How reliable is the electronic transfer case? Anybody have some issues with this? Looking to buy a new truck but all they have are electronic transfer cases, feel like a girl pushing buttons instead of shifting a leaver

For me they have been very reliable. I avoided them for a long time due to my somewhat extreme use (brush, rocks, and fording too deep rivers with a winch). I have now had them in 3 D/A for over 150,000 miles with no problems nor glitches. I love the ease of going into 4wd for ice, snow, mud, and water, and the similar ease of going back to 2wd. GM has come a long way in the past 6 years in their electrical connectors.

all the new trucks use electronic tansfer case. the shift on the fly is just that and the lever style is still elecrtonically shifted just not SOTF.

You need to clarify on that just a little. The lever actually engages the ranges on the t-case, but the front differential is still electronic.

Ok so I guess I am kinda scared about all the issues I read on the foum about people having the case not go into 4WD hi or lo, or the light blinking constantly pissing you off.

This is my second truck with it and I have never had any trouble with either one. I don't think I would ever go back to the lever on the floor I like having the clean look of no lever and have found no downfalls in the electronic system.

I have a 98, and no problems.

Ok so I guess I am kinda scared about all the issues I read on the foum about people having the case not go into 4WD hi or lo, or the light blinking constantly pissing you off.
Remember the posters here only represent a tiny precentage of those on the road. I've had two w/buttons and no problems at all, and I don't feel like no girl! good luck

Most of us here in Nevada who run hard off road in the mountains/desert carry spare actuators for the front end and transfer. In the last 4 years have only known two actuators to lose it out of 16 hard run vehicles. No worries unless you like deep mud, water, sand and every now and then trying to be an airplane...

My '93 Ranger was a finnicky ***** about going into 4wd with the pushbutton but I assume designs have improved since then. But I still prefer a stick for greater reliability.

as said before, the front axle is engaged completely electronicly. If the encoder motor (electric) fails, you're not going anywhere. So even if you have your 'good old fashioned reliable' manual shift transfer case, you can move the lever all you want, if that electric encoder motor craps out, its not gonna do any good, no offence ;)

if the manual shift t-case was FULL mechanical, sure I could see maybe the reliability advantage and greater simplicity, but because the front axle is engaged electronically no matter what transfer case, there is technically no advantage to having a push button or manual lever shift. :)

ben

My '93 Ranger was a finnicky ***** about going into 4wd with the pushbutton but I assume designs have improved since then. But I still prefer a stick for greater reliability.


I don't see what a '93 Ranger has to do with a question about the reliabilty of GM's push button 4x4 system. Just my 2 cents.
;)

I've had pushbutton transfer cases on no less than ten GM 4x4s since '92. Never even 1 problem. They're VERY reliable.

I've had 2 automatic transfer cases. I had one issue that seemed to go away by shutting off the truck and then starting it back up again. I wasn't even trying to get into 4WD, just leave a parking lot. However, my buddy had the linkage on his floor mounted shifter rust out on an '02. He had to shift it "manually" into 4WD to get home from skiing after a snow storm and then have the linkage replaced.

ok thanks for the info, but it seems I found a truck with floor shifter in a good color

Encoder motors are around $600 part alone.

The fact that you have to ask if there are problems with E-transfer cases shows that you know there probably will be.

My dad's trailblazer and friends Tahoe both had problems. Something with the actuator that actally engages the t-case. I also think that use has something to do with it. They only used 4wd about twice a year.

I prefer the manual ones, you know its going to work plus its cheaper:)

I prefer the manual ones, you know its going to work plus its cheaper:)


You "know" your encoder motor is never gonna fail??:rolleyes:


yes, "manual" transfer cases rely on electronics too