HEY KYLE!!!!
CONGRATS! Thanks for the tip too. We've been using Amsoil ATF and haven't
had any problems. Do you recommend we stay with Amsoil? I'm so glad this
has been a relatively cheap fix for you. I know how horrible it feels when
you can't fix it yourself and you have to pay someone else to do it. You
know of course that if you took it in, they would have rebuilt it, probably
even knowing it was the fluid. :-) Well, at least the mechanics I've dealt
with would have.
Thank God it's fixed and now GET OUT ON THOSE TRAILS!!!!! :-D
Norah
current: '98 Dakota Sport black 4x4 CC V8/5.2L/Auto
current: '95 Dakota Sport white 4x4 Reg Cab V6/3.9L/5spd
RIP: '95 Dakota Sport black 4x2 CC V6/3.9L/Auto
previous: '93 Dakota blue 4x2 CC V6/3.9L/Auto
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-dakota-truck@buffnet.net
> [mailto:owner-dakota-truck@buffnet.net]On Behalf Of Kyle Kozubal
> Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2000 7:34 PM
> To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net
> Subject: DML: Tcase Saga: FIXED!
>
>
> Well I feel stupid, yet EXTREMELY pleased with how my tcase now operates!
> Yes it appears to be fixed!!!! First off, I must thank everyone for their
> input and suggestions, and Norah for scanning the tcase section
> of the FSM.
> Secondly, you wouldn't believe what appears to have fixed the
> lever popping
> out of 4HI/4LO, as well as the effort it took to pull the lever back into
> 4HI. It was frigin' the FLUID!!! I change my tcase fluid every 2
> years, and
> have used synthetic ATF. The first 4 times I changed the fluid, I used
> Amsoil ATF and it was great. This last time, I used Mobil 1 Synthetic
> ATF....and shortly thereafter is when I experienced the lever
> popping out of
> 4HI. So while I was under my Dak today, finally fixing the rear diff cover
> leak and putting on a new gas hose.......I decided to check the
> fluid level
> in the tcase, just for the hell of it, and it was perfect. I
> checked for the
> vacuum switch, checked all the electrical connections, and really
> looked at
> the entire tcase for about an hour, stumped as to what my problem
> could be.
> I hosed the entire tcase linkage assembly down with 3M Penetrant,
> and let it
> soak for 30 minutes, and then I soaked it all down again. I waited another
> 30 minutes, and finished up with the fluid in the rear diff. I then went
> back to the tcase linkage and hosed it down again, but this time with 3M
> Spray Grease. The tcase lever was still hard to pull back, but not as bad,
> but still nowhere near what it should be. I looked in my manual, and it
> states to use only ATF+3 7176 ATF, and only use Dextron II if the 7176 is
> not available. I went out and bought 4 quarts of Valvoline ATF+3
> 7176, even
> though the tcase only takes 2.5 pints....or so. I looked at the store and
> the Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF does not state is it 7176 compatible. I used 2
> quarts to 'flush' out the Mobil 1 ATF and filled the case up with
> the normal
> old Valvoline +3. Holy cow, this tcase lever works so nice and smooth, and
> STAYS in 4HI....you can hear it pop into gear and it stays in
> gear!!! I took
> it out quickly to a gravel pit and 4WD works great! This has been one hell
> of a learning experience and a cheap one at that. If anyone out there is
> running synthetic ATF in their tcase, make 100% sure it is ATF+3 7176 ATF.
> Let's go 4Wheelin!!!! Once again, thanks to all who have helped me out.
> Hopefully this fix will stay and not be a temporary fix.
> Kyle
> 93 Dakota 4x4 v6
>
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