C3/Denali/Escalade AWD owners beware..

c3owner · December 23, 2004

Hi all,

It is with heavy heart and lighter wallet that I make this post.

I own a 2001 C3.

It started around 68,000 km (45,000 mi),there was an very occasional "chunking"

( I've also heard it referred to as "crow hopping")coming from the driveline when turning very sharply at low speeds...low as in parking lot slow.It felt like a wheel with only 1 lug nut,but had a torquey feel to it.

At first it seemed that it may be from the rear end,as the rear "inside" tire was trying to break free.I had the rear end oil changed and the condition still worsened.I was told to do slow figure eights to loosen up the limited slip clutches,and this worked,or seemed to,temporarily.I added more additive(or Whale oil if you will) twice to no avail.

As time went on,I began to co-relate the transmission temp. to the condition.As the tranny got to normal operating temp,the condition arose.Never cold,only warm/hot.

I did some sleuthing here and at the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation and found that I have a NVG149/NP3 transfer case.This TC is only used in C3's,Denalis',Escalades,and I think the Savannah AWD van.

There is a TSB at the ODI that relates to the Escalade with this TC and the symptoms do seem similar.

I now have approx. 108,000 km(65,000mi) on my truck.Warranty was up in June '03.

I took my truck to the dealer hoping to find out it was the rear-end,nothing $7-800.00 shouldn't be able fix up.They looked up the few TSBs' we could find and none applied.The pulled the front drive shaft,tested the output shaft and found that the TC was hooped.Well maybe not the whole TC,but at least the viscous coupling was.Don't quote me on the replacement cost of the viscous coupling(I was seeing red,not real clear at that moment)I think it was $1400.00cdn or $2300.00 for an entire TC.

The viscous coupler is a non-serviceable item in a seemingly sealed housing,supposedly set at the factory and in need of no maintenance.

The remainder of the TC appears to be in fine condition,with the exception of 2 thrust washers(by no means terminal)no real wear on any gears,no cracks or leaks in the housing.

I chose to replace the whole TC because of an extensive trip I will be taking to the states...1 year warranty,I can yell and scream if it fails..lol

I also found out that a company named Visteon Global designed and perhaps even manufatured this (and many others..)TC. I surfed their site for a while,they seemed geared towards the OEM's and not for the end user,but I E'd them anyways.That was several days ago still no response.

Anyways,the final bill was nearly $2500.00,taxes in,and no return of the core...I nearly lost it...I chose to pay $115.00 extra to retain the core,either to sell,or to return to Visteon if they want to buy it to do an autopsy.I refused to let GM have a TC in such good condition.I made them re-assemble the TC,if only loosely.I'm stubborn that way...lol.

Anyways,fellow NVG149/NP3 owners,please post if you have had similar experiences.If you still have warranty,have the dealer check out your TC before warranty expires.Only one of us should have to find out the hard way huh?

Brett G (C3owner)

PS..Anybody want to buy a $2600.00cdn paperweight??I may sell it cheap..

BBSilverado · December 23, 2004

Sounds like the same problem I had with my 96 Grand cherokee a fews years back. I replaced the viscous coupling myself and that was a real pain. anyway it solved the problem and only cost me around $600 for the cpupling since a friend picked it up for me with his employee dealer discount. After that I swore I will never get another all wheel drive transfer case again.

Blue-2001-Z71 · December 23, 2004

Exactly why I dumped my 93 Grand Cherokee, stupid AWD. It had 4HI and 4LO but was an AWD setup. Sucked off road, never locked the front and rear together, not to mention the lack of limited slips. My Autotrac will tear some ground up, though. 4HI and everything locks rock solid and off we go! Been lucky so far, 60K and only had to replace a switch. Sorry to hear about the tab on that one, brother!

99-2door · December 23, 2004

BTW newer trucks (like 88-up) don't have limited slip clutches.

hihosilverado · December 23, 2004

I am very sorry to hear your problems. But, for the rest of you still under warranty, I have a solution. As you near the end of the warranty take your truck in and report the same symptoms described above. Even if you do not have those problems, they will be documented on paper that you do. The dealer will not be able to reproduce the problem of course, but will document the complaint. So if your tcase needs replaced say, 20k out of warranty you should be able to get it covered if you raise enough hell saying how you took it in to get fixed while under warranty for this. Also, GM is usually very good at taking care of people who own the premium lines (Caddys, maybe Denalis) and sometimes if you raise enough hell they will take care of you even if you are out of warranty.

Butch 02 Denali · December 23, 2004

BTW newer trucks (like 88-up) don't have limited slip clutches.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

All the Sierra Denali's do. They all use a Dana 60 rear with a Detroit Trac-Loc posi unit, along with the 149 transfer case.

Brett G. come on over to the AWDGM.com site and post that info. I can say though, I have heard of almost 0 problems with the 149, and some of our C3 members have well over 100k miles.

Butch 02 Sierra Denali