Service 4wd message?

[Jsdirt]

Unreal .... I've had this intermittent problem with my '07 since it rolled off the showroom floor ... and they STILL haven't found a fix on '14-'15 models yet??? WOW ....

[SirManny]

Is there a certain build date range that this recall affected? I ask because I just purchased my 4WD Sierra and have about 300 miles on it and have cycled through the different stages of the transfer case and havent had an issue with the service 4WD message. After reading through this it seems that it is software issue and not a true mechanical failure of any part that requires servicing.

[BAVPS]

Sounds like most of you are suffering a 4WD Service light but that's it, is that right? Is anyone's truck shifting into 4WD-HI by itself and staying there? If so. have you had the problem resolved for good? (and how do you really know its for good?)

 

I have 1600 miles on a 2015 Suburban. A week after I got it I heard about the transfer case recall and took it in for that service. Shortly after that I had an issue where the truck went into 4WD-HI all by itself. I don't recall what position the switch was in when it happened but it was definitely 2WD or AUTO, not 4WD-HI or LO, and I was shifting from reverse to drive. After it happened, no matter what position I put the switch in the transmission remained in 4WD-HI (there's no mistaking it when you can barely make a u-turn). Along with this problem I had the Service 4WD light on the dash which makes sense. I took it back to the dealer, this time they kept it for 2 full days and told me the problem was caused by them incorrectly reprograming while they had it the first time to do the recall service and that they had to contact GM to discuss the problem because they'd never seen this before. "Okay, I guess" I thought to myself. Well, a few hundred miles later and my truck is once again stuck in 4WD-HI tonight and of course I have the Service 4WD dash light on again. How nice

 

Computers & software have no place being between a shift lever and a transmission! What happened to actual linkage? I mean look at the original recall "In the affected vehicles, an electrical signal short may cause the transfer case to shift to neutral without the driver's input. If the transfer case switches to neutral while the vehicle is parked and the parking brake is not in use, the vehicle may roll away increasing the risk of injury to bystanders. If the transfer case switches to neutral while the vehicle is being driven, the vehicle would lose drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will recalibrate transfer-case control module software." Seriously!?

 

Now I own a truck that puts itself into 4WD whenever the mood strikes. What's next? Perhaps 4WD-LO, REVERSE??

 

If anyone else is having this problem I'd like to hear of your experience.

 

All this makes me wish I hadn't traded in that QX

[Jsdirt]

Exactly why I'll never buy another new vehicle ever again. For the same money (most likely less) I can buy a complete frame-off restored truck or car (or both) from the 60's or early 70's that will more than likely last the rest of my life. Not only that, but you can actually fix the damn thing without a 24" thick manual ...

 

I just finally replaced the switch on my '07 a couple days ago. Had the dealer look at it under warranty way back - no clue, couldn't fix.

 

At least the parts are out there now. Cost me less than $21 shipped to my door.

Edited October 4, 2014 by Jsdirt

[thomas44]

 

Sounds like most of you are suffering a 4WD Service light but that's it, is that right? Is anyone's truck shifting into 4WD-HI by itself and staying there? If so. have you had the problem resolved for good? (and how do you really know its for good?)

 

I have 1600 miles on a 2015 Suburban. A week after I got it I heard about the transfer case recall and took it in for that service. Shortly after that I had an issue where the truck went into 4WD-HI all by itself. I don't recall what position the switch was in when it happened but it was definitely 2WD or AUTO, not 4WD-HI or LO, and I was shifting from reverse to drive. After it happened, no matter what position I put the switch in the transmission remained in 4WD-HI (there's no mistaking it when you can barely make a u-turn). Along with this problem I had the Service 4WD light on the dash which makes sense. I took it back to the dealer, this time they kept it for 2 full days and told me the problem was caused by them incorrectly reprograming while they had it the first time to do the recall service and that they had to contact GM to discuss the problem because they'd never seen this before. "Okay, I guess" I thought to myself. Well, a few hundred miles later and my truck is once again stuck in 4WD-HI tonight and of course I have the Service 4WD dash light on again. How nice

 

Computers & software have no place being between a shift lever and a transmission! What happened to actual linkage? I mean look at the original recall "In the affected vehicles, an electrical signal short may cause the transfer case to shift to neutral without the driver's input. If the transfer case switches to neutral while the vehicle is parked and the parking brake is not in use, the vehicle may roll away increasing the risk of injury to bystanders. If the transfer case switches to neutral while the vehicle is being driven, the vehicle would lose drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will recalibrate transfer-case control module software." Seriously!?

 

Now I own a truck that puts itself into 4WD whenever the mood strikes. What's next? Perhaps 4WD-LO, REVERSE??

 

If anyone else is having this problem I'd like to hear of your experience.

 

All this makes me wish I hadn't traded in that QX

My 2014 Sierra SLT with 1200 miles on it is still doing basically the same thing as yours. It will shift into 4 HI by itself if left in the AUTO position and stay there making it almost impossible to drive except in a straight line.After shutting it down, waiting 20 minutes and putting it into 2WD I can move again.

I guess it's back to the dealers to see what they can come up with this time.

 

[thomas44]

 

Sounds like most of you are suffering a 4WD Service light but that's it, is that right? Is anyone's truck shifting into 4WD-HI by itself and staying there? If so. have you had the problem resolved for good? (and how do you really know its for good?)

 

I have 1600 miles on a 2015 Suburban. A week after I got it I heard about the transfer case recall and took it in for that service. Shortly after that I had an issue where the truck went into 4WD-HI all by itself. I don't recall what position the switch was in when it happened but it was definitely 2WD or AUTO, not 4WD-HI or LO, and I was shifting from reverse to drive. After it happened, no matter what position I put the switch in the transmission remained in 4WD-HI (there's no mistaking it when you can barely make a u-turn). Along with this problem I had the Service 4WD light on the dash which makes sense. I took it back to the dealer, this time they kept it for 2 full days and told me the problem was caused by them incorrectly reprograming while they had it the first time to do the recall service and that they had to contact GM to discuss the problem because they'd never seen this before. "Okay, I guess" I thought to myself. Well, a few hundred miles later and my truck is once again stuck in 4WD-HI tonight and of course I have the Service 4WD dash light on again. How nice

 

Computers & software have no place being between a shift lever and a transmission! What happened to actual linkage? I mean look at the original recall "In the affected vehicles, an electrical signal short may cause the transfer case to shift to neutral without the driver's input. If the transfer case switches to neutral while the vehicle is parked and the parking brake is not in use, the vehicle may roll away increasing the risk of injury to bystanders. If the transfer case switches to neutral while the vehicle is being driven, the vehicle would lose drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will recalibrate transfer-case control module software." Seriously!?

 

Now I own a truck that puts itself into 4WD whenever the mood strikes. What's next? Perhaps 4WD-LO, REVERSE??

 

If anyone else is having this problem I'd like to hear of your experience.

 

All this makes me wish I hadn't traded in that QX

 

My 2014 Sierra SLT with 1200 miles on it is still doing basically the same thing as yours. It will shift into 4 HI by itself if left in the AUTO position and stay there making it almost impossible to drive except in a straight line.After shutting it down, waiting 20 minutes and putting it into 2WD I can move again.

I guess it's back to the dealers to see what they can come up with this time.

[BAVPS]

 

My 2014 Sierra SLT with 1200 miles on it is still doing basically the same thing as yours. It will shift into 4 HI by itself if left in the AUTO position and stay there making it almost impossible to drive except in a straight line.After shutting it down, waiting 20 minutes and putting it into 2WD I can move again.

I guess it's back to the dealers to see what they can come up with this time.

 

Mine is currently in service, 2 days so far. At least you (Thomas44) can get it back to 2WD. I've tried everything one of the service guys said to try...disconnect both battery posts, wait 10 minutes and reconnect. That does not work. Try driving it backward a few feet. That didn't work either.

 

Today they called and said they've never seen this before (same thing they told me the first time it happened) and that just like last time they talked directly to GM about it. I'm told that GM is aware of the problem. This time GM gave the dealer different "programming" info (or data or whatever it is) than they did last time. My great hope is that I get it back with different firmware (that's what I call it!) and the problem get resolved. I certainly don't want to go down the lemon law road again.

 

The truck has other issues, sunroof won't close at speeds above 60 because it can't push down that flimsy cloth wind deflector (that you know is going to end up shredded in about a year), and the drivers seat "shifts" when you accelerate or make a turn. Also, who ever heard of auto recall seats that recall themselves before you actually get in the seat? They say that's how its designed (how moronic). It's not designed that way in the 2015 Escalade or any other vehicle I've ever owned. I can't believe how many problems there are with the most basic of systems.

 

My last American brand was the 2005 Dodge Durango. What a NIGHTMARE POS that was. ALL the problems with that ride were electronic/computer related and they could never repair any of them nor would they buy the heaping pile back. Had to lawyer up and swore I'd never buy American ever again. That only lasted 10 years When will I learn to never buy the first year of a redesign??

Only reason I bought this was because my last 2 QX56's had poor A/C (I live in the desert and work outside). I'll keep you posted.

 

Oh yeah, the A/C in the 2015 Suburban is the best!...now that it's been repaired.

 

Can you see my last name? Gotta laugh!

Edited October 9, 2014 by BAVPS

[thomas44]

Mine is currently in service, 2 days so far.

 

Can you see my last name? Gotta laugh!

Nice to see that you have retained your sense of humor during trips (unnecessary imo) back and forth to the dealers. After reading the problems that others are having similar to mine I think I'll postpone a visit to the dealers until GM gets a handle on this. So far I can drive mine using 2WD and simply dismiss the "Service 4wd" message that appears every few days.

 

If I do require 4wd I can shift into it ok providing that I first dismiss the message. Then it's stuck in 4wd until I shut everything down and wait about 20 minutes.Turning the control knob prior to turning the ignition off accomplishes absolutely nothing.

 

Meanwhile I came across this bulletin that may or may not be of help.

 

http://sandyblogs.com/techlink/?p=3718

 

Kind of sucks to have a brand new vehicle that was ok until they did the first recall and then having the problem starting the very next day.

[skeeterzx]

Update: Dealer replaced transfer case sensor and module and I haven't had a 4wd service message since. I've put almost 2000 miles on it since then and it's been perfect. They tried reprogramming it several times but that never worked on mine.

[Larry]

Could be worse, you all could have a RAM 1500 with the electric shift 8 speed automatic transmission where it won’t come out of park or go into it when you want it to. Several reports out there where owners have shifted the dumb rotary dial into Park only to exit the truck and notice it rolling away. Glad the GM 8 speed is basically the same housing as the 6L90 where it still uses a shift cable connected to the selector shaft on the trans.

 

You know, “Service Transfercase” issues have become a common place on GM trucks since 1996 when the electric shift first appeared in full-size trucks. But the reality is, there isn’t one single manufacturer out there where they don’t have the same issues with their electric shift 4x4s. Sure makes you wonder WTF was wrong with true shift levers with steel rod or cables connected transfercases and transmission selector shafts in RAMs case in the first place. People have gotten so lazy and expect car type features in today’s trucks that trucks have become so soft and unreliable in the simplest of expectations like just shifting a stupid tcase or transmission. People driving trucks that really should be driving cars is how the rest of us all got saddled with these stupid features in the first place.

[Nargg]

I have a 2015 Silverado 4x4 LTZ with 3500 miles, and ran into this problem this weekend. I've not changed the transfer case selection at all in the past few weeks, staying in 2wd mode. But yesterday morning I started the truck, and immediately felt the binding while turning problem and within seconds saw the "Service 4x4" message. I've tried a few simple things to at least make it more drivable so I can get it to the dealership on Monday, but nothing has worked yet. I hope a slow crawl to the dealer won't do any more damage to it, they are only 4 miles away.

 

I and other family members have put well over 1 million miles on various GM 4x4 trucks. This is the first time I've ever seen an issue with the 4x4 system.

Edited December 29, 2014 by Nargg

[Jsdirt]

I see GM has fixed this ongoing problem for '15 .... by making it default to 4x4 in the event of a failure. Should be bringing in extra income for GM on front differentials and CV axles ....

 

Brilliant ...

[MikeNH]

Could be worse, you all could have a RAM 1500 with the electric shift 8 speed automatic transmission where it won’t come out of park or go into it when you want it to. Several reports out there where owners have shifted the dumb rotary dial into Park only to exit the truck and notice it rolling away. Glad the GM 8 speed is basically the same housing as the 6L90 where it still uses a shift cable connected to the selector shaft on the trans.

 

You know, “Service Transfercase” issues have become a common place on GM trucks since 1996 when the electric shift first appeared in full-size trucks. But the reality is, there isn’t one single manufacturer out there where they don’t have the same issues with their electric shift 4x4s. Sure makes you wonder WTF was wrong with true shift levers with steel rod or cables connected transfercases and transmission selector shafts in RAMs case in the first place. People have gotten so lazy and expect car type features in today’s trucks that trucks have become so soft and unreliable in the simplest of expectations like just shifting a stupid tcase or transmission. People driving trucks that really should be driving cars is how the rest of us all got saddled with these stupid features in the first place.

I've never had an issue with my electronic shift 4WD. Two GMs and a Toyota (though the Yota dos take FOREVER to shift sometimes). My 2003 Silverado had the manual t-case so many covet and I hated it. Total bastard to shift into 4wd no matter stopped or moving (advertised as shift on the fly). Never again, at least on a GM truck. Haven't driven a Ram or a Ford with a manual t-case.

[Nargg]

Got the truck to the dealership yesterday, took them only a short time to reprogram the ECM on the transfer case. It was found quickly in their recall info (they said recall but who knows...) Surprised this was not fixed before I got the truck a couple months ago, as the recall is several months more older... GRRR!!!

[krellheat]

Mine has been throwinv the 4WD and Stabilitrac codes since day one. The first visit the dealer could find no error codes but my video proved otherwise. They second visit I had included a copy of Sandyblogs bulletin on the 4WD issue. The service tech write up stated that the transfer case ecm was not in learning mode or linked to the bcm. They reprogrammed it yet that same day later it still threw the codes again. They did not replace the switch in the transfer case. A call back to the dealer and email video prompted them for a third appointment Jan 5th and loaner. I need a functional 4wd for towing snowmobile trailer through vermont and new hampshire not something I cannot rely on and getting stuck middle of Mt Washington.

BTW I have had the truck exactly one month purchased with 120 miles on it.