[mr2ns]

Never had an auto 4x4.
This Vitara I am looking at buying, when stationary and changing the diff, you can hear what I would almost call it a quick grind noise more than a clunk.

I heard it when changing:
4L-N
N-4L
N-4H
I didnt hear it when going:
4H – 2H
2H-4H

I think i also didnt hear it from 4H – N
On the gear stick when you hear the grind you can feel like the diff is moving...

Is this normal?

[sideways]

Is the auto in neutral or park when it makes those sounds?

[mr2ns]

Neutral

[Gwagensteve]

I wouldn't be terribly concerned. I assume the car is stationary when you are shifting?
Autos tend to have some drag in them and that can cause a bit of a graunch when changing range.

PS you're not shifting the diff- it's the transfer case you are shifting.

[mr2ns]

Sorry Im a real amateur.

Yes car was on and stationary.

He also hardly used 4WD so it doesnt get changed very often if that may also attribute to why it does it.

[Gwagensteve]

Had a bit more a think about this.

Is this noise occurring if you randomly try shifting through the transfer case, or if you've been using the car in 4WD?

If the noise appears after you've been driving the car in 4WD for any/some distance it might be windup in the transfer case. This occurs when you're driving on a high traction surface (like a dirt road) or complete a tight turn before you try and shift.

Worst possible case - drive a track section in low range - track finishes, turn off track onto hard packed 2WD road, then try to shift out of low range - odds are the transfer will be bound up and it will be hard to shift/make noises.

I almost never use 4H, but if I do, I make sure it's on a surface thats loose enough that the transfer case won't bind up.

To try and release bind in the transfer, reverse a couple of car lengths maybe squirm the steering left to right whilst reversing. I bet your noise goes away. If this is happening though, (bind) it's a clue that the surface you're driving on has enough traction you didn't need to be in 4WD.

Steve.

[christover1]

Mines a bit raunchy when cold, as idle is much higher and oil is stiffer.
Transfer oil change could be due.

[mr2ns]

Thanks for your help Steve.

I took it for a drive (15min) yesterday (its an automatic) then tried putting it in 4wd - all the different settings and No grind noises at all. So maybe when i did try it the day before with no running time, it was a little cold and it wasnt lubed up.

[Gwagensteve]

I can assure you it's "lubed up" enough to shift at all times.

[murcod]

I'm fairly sure there's something in the owner's manual for my XL-7 about grinding when changing into 4L? From memory it even suggests you can avoid the grinding by changing into 4L with the engine off.

Found it:

Quote:

Note: If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, it is recommended that you stop the engine when changing the transfer lever between "4H" and "4L". If you change the transfer lever between "4H" and "4L" with the engine running, be sure to change using a quick, continuous motion, without pausing in Neutral.

(Page 5-10 in my manual.)

I normally stop the engine (and have the auto trans in neutral) when shifting into 4L. Then restart it. That avoids any grinding.

[mr2ns]

Good find.
I pick up the car tonight, so will take a read of the manual too.

[ninjamoses]

murcod wrote:

I'm fairly sure there's something in the owner's manual for my XL-7 about grinding when changing into 4L? From memory it even suggests you can avoid the grinding by changing into 4L with the engine off.

Found it:

Quote:

Note: If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, it is recommended that you stop the engine when changing the transfer lever between "4H" and "4L". If you change the transfer lever between "4H" and "4L" with the engine running, be sure to change using a quick, continuous motion, without pausing in Neutral.

(Page 5-10 in my manual.)

I normally stop the engine (and have the auto trans in neutral) when shifting into 4L. Then restart it. That avoids any grinding.

Interesting... learn something new every day. Can't say I've had any issues on mine. Transfer case refuses to budge at all unless the auto gearbox is in nuetral, but when it is it is trouble/noise free.

[murcod]

It might depend on how regularly the 4WD gets used? On mine it spends over 99% of the time in 2WD- so the transfer case action can be a bit stiff and difficult to smoothly change into 4L. (Lack of familiarity with the transfer case lever action wouldn't help either.)

[Gwagensteve]

I reckon almost every car spends 99% of its time in 2wd.

Steve.

[murcod]

Okay then, change that to over 99.99%

[christover1]

I put mine in low (unlocked hubs) to do my 50 meters of driveway each day, helps keep front diff and tranny oils moving about.