2005 Dodge Dakota 4wd engages by itself

pj56

My 2005 dodge dakata 4wd, with the ignition switch off, I can sometimes walk by and hear my 4wd trying to engage. it trys to engage, then stops, and repeats it's self. I took the 25 amp fuse out for now, until the problem can be resolve. Any Ideas?

carverman

You didn't mention the model and I assume you have the automatic transmission with your 4x4..in which case you will hav either the NV233HD or
NV244HD transfer case, both are electronically shifted by the TCCM (Transfer Case Control Module)...so you may have a selector switch (dash) or mode sensor issue, that needs replacing on the encoder motor in the transfer case.

Read this article for a better description on how it works:
http://www.rsgear.com/articles/2008_04.pdf

pj56

the truck is an automatic and has 99,000 miles on the unit. The article just mentioned is very informitive. Thank you for that, but mentions it is for 2004 and older. I am wondering about the mode sensor or what I call the ECM (module that the fuses are mounted on) is shorted out in there causing power to the mode sensor. It is just strange, the vehicle could be sitting for hours with ignition off, then you can walk by and hear the transfer case trying to engage over and over. Thanks

carverman

It's hard to diagnose what the situation is with your 4WD transfer case.
From your description, there has to be an anomaly where the power available
to the transfer case is controlling the electric motor that engages the
4WD unit. Something is obvious not in a proper state (engage/disengage)
and if that is the case..the PCM which is still energized even with the
ignition switch off, can be receiving a incorrect signal and trying to set
the correct state for the Transfer case..it can't accomplish that it
starts to "Hunt" between states and the encoder/sensor is not telling
it which state it's supposed to be in. In the electronics industry..that
is referred to as "fuzzy logic"

1. On (engaged)
2. OFF (disengaged)
3. "Maybe" ( try to assume the correct state, or keep trying until correct state is reached)

The "black box " that you are calling the "ECM" is in actuality the
PDC (power distribution center) located on the driver's side fender.
It has most of the fuses and relays used to control engine, fuel pump and
transmission /lighting, horn relay etc. The +side of the battery and the
alternator charging o/p meet there. so does the -side of the battery,
the frame ground and the engine (ground strap) ground.
Pretty much all of the power and ground distribution is sourced from the PDC.

pj56

It is odd. I did try turning the engage knob off several times, but a few days later, it will start doing it again. I pulled the 25 amp fuse out for serveral months, and the engagement noise went away. I put the fuse back in and it is back, but this time, I am sometimes getting a 4wd fail light while driving with the fuse in.

carverman

If you pull the 4WD unit's fuse, it will not engage, so no matter what state it is
in (or what the 4WD encoder in the unit thinks it's in) nothing happens until
you put the +12 volt fuse back in which starts the process all over again.

If the 4WD fail indicator is coming on...the PCM is posting a P-xxxx code
and you need an ODBII code reader to read the code. If you don't
own one (and I highly recommend with computerized vehicle controls that
you get an inexpensive one ($60 or so), you will need to take it to
an Auto Zone or some such place that will pull the code from the computer
and you will (hopefully have a better indication where the problem lies).
Without doing that..you are just guessing.

andysemple

i have the same problem with my 2005 dakota were you able to fix your problkem and if so could you shed some light on this for me thanks andy

rwnorman21

I have a 2005 Dakota and I have the exact same problem, does anybody know what is causing it, if you can help it will be awesome. Thanks

calmbliss

I am having the same problem and have had this issue for the last year. It is intermittent, and like the description in the original post, it occurs whether the ignition is on or not.

Any additional information would be greatly appreciated as I took it to the dealership today and they can't get the problem to occur, therefore they are unable to diagnose and repair the issue.

mwheels

Check fault codes in all vehicle modules including the front control module (fcm). Factory scanner may be needed for this. (star mobile)And test for any codes you find. Or you can try this quick trick!

The 4x4 system can enguage on it's own, if the 5 volts to the transfer case shift motor gets shorted. The a/c pressure sensor can short out and cause this to happen. Since your problem is intermittent, just unplug the a/c pressure sensor (located in the high side line, next to the coolant over flow jug) and see if problem goes away. If so replace a/c pressure sensor. If not further testing will be needed. Hope this helps.

pik1

I too am having this issue on my 2005 Dakota after 100k miles. I read that it mostly is caused by the front input seal leaking from tranny into the t-case and due to the high level of oil in t--case pushing into the selector motor and it does not like oil. I plan to replace the seal, motor and selector swtich too to remove any further potential.

trappers

I have a 2001 dakota automatic 4x4 when I try to put it in 4wheel drive the switch on the dashboard just blinks then the light goes back to 2 hi can anybody tell me what the problem could be sometimes it may go in and have no problem for a day or two I sometimes have to have my son work the switch while I tap the bottom with a wrench 

Mr_Shiftright

Here's a VIDEO that a Dakota owner made about this very problem, on YouTube. The quality of the video isn't so good but you get the idea of what he's talking about. He has some good ideas. Basically the three main culprits are XFR case control module, the transfer case "encoder motor", or some faulty wiring. In this owner's case, a ground wire off the plug for the encoder motor was grounding against the transfer case. Good luck!

dext252

Anyone ever find a solution to this problem, engaging By itself? Also took dash apart drivers and center, still can't find tccm

Mr_Shiftright

Maybe this exchange of ideas will help you, if you have a similar generation Dakota.

Sbaker63

Has anyone figure this out? I have the 2005 Dodge Dakota Laramie Magnum v8 and the 4wd service light come on at times and somes the 4low light will come on blinking. I also hear it trying to go in 4WD when I was getting in the truck with no key in it.

Sbaker63

mwheels said:

Check fault codes in all vehicle modules including the front control module (fcm). Factory scanner may be needed for this. (star mobile)And test for any codes you find. Or you can try this quick trick!

The 4x4 system can enguage on it's own, if the 5 volts to the transfer case shift motor gets shorted. The a/c pressure sensor can short out and cause this to happen. Since your problem is intermittent, just unplug the a/c pressure sensor (located in the high side line, next to the coolant over flow jug) and see if problem goes away. If so replace a/c pressure sensor. If not further testing will be needed. Hope this helps.

I took mine to the dealer and they could not get it to do it. They did say they found fault code #C1404 Transfercase Range Position sensor circuit low. They did not know what was wrong and told me to wait till to see if it got worse.

Mehitabell

This is now happening to my truck, and I think is the cause of another problem. Fuel pump isn't working. At least that is what we thought. Truck died and I replaced the pump after not hearing it, and after finding a good relay, a good fuse, and that it tried to start with ether. We checked all connections between the fuse box and the pump and they look fine. 
After reading this thread, I think it is the cause of my short, and it is now happening to my fuel system and not just my 4wd. I wondered if hearing the 4wd engage and disengage would hurt anything else. Guess I'll start looking outside my transfer case for lose it cut wires. Hopefully I don't have to open it.

Dakota_is_killing_me

Folks, new to this particular forum, long in the tooth on the 4X4 self-engaging issue with my 2005 Dakota. I can say that today, September 9, 2020, though, that I went ahead and purchased, then replaced the Transfer Case Switch Motor (Transfer Motor component) and the issue with the self-switching and self-engaging of the transfer case motor has seemingly been resolved! I was skeptical about changing the part (Dorman #600-935 at Amazon $235) since I have been dealing with this exact problem for almost 5 full years and tried everything else. After, once again perusing the forums across the internet, I read where a few folks had replaced the transfer case motor, and rectified their issue, others tried different things from computer module replacement to greasing up the transfer motor electrical plug(?) . At 235 dollars, it was worth a try. I have worked on vehicles for some 40 years, so the labor part was not an issue for me. Once I received the part, I jacked my 2005 Dodge Dakota Laramie Quad-Cab, 4.7 HO-V8, 4X4, with 95K miles up on jack stands and installed the new part. It took about two hours to remove the front drive shaft and then remove the 3-10 mm bolts holding the transfer motor on, but I did not have to lower the exhaust crossover pipe, nor did I have to remove the cross plate directly at the position of the rear of the forward driveshaft to get it off of there. All in all, after installing the new unit, I reassembled the parts, and did not know what to expect, but only hoped it would work. Upon replacing the 25 amp transfer motor fuse in position 25A of the fuse box under the hood(fuse nearest the firewall of the truck at the fuse box) I cranked her up. I had been driving without the fuse for about three years to prevent the transfer case from trying to engage incessantly while driving, while parked, or even while there was no KEY in the ignition. It's like it was possessed for those years. Anyway, upon starting the "Service 4X4" dash light was no longer illuminated, and I took her for a test drive. I was able to successfully engage the 4-wheel drive "HI" and "LO" positions at my choosing by selecting the option via using the knob-selector. The truck went smoothly into 4-wheel drive both times. The truck didn't attempt to engage 4 wheel drive at all, unless I chose to. I was relieved and a little surprised that after all these years and with no help from Dodge on the issue, that this part has solved my issue!!! I wanted to share this information with anyone looking to still try and correct their truck’s self-engaging issue. I hope this information helps you. Oh, I received the part “next day” from Amazon which is fast. They offered the lowest price, about $104 cheaper than the cheapest online car parts store. There is a brand name Cardone part as well, but it did not have as many high star ratings from buyers, so I chose to pay a little more for the Dorman. Russell in Northern Virginia