Disable Auto 4WD
Thread Starter
CF Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Jemez Springs, NM USA
Been a while, but I thought I'd follow up...
Thank goodness for CarMax's 30-day warranty. $1600 later and two visits to the local GMC dealer, the issue is fixed.
The first visit, they replaced the transfer case control module and "reprogrammed" it, claiming the problem was due to the computer not remembering what the previous transfer case position was. They claimed the issue was fixed, but it was not. They also discovered some issue with the steering shaft and replaced that. All told about $850 that CarMax paid for.
The truck was at the dealer for the better part of a week, and we were driving a loaner Hyundai that CarMax had given us.
Not wanting to deal with the hassle of a Hyundai in bad weather again, I decided to just live with having to press the 2-Hi switch each time the truck started up.
Then we got a snowstorm and the 4wd started misbehaving. No lights on the selector switch at all and the dash displaying "Service 4WD". Also, it was clearly stuck in 4wd, since turning on dry pavement was really difficult ... so I contacted CarMax again and took it back to the dealer myself. This was after the "Service 4wd" message had stopped displaying and the lights had come back on, and it wasn't in 4wd anymore. Otherwise I think it would have needed a tow.
This was right before we were going north to see my mom in the mountains, over a weekend in which it was supposed to snow. I demanded a 4x4 SUV loaner, and CarMax didn't have anything like that, so they arranged with Enterprise to give me a 2013 Chevy Captiva.
As an aside, the Captiva really wasn't that bad -- it was really surefooted in the snow and got great fuel economy, 25 MPG, but it was too small for us and definitely underpowered. Plus, the 6-speed auto drove me nuts with how often it shifts.
Got the Tahoe back from the dealer the second time after it had been there for two business days. They informed me that they had gotten "completely different codes" out of it this time, and they replaced the transfer case encoder motor and the 4x4 selector switch. Another $750 that CarMax paid for.
Been driving it for a week now, and it seems the issue is finally resolved.
Of course, my check engine light came on just the other day, and AutoZone's scanner tells me I need to replace an O2 sensor ... at least I can handle that job.
Now, what was the cause of all this? I'm betting on the switch. A $50 part if I buy it myself, but this job cost $1600 and a bunch of my time running back and forth.
Anyway, thank you all for the advice. I'm still really happy with this truck.
Thank goodness for CarMax's 30-day warranty. $1600 later and two visits to the local GMC dealer, the issue is fixed.
The first visit, they replaced the transfer case control module and "reprogrammed" it, claiming the problem was due to the computer not remembering what the previous transfer case position was. They claimed the issue was fixed, but it was not. They also discovered some issue with the steering shaft and replaced that. All told about $850 that CarMax paid for.
The truck was at the dealer for the better part of a week, and we were driving a loaner Hyundai that CarMax had given us.
Not wanting to deal with the hassle of a Hyundai in bad weather again, I decided to just live with having to press the 2-Hi switch each time the truck started up.
Then we got a snowstorm and the 4wd started misbehaving. No lights on the selector switch at all and the dash displaying "Service 4WD". Also, it was clearly stuck in 4wd, since turning on dry pavement was really difficult ... so I contacted CarMax again and took it back to the dealer myself. This was after the "Service 4wd" message had stopped displaying and the lights had come back on, and it wasn't in 4wd anymore. Otherwise I think it would have needed a tow.
This was right before we were going north to see my mom in the mountains, over a weekend in which it was supposed to snow. I demanded a 4x4 SUV loaner, and CarMax didn't have anything like that, so they arranged with Enterprise to give me a 2013 Chevy Captiva.
As an aside, the Captiva really wasn't that bad -- it was really surefooted in the snow and got great fuel economy, 25 MPG, but it was too small for us and definitely underpowered. Plus, the 6-speed auto drove me nuts with how often it shifts.
Got the Tahoe back from the dealer the second time after it had been there for two business days. They informed me that they had gotten "completely different codes" out of it this time, and they replaced the transfer case encoder motor and the 4x4 selector switch. Another $750 that CarMax paid for.
Been driving it for a week now, and it seems the issue is finally resolved.
Of course, my check engine light came on just the other day, and AutoZone's scanner tells me I need to replace an O2 sensor ... at least I can handle that job.
Now, what was the cause of all this? I'm betting on the switch. A $50 part if I buy it myself, but this job cost $1600 and a bunch of my time running back and forth.
Anyway, thank you all for the advice. I'm still really happy with this truck.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 401
Likes: 1
wow, guess that wasn't just a small personalization issue... I would have thought it was still learning your preference... Somehow our 2007 will EVENTUALLY learn how you want things. Such as recycle air in the summer. If you turn it on for 15 times in a row making sure you get it every-time (if you skip once start all over again) it finally starts to think, hey he wants recycle air on, how about I resume previous settings... (why not resume them in the first place?) Annoying but will eventually get there...
Glad to hear its all fixed though, really glad to hear car max paid for all of that! Sweet deal!
Glad to hear its all fixed though, really glad to hear car max paid for all of that! Sweet deal!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Z71Chevy
Silverado, Sierra & Fullsize Pick-ups
9
Nov 9, 2009 11:21 PM