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Manual shifter for the Tcase jumping out of gear

1.2K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  oscard0215  
#1 · (Edited)
I have a 2012 ST with the manual floor shifter for the Tcase. I got caught in a snow storm the other night on a road trip and ended up having to drive on icy mountain roads for 200 miles with one hand on the shifter holding in in 4hi. It seemed like on downhills where I was coasting, it would stay in just fine. But the minute I started to accelerate, hit a bump, or start up a slight incline, the shifter would pop out of 4hi and back into 2wd.

I'm thinking the shifter is just out of adjustment, but figured I'd ask to see if anyone else might have any had this happen or had any input on it before I go crawling around under the truck.

Thanks!
 
#2 ·
Sounds like a warranty issue to me. Probably is just an adjustment, but I would get it checked and documented by the dealer in case something worse is happening. That must have been a long trip !
 
#3 ·
I'd love to just drop it off and tell them to fix it.....buuuttt, I really don't want to have to put all my emissions crap back on it if it's just a linkage issue. I think I'll see if I can figure out what is up with it, and if it leans toward something internal, I guess I'll have no choice but to take it in.

And yes, that was the longest 200 miles of my life! My arm and shoulder were killing me by the time I got out of the snow.
 
#4 ·
It is a linkage issue; and unfortunately one that is best solved by the stealership if it turns out to be an internal issue. I had the same problem on my '74 IH & it was a bad detent ball in the internal shift linkage. Required a transfer case rebuild.

You may be able to sneak by for external issues by climbing underneath and checking the linkage; it is possible that there is a snow / ice buildup in the locking clip of the shifter assembly preventing the unit from remaining in gear.

Good luck.
 
#5 ·
I'll have to crawl under it this weekend and see what I can find out. I've pulled plenty of these tcases apart before, but seeing how it only has 8,000 miles, I'll let the dealer deal with it if it's internal.

Thanks for the input.