A transfer case is something found in all wheel and 4-wheel drive vehicles. In short, the transfer case will split engine power and send it to all 4 wheels through the front and rear axles. The transfer case itself contains one or more sets of low gears giving your vehicle the handle most demanding terrain.
The type of transfer case will vary greatly depending on your vehicle’s needs. An all-wheel drive vehicle is the simplest type of transfer case because you are always splitting up power from the engine to all 4 tires. On part time 4WD such as SUV’s and passenger trucks, your transfer case will need to be more complex as it sends power to two wheels most of the time and 4 wheels when switched into 4×4 mode.
Signs Your Transfer Case Is Failing
The ability to have 4-wheel drive or shift from 2WD to 4WD is something we take for granted during the winter months in Alberta. From time to time, the transfer cases can wear out, seals dry up and leak or completely fail. When that occurs, your vehicle should be seen as quickly as possible by a top transmission expert.
Just as any component, you should have your transfer case inspected and serviced periodically. Normal wear and tear on a transfer case can lead to complete replacement if not addresses soon enough.
Here are some signs your transfer case needs to be serviced:
Difficulty shifting gears
If leaks are not addressed soon enough, the remaining oil may not be enough lubricant for the gears in your transfer case. An early warning sign of this difficulty shifting gears. If you notice your transmission having difficulty shifting into high or low gears, you should have your vehicle diagnosed. Often times customers feel it’s a transmission issue when in fact it’s the transfer case that needs to be serviced.
Grinding noises
The transfer case has sets of seals keeping everything in place. When these seals break or wear out the gears grind on one another causing wear which eventually causes a failure. If you hear grinding noises, you should bring your vehicle in immediately. This quick action could be the different between a new seal and new transfer case.
Issues with 4WD slipping
Sometimes with the loss of fluid you’ll find your vehicle jumps in and out of 4 wheel drive. When this happens, typically there are broken parts of the gear that are causing this failure. Not having your transfer case looked at could cause a complete failure of the transfer case.
As you can see, the warning signs of a bad transfer case have to do with loss of fluid. If you notice fluid leaking from your vehicle, you should call us to have your vehicle diagnosed. The sooner you catch a leaking seal, the cheaper your repair will be.
At Pro-Tech Transmissions, we can’t stress enough the need for routine maintenance on your vehicle. Routine maintenance will allow us to identify small issues such as a leaking seal that will save on major transfer case, differential and transmission repairs.
Why Pro-Tech Transmissions
We’ve been rebuilding transmissions since 1999. Together our team brings over 40 years of experience to every transmission issue and we have the top transmission technician in Alberta.
Give us a call for a transmission diagnostic and we’ll diagnose what needs to be repaired to fix your vehicle issue and guide you to make the best decision for you and your vehicle.
Pro-Tech Transmissions can help with all of your transmission repair needs. If you are in the Edmonton area and have been looking for transmission assistance near me, search no further because we’ve got you covered! We also service transfer cases and more, so if you are looking for peace of mind, bring your car into our shop today!
