Grumble, Grumbling....

[Deli of the North]

Hey folks- I've got an odd thing happening with the van- when I start out in the morning- I am having this loud growling noise coming from the front end. I had thought it to be a wheel bearing on its way out, but the sound is a much more rapid growling noise than the wheel bearing is likely to make at low speed, so I'm thinking transfer case. The other thing is that it happens only for the first minute or two of driving, then either fades away, or stops when i stop the van at the lights, etc. When the latter happens, I can feel a slight click from underneath, as if it's disengaging something. And one more thing- when I say cold- I mean -20c to -30c outside ( I'm presently out on holidays in Manitobah). Any thoughts would be much appreciated, as I don't want any permenant damage here. Thanks in advance, Kevin

[Deli of the North]

Hey again- I just found some good info in the owners manual which tells me to drive in 4h for awhile in cold climes to warm the transfer case, then switch to 2h. Me feeling not too smart for not having "read instructions". Oh well, live and learn- and laugh at myself...!

[sahdot]

Any thoughts would be much appreciated, as I don't want any permenant damage here. Thanks in advance, Kevin

Hey again- I just found some good info in the owners manual which tells me to drive in 4h for awhile in cold climes to warm the transfer case

From what I've read on this forum, not a good idea on dry roads or real and permanent damage can be done.

-jim

[jessef]

It's good preventative maintenance to use 4x4 throughout the winter to move the fluids around in the tcase/differentials and get the grease heated up and moving in the CV's.

Just do it on loose surfaces.

[Jester]

From what I've read on this forum, not a good idea on dry roads or real and permanent damage can be done.

-jim[/quote]

How would the van know you're on dry, not muddy or snowy road?
It's probably not too good to zoom down a road at high speeds in 4wd, but it's not a bad idea to toss it in 4wd every once in a while just so it gets use.

[loki]

From what I've read on this forum, not a good idea on dry roads or real and permanent damage can be done.

-jim

How would the van know you're on dry, not muddy or snowy road?
It's probably not too good to zoom down a road at high speeds in 4wd, but it's not a bad idea to toss it in 4wd every once in a while just so it gets use.[/quote]


the van doesn't know but your tires wont slip and since there is no slip in the connection between the front and the back something has to give at some point.

[nvanadm]

the van doesn't know but your tires wont slip and since there is no slip in the connection between the front and the back something has to give at some point.

What if you're on a slippery packed snow surface moving at a reasonable speed (40-50kph) and aren't slipping? Do you have to take it out of 4WD? And then when you come to a corner or a stop you put it back in 4WD?

[konadog]

What if you're on a slippery packed snow surface moving at a reasonable speed (40-50kph) and aren't slipping? Do you have to take it out of 4WD? And then when you come to a corner or a stop you put it back in 4WD?

You can stay in 4x4 mode as long as you're not on BARE pavement. Packed snow, fluffy snow, ice, dirt, gravel etc. are all fine for 4x4. If the wheels are gripping on the snow in 4x4 that's good. Pop it back into 2wd if you turn onto a main road that has been plowed down to bare pavement and then back in if you need to when going back onto unplowed side roads. As long as the tires could slip on the surface, you're OK to stay in 4x4

[jessef]

If you are in 4x4 and on bare pavement, what will happen is when you turn, the outside wheels will want to spin more than the inside wheels but because the transfer case is locked, it will try to distribute the power evenly causing strain on the drivetrain, usually in the weak points (ujoints/cv and tcase output shaft)

[Erebus]

Don't stay in 4H, but if you lock up the hubs, then change to 2H, all the drivetrain parts will be turning (until you back up). That's what's important to warm up the parts, not whether you are in 4H or 2H. And 2H will prevent damage.