2001 Suburban

I have the NP8 4 button transfer case. 2HI and 4Hi work. Rig won't shift into 4 low, I got the 'Cannot complete shift' error code. I pulled encoder motor off and tried it hanging loose. The motor went to 4LO and back with no problem. I put a wrench on the shifter shaft and tried to turn it by hand. Very hard to turn but I did get it to click into some kind of different position. How hard is it supposed to be to turn this shaft I wonder?

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

First: Welcome to the forum from Oregon.

How often do you shift the encoder motor between the different settings? If you do it only in the cold snowy weather then you may have caused the problem. Needs to be cycled periodically even in warm weather.

Gonna have to try and free that shaft up and lube it but you should also change the diff fluid after all that.

 

I've been telling people this for years. Even in summer, turn the heat on high and keep it there. It's cheaper than having to replace the heater core for instance. Same thing with a TC. Even if you don't off-road much, keep the lube up to par or sell it for a two wheel drive..

 

I used to live in KC, Mo. before I moved here to Oregon 25 years ago. I lived in Gladstone, north of the river and my brother still lives there in Parkville, again north of the river and he works at the Ford Assembly Plant in Claycomo.

Getting ready to start getting real cold there, snow on the ground and that dreaded salt on the roads. I ran shops there for years.

 

It may sound dumb but are you shifting into 4L with the trans. in neutral and not park or any other gear ?