I'll try drive in reverse at slow speed and figure 8s, then if that doesn't work I'll try follow that trouble tree and check the connector. I'd think that if there was a pressure switch or valve stuck open that the built in diagnostic would pick it up, but so far nothing comes up. It behaves normally switching all the modes as well with a single beep and corresponding lights. Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll give them a go.

Mine is the transfer with the dash mounted switch. I'm in Brisbane, Australia. I thought about trying reverse figure 8s as I've only done the forward ones before. I might also try draining and filling up the TC a few more times to ensure 100% all of the old fluid is out.

Well I've had that stuff in for a week, no change

Okay thanks, I'll give that a go. Are you meant to leave it in for a few days or just a few kilometres? Nik

Just an update: I remembered a friend was helping me with the car before when it was on jacks and off. A back wheel was turned and the opposite side front wheel turned with it. The car was off and it was in 2H before it was turned off. I think that confirms it's a mechanical issue, and the fact no codes come up seems to indicate the clutch plates are stuck together.

Hi, thank you. All of those 5 assumptions are correct. I changed the transfer case fluid because I read that could help. That is a good idea, I'll give that a go to confirm my suspicion that it is the clutch packs stuck together. The system appears to work correctly, as in the switching and light indications however it remains stuck in 4H.

Yeah the system seems to think all is right and it's in 2H. I have a copy of the service manual, when there is no pressure going to the wet clutch they should disengage, but it doesn't appear to do that. I've run through the built in diagnosis that it has. No fault codes were logged, but now that I've driven it a bit more maybe I'll try that again. I do not believe it is an electrical fault as the system is designed to pick those up.

When I move the switch position it does it's single beep and the lights indicate what they should. Currently when I switch to 2wd it does a short single beep and only the rear two wheel lights are illuminated. The centre diff light is not. I have tried full lock on gravel and over pavement back to gravel with the switch in the 2wd position to try get it unstuck. The tyres do grab and then eventually let go or slip as the transmission gets wound up. Driving on the road when I need to do tight corners it winds up and requires more accelerator to move. Eventually the tyres do slip or chirp on the pavement to relive some of the wound up forces. Do you think doing it in reverse will stress it more or produce a different outcome?

G'day, I purchased a 2000 R50 Pathfinder recently with the electric transfer case. It appears as if the transfer case is stuck in constant 4x4H mode. I've run the diagnostic that is built into the system and no faults log, I can select all of the modes and the system believes it is engaging by just a single beep. I can switch between 4H and 4L fine, but I cannot seem to get the wet clutch pack to disengage and go into 2wd mode. I've done all manner of forwards and reverse, full lock to full lock on and off tarmac and nothing works. I've changed the fluid in the transfer case, the stuff that came out did not have any chunks in it and didnt look too bad. Considering no faults are indicated and everything appears to switch with no issue, a friend suggested the clutch pack itself may be stuck together. Has anyone experienced this before? Are there any additives I could try and add to the transfer case to try free them up? cheers, Nik