[rmoore0852]

Well, I may have messed up. I had to park off road in a slippery field, so switched to 4hi. When leaving several hours later, I was not paying attention and left it in 4hi. Drove all the way home. 25 miles at 70 mph. No tight corners, so I didn't realize it until I got home and went to pull into the driveway. Making the tight turn I felt it bind and realized what I had done.



Now the question. It seems to shift in and out of 4wd fine. No funny noises, no warning lights. How can I check that everything is still working the way it should? I don't need 4wd often, but when I do I tend to be out in the middle of nowhere or on a very slippery boat ramp. Did I luck out and not tear anything up or am I going to use 4wd at some point and then realize that it isn't right? Surely others have done this, what breaks and is it easy to know if I messed something up??

 

[johnH123]

I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[davester]

You felt it binding when turning, so it still is working.


Driving around in 4wd is bad for the system because of that binding, which happens both when turning, and if the front tires are a slightly different diameter than the rears.


There are two ways for that binding to "release"
a) one of the tires skids a bit.
b) something fails catastrophically.


You are still on tires skidding a bit.


So, your tires have worn a bit, and there's a bit more wear on the transfer case and the front diff, but your 4wd system is still working fine.

 

[Rvn4me]

Might find something in one of these. If not there’s hundreds more.
https://www.dieselplace.com/forum/76-speciality-forums/480-drivetrain-2011/974978-4x4.html
https://www.dieselplace.com/forum/7...ft-my-truck-4-wheel-drive-80mph-what-now.html

 

[D_R_C]

I’ve forgotten mine several times towing, the last time I had went about 50 miles, and noticed when I pulled in a McDonnalds for lunch, when turning the front tires was digging into the freshly laid asphalt.
After that I wired in a small amber led light that illuminates only when I’m in 4 wheel drive low and high.
That little light on the knob, is pretty much useless unless it’s dark and hard to see unless your looking down.
Your not the first and won’t be the last, as mentioned above you should be ok.

 

[Joey D]

I’ve done it at least once in every 4x4 truck I’ve ever owned, never an issue.

 

[rmoore0852]

Thanks everyone.

 

[LETHAL WEAPON]

And what is GM reasoning for not having a 4wd indicator in the dash cluster to let you know you're in 4hi or 4lo like in the older trucks.......and please don't tell me it's about "COST"

 

[D_R_C]

Ok,
But I’m pretty sure it’s about cutting cost. :huh:
The GM engineers feels that little tiny light on the knob near your left knee that can only be seen in the dark is all you really need.
My 79 K20 lights up on the dash. :thumb:

 

[ROADNOTCA]

Copy what was said above. Change the transfer case oil & drag a magnet through it. Check for equal pressure in front tires. Check, check......OK!

 

[Kevin681]

The work truck package on the 2003-2007 had an indicator light in the dash cluster. These are the trucks with the 4x4 shifter on the floor.

Always irritates me that I can see the damn spot in the cluster where the light goes in my current SLE package but because it's pushbutton they decided it didn't need the bulb in the cluster.

Don't know how many times I've forgotten to knock it out of 4x4 because the little orange light on the pushbutton doesn't do jack...Might explain my transfer case rebuild...

 

[Gerard Andrea]

At 70 mph, the front differential should be well lubed. Owned 4 wheel drives for almost 40 years and was told to put them in 4 wheel at least once a month to keep things lubricated. Bent a rear driveshaft once and had to remove it to drive 150 miles in “front wheel drive” no issues except it’s probably harder on the smaller front shaft. I wouldn’t worry about it!

 

[Loader]

A transfer case will put up with a lot. I just rebuilt one in an older Dodge. It was dry as a bone inside. He said that the tranny was rebuilt about 3 years ago but he's never done anything with the t-case. It's all direct-connect on there, so if it's working, it's working. There aren't any clutches to burn up or anything like that. If all four tires are the same size, then there was very little strain and stress on components. Drive on. Just remember to change the oil in the transfer case as it probably isn't sharing fluid with the transmission.