4wd System Damage?

GMCJimmyGuy · February 9, 2011

Hey all, well I am living with my mom right now and she needed to do some food shopping so I went with her, and she decided to drive. So we decided to take my Jimmy. It is a 1998 GMC Jimmy 4x4. So I went out to start the engine to let it run for a bit (warm up) and clear off the snow, however the Jimmy was surrounded by snow on the ground as well. So after about ten minutes of warming, I go out and put it into 4WD and backed it out just to make sure it could. It backed out fine, unfortunately, I forgot to put it back into 2WD. So the drive to the market takes around 30 minutes or so, so we leave and go down to the freeway. The drive to the freeway takes about five to ten minutes or so, and we do about fifty mph due to the snow patches on the road. Then we get on the freeway and drive at about 60 to 70 mph for about fifteen minutes before getting off the freeway. We drove down at about 40 mph to the library, where we turned in and stopped so I could drop off some books.

Well it was at this point that I noticed the steering was acting funny, as when we turned into the parking spot, the front wheels were really struggling to turn. It was like something was jamming them. I went out and looked but didn't see anything, so I dropped off the books. We drove through the parking lot and the steering was still acting funny, the front wheels struggling like all hell to turn and the system whining and groaning. So we then drive down to the market, which was about a 7 to 10 minute drive at about 40 mph, where then the system again acts up when we turn into the market parking lot, and it really struggled again when turning into a parking space.

My mom commented, "You were right, something is up with the steering." So then we shop, then come back out, and start on our way again. This time the system seems to be okay, not whining as much, although it did whine in some turns. My mom was trying to turn it wide so as not to strain the system as we were thinking something was wrong with the steering. it might also have been we were hitting some snow patches in the parking lot which were letting one of the wheels slip (?).

So we get on our way, drive a bit at about 40 mph (about five minutes), then we pull into the wine store parking lot so she can buy some wine. So while she runs in there, I notice the 4WD light is on. I hadn't noticed this before because at least on the 1998 GMC Jimmys, the 4WD buttons are angled moreso to the driver, so a person in the passenger seat might not notice it.

Well I CAN'T BELIEVE it hadn't hit me earlier, I mean DOH!!! no wonder the steering was acting up, it's a part-time 4WD system and I had it in 4WD still! So I put it into 2WD and it drove fine after that.

However, now I am concerned that we may have damaged the drivetrain or the 4WD system. Is there anyway to know for sure? I know for sure that a part-time system should NOT be driven at high speeds, like 60-70 mph, that doing so will strain and heat up the system, and especially not on pavement. However, if driving for about ten to fifteen minutes at about 60-70 mph, I'd calculate that was about 15 to 20 miles roughly that we drove it like that. It was driven for a bit longer, but at lower speeds

Is there a minimum distance one could drive it on dry pavement though without damaging it? Like would 20-30 miles do any major damage (around 15 to 20 miles at 60 mph to 70 mph), or would it need to be more like 50...? Any advice appreciated. I CAN'T BELIEVE I DID THAT.

HawkScot · February 10, 2011

I have never worried about how fast I was going when in 4WD hi (4wd lo is another story).. it is the dry pavement turning that is the problem, not the freeway. Check the fluid level in the diffs and transfer case and stop worrying about it. It will be fine. It certainly strained things, but they can take some abuse...

hy_69 · February 10, 2011

if it was in 4wd high.. i dont think you've damaged anything.... in 4-lo is where you could damage something but you would noticed something "wrong" the minute you left your house... so i think you'll be fine... just run some tests to see if it engages and disengages without any problem or any weird noise that it didn't make before... but i dont think you'll have a problem...

old-chevy-dude · February 10, 2011

drove my 1999 Silverado Z71 in 4hi for about a week without noticing it. no damage, no issues.. like you I didn't notice it until I had to make a real tight low speed turn, as the front wheels don't like to do that in 4hi..

like said above, check the fluids but i doubt you did any damage.. when they say prolonged time can cause damage, they mean a long cross country trip at high speeds (heats up the t-case).. your little <50 jaunt didn't hurt anything most likely.

tyhuck · February 10, 2011

If you didnt hear anything pop and it still works, dont worry about it.

The 4lo commenst make me laugh because if you were doing 60mph in 4lo, youde have some serious issues and possibly a severely over-reved engine.

GMCJimmyGuy · February 10, 2011

I see, thanks for the responses, I feel better now (WHEW!). One thing, where do I check the differential fluids and the transfer case fluid, or is this explained in the owner's manual? Again, thanks for the info, I appreciate it.

tyhuck · February 10, 2011

I see, thanks for the responses, I feel better now (WHEW!). One thing, where do I check the differential fluids and the transfer case fluid, or is this explained in the owner's manual? Again, thanks for the info, I appreciate it.

Its all in the owners manual. But, if you crawl under there you will see the plugs on the back of the T-case and either on the rear cover or the input housing of the rear diff. I dont remember how it was on my S10.

Are you a member of s10forum.com? If not, you can get some really good information there.

GMCJimmyGuy · February 10, 2011

Its all in the owners manual. But, if you crawl under there you will see the plugs on the back of the T-case and either on the rear cover or the input housing of the rear diff. I dont remember how it was on my S10.

I see, thanks.

Are you a member of s10forum.com? If not, you can get some really good information there.

Nope not a member of S10Forum, will check it out though.

jro909 · February 17, 2011

i think 50 or 60 mph is the limit for 4hi...4x4 drivetrains are not built to go fast

blacksierra01 · February 18, 2011

In the owners manual of it says that 4Hi can be engaged and driven at any posted highway speed. Ive driven well over 100 kms/hr in my truck in 4Hi, no problems.

tyhuck · February 18, 2011

Doesnt everything turn when you are in 2wd anyway? Theres no power to the front, but dont the parts still turn? If thats the case, then the only part being stressed in 4hi that isnt stressed in 2wd would be the trnafer case chain right?

Hey blacksierra1, my name is Ty too. Nice to meet you.

jro909 · February 21, 2011

Doesnt everything turn when you are in 2wd anyway? Theres no power to the front, but dont the parts still turn? If thats the case, then the only part being stressed in 4hi that isnt stressed in 2wd would be the trnafer case chain right?

Hey blacksierra1, my name is Ty too. Nice to meet you.

no, when power is being delivered to the front and the system binds, its also straining the front end(cv joints and so on)

NitroCherokee · February 21, 2011

i think 50 or 60 mph is the limit for 4hi...4x4 drivetrains are not built to go fast

WHAT???? Where did you get this info? Stop getting 4x info from crackheads. OP you didn't hurt a thing!! I drove my 08 Silverado from Paradise Mi to Clio Mi in 4hi towing a car trailer with 2 quads and a buggy on it and a quad in the bed 278 miles and did it in just over 3 hours (that is haulin) 90+ most of the ride and NO DAMAGE........ well except for the fuel mileage

Doug_Scott · February 21, 2011

Doesnt everything turn when you are in 2wd anyway? Theres no power to the front, but dont the parts still turn? If thats the case, then the only part being stressed in 4hi that isnt stressed in 2wd would be the trnafer case chain right?

Hey blacksierra1, my name is Ty too. Nice to meet you.

no, when power is being delivered to the front and the system binds, its also straining the front end(cv joints and so on)

You post info in this thread like you think you know what you are talking about, I would be interested in hearing what exactly you mean by the system binds, and how does this binding occur. Also toss in why you cannot drive at hwy speeds in 4wheel Hi. For others, this post is only for jro909 to answer, just want to see if he actually knows what he is talking about.

tyhuck · February 21, 2011

Doesnt everything turn when you are in 2wd anyway? Theres no power to the front, but dont the parts still turn? If thats the case, then the only part being stressed in 4hi that isnt stressed in 2wd would be the trnafer case chain right?

Hey blacksierra1, my name is Ty too. Nice to meet you.

no, when power is being delivered to the front and the system binds, its also straining the front end(cv joints and so on)

Well, yeah I understand that, but that happens regardless of speed as well. I was just thinking of what parts were affected by high speeds. Im not talking about binding issues, just high speed rotational issues.