Why is it that when i try to shift my truck in 4L it gets stuck?

Question

I have a 2006 Dodge ram 2500 cummins 4x4 and its a manual switching 4x4. When you try to switch it in 4x4 low it gets stuck and if you try to shift the automatic trany in R the lever that you switch gears starts to shake violently and if you try to switch the 4x4 back in 2H there is a loud grinding sound and it pops back to 2H. Is there a problem with the truck or am I not doing it correctly?

Answer 1

An easy way to go from 2H or 4H to 4L with an automatic is to put the auto in neutral and with the truck in a slow roll or stopped smoothly shift into 4L. The slow roll sometimes helps because there is no synchronization when shifting into 4L as you have found out. Sometimes you can do it in park or stopped and everything will line up, but if it doesn't a slow roll will get it in.

If you're stopped with the auto in gear you will get some grinding. This is because when your stopped with the auto the torque converter is slipping. However when you move the transfer case shifter from 2H or 4H to 4L you go through the transfer case neutral position. As soon as you go into the transfer cases neutral position the trucks brakes are no longer connected to the transmission and the auto transmission and the transfer case gears will start turning.

Then you try to shift all the way into 4L the moving gears in the transfer case will try to mesh with the non moving gears in the transfer case. So you get some nasty grinding.

Do it at a stop or very slow roll with the auto tranny in neutral.

Answer 2

Check under the truck for something hanging up like sticks> Oil the linkage>All shifting is in neutral moving roll>It should go in quite easy >If not still under warrenty Dealer time> Take off all mods if have any as they are pain in the butt on them>

Answer 3

you need to set down and read the owners manual real good on this one,your not shifting it right,the manual will tell how to do this,if it has transfer case problems its covered under warranty ,so if you cant get it to shift right ,take it back to the dealer they will straiten it out for you,i know someone else that had the same problem,and it was a linkage issue with it,good luck with it.

Answer 4

may have something to do with the transfer case.
might want to start there.
you know what check your manual first and make sure youre doing it correctly.
hope this helps
~Steve