Transfer case issues?

[TaylorH3]

On several different occasions my transfer case i think has completely slipped out of gear. the car will not move after that in 4-hi, but will work when i switch to 4-high lock or 4-low lock. I've had it at the dealership 4 different times to get fixed and it always breaks again within five miles of leaving after it supposedly being fixed. Has anyone had anything like this happen to them or know of anything that it could be?

 

[reaper]

Ouch. That's the opposite of what's happened to me-- it sounds like the tcase shifting mechanism is off, OR your tcase has something broken or misassembled inside.

Are you in or out of warranty?

 

[alrock]

What was on the service invoices as the fix - what did they say they did to address the issue? I don't know the age of your H3 but earlier ones had plastic shift forks in the transfer case that are prone to wearing out.

 

[Happy Hummer]

More information please.
Year ?
Model?
Miles?
When?
Where?
How?
Etc

Chris

 

[Mb30sdl]

Probably encoder motor.

 

[TaylorH3]

Thanks for the responses its a 2010 I5 manual transmission with 39,000 miles still under factory warranty. The first time it broke was on the road then the other times was less than five miles from the dealership. the last thing they said they replaced was the encoder motor which didn't fix it and before they told me they replaced the entire transfer case but it still being covered in dirt, it didn't look like that happened. The dealership it was just at (for two months) said that they threw in the towel and don't know how to fix so it is on its way to Tustin Buick GMC to see if they can figure it out.

 

[reaper]

Ouch! That sucks. I had a similar experience... a shop tried to rebuilt it, it took them MONTHS and I ended up getting it back and replacing it myself. I would see if you can get them to replace the tcase under warranty like they said they did. Maybe put a mark on your old one so you know if they pull a fast one on you. Good luck!

 

[Zach]

Thanks for the responses its a 2010 I5 manual transmission with 39,000 miles still under factory warranty. The first time it broke was on the road then the other times was less than five miles from the dealership. the last thing they said they replaced was the encoder motor which didn't fix it and before they told me they replaced the entire transfer case but it still being covered in dirt, it didn't look like that happened. The dealership it was just at (for two months) said that they threw in the towel and don't know how to fix so it is on its way to Tustin Buick GMC to see if they can figure it out.

Pm me your vin, I can check and see what was done under warranty. Taking it to Tustin is the best. Mike is awesome there.

And what up Reaper? Thought you disappeared under a rock. Been awhile.

 

[reaper]

And what up Reaper? Thought you disappeared under a rock. Been awhile.

Yeah... I was hiding under a rock for a while. Haven't been too active with the hummer this year, I need to get a few things fixed before it's adventure ready again. I think my front axle trail repair needs to be replaced... haven't had time to work on it with kids and family and all.

 

[4speedfunk]

On several different occasions my transfer case i think has completely slipped out of gear. the car will not move after that in 4-hi, but will work when i switch to 4-high lock or 4-low lock.

Smoked front axle. Probably missing teeth from the pinion gear.

Explanation:
In 4HI-Street mode, the H3 sends power to the axle with the most slippage. When you break either diff...the driveshaft serving that diff will spin freely. The t-case senses this and it assumes the tires are slipping, and it takes power away from the other axle (the good one)...and sends all the power to the broken one. This is why you cannot move in 4HI-Street. You must use either 4HI-Locked or 4LO-locked mode to split the power 50/50 so you can propel the vehicle. This type of breakage is very common and many of us have had to drive home "locked"....grinding chunks into dust all the way.

You should probably stop at the bank and get pre-approved on your way to the repair shop.

 

[TaylorH3]

Drivers side front axle is toast... Funny because that's what I told the first 2 shops too check because I started having this problem right after I had it replaced. Both previous shops said that it was in good condition and even if that was broken it would cause this issue. Tustin Buick GMC found the problem right when I took it in. Glad I'm still under warranty .