How to tell if transfer case is in the neutral position?

1856 Views 10 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Gray Fox 19, 4 mo ago

baldrich64

Discussion Starter · 4 mo ago

This might be a stupid question, but how the h%*# do I tell if the shift motor and transfer case are both in the neutral position? I think my shift motor needs replacing, since I'm stuck in 2WD and can't get it to shift into neutral, but I wanted to try manually turning to neutral first. Problem is, I can't for the life of me find any indication on either the motor or the transfer case of where the neutral position is. Here are a couple pics, for reference:

Automotive tire Rim Automotive wheel system Auto part Circle

Automotive tire Gear Bicycle part Finger Bicycle chain

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
-Ben

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gherbert

· #2 · 4 mo ago

Shifting Into N (Neutral)
To shift:
1. Park the vehicle on a level
surface.
2. Set the parking brake and press
and hold the brake pedal. See
Parking Brake on page 9-41.
3. Start the vehicle or turn the
ignition to ON/RUN.
4. Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
5. Shift the transfer case to 2

.
6. Turn the transfer case knob
clockwise to N (Neutral) until it
stops and hold it there until the
N (Neutral) light starts blinking.
This will take at least
10 seconds. Then slowly release
the dial to the 4

Triangle Symbol Font Electric blue Parallel

position. The
N (Neutral) light will come on
when the transfer case shift to
N (Neutral) is complete.

Page 9-39 in the 2015 GMC Canyon Owners Manual

https://www.gmc.com/bypass/pcf/gma-.../2000/MA2827/en_US/6.0/2k15canyon3rdPrint.pdf

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baldrich64

Discussion Starter · #3 · 4 mo ago

gherbert said:
Shifting Into N (Neutral)
To shift:
1. Park the vehicle on a level
surface.
2. Set the parking brake and press
and hold the brake pedal. See
Parking Brake on page 9-41.
3. Start the vehicle or turn the
ignition to ON/RUN.
4. Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
5. Shift the transfer case to 2 View attachment 440637
.
6. Turn the transfer case knob
clockwise to N (Neutral) until it
stops and hold it there until the
N (Neutral) light starts blinking.
This will take at least
10 seconds. Then slowly release
the dial to the 4 View attachment 440638 position. The
N (Neutral) light will come on
when the transfer case shift to
N (Neutral) is complete.

Page 9-39 in the 2015 GMC Canyon Owners Manual

https://www.gmc.com/bypass/pcf/gma-.../2000/MA2827/en_US/6.0/2k15canyon3rdPrint.pdf

Thanks for the quick reply! Unfortunately, I already tried this and it didn't work. I also tried running the relearn procedure from SPS and that didn't work either. I wanted to try manually turning the gear to the N position, I just can't find any indicator of the N position on either the motor or the gear in the transfer case.

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gherbert

· #4 · 4 mo ago

baldrich64 said:
Thanks for the quick reply! Unfortunately, I already tried this and it didn't work. I also tried running the relearn procedure from SPS and that didn't work either. I wanted to try manually turning the gear to the N position, I just can't find any indicator of the N position on either the motor or the gear in the transfer case.

You did with the parking brake on?

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baldrich64

Discussion Starter · #5 · 4 mo ago

gherbert said:
You did with the parking brake on?

Yep, tried it 4 or 5 times, couldn't get it to shift

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baldrich64

Discussion Starter · #6 · 4 mo ago

The strange thing is, I can hear the shift motor either turn or try to turn when I do this, but it just won't go into neutral

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gherbert

· #7 · 4 mo ago

Have you ever changed the fluid in the transfer case?
Does it go into 4HI and/or 4LO?

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baldrich64

Discussion Starter · #8 · 4 mo ago

gherbert said:
Have you ever changed the fluid in the transfer case?
Does it go into 4HI and/or 4LO?

No, I haven't ever changed the fluid. And no it won't go into 4H or 4L - stuck in 2H and giving me "Service 4x4" error. I tried reprogramming the TCCM and running a relearn from SPS, but I'm still getting code "C038D: Range Actuator Position Not Learned".

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gherbert

· #9 · 4 mo ago

baldrich64 said:
No, I haven't ever changed the fluid. And no it won't go into 4H or 4L - stuck in 2H and giving me "Service 4x4" error. I tried reprogramming the TCCM and running a relearn from SPS, but I'm still getting code "C038D: Range Actuator Position Not Learned".

Well if you don't have enough fluid in the transfer case it will not be able to change.
One of your posts mentioned you had a 2015 Canyon. That fluid is 7 to 8 years old.
Could be a big part of the issue

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Gray Fox 19

· #10 · 4 mo ago (Edited)

gherbert said:
Well if you don't have enough fluid in the transfer case it will not be able to change.
One of your posts mentioned you had a 2015 Canyon. That fluid is 7 to 8 years old.
Could be a big part of the issue

The other possibility in my mind, could be a bad transfer case actuator motor and I don't know how many there are on these trucks.

My Jeep Commander has 2 actuator motors on the transfer case, an upper & a lower and I had to replace the lower transfer case actuator motor, due to not being able to shift into 4-LOW (was getting the Service 4WD System MIL).

And 7-8 year old transfer case fluid, is definitely not a good thing.

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Gray Fox 19

· #11 · 4 mo ago

Here is a website I frequently use to look up DTC's and I can't even find C038D;

Generic OBD-II C Chassis Trouble Codes

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