I can not get my 4x4 to engage. I have no codes. No warning lights. and have normal icons on dash when I try to engage. I have tried shiftig it in every way park, neutral and even while driving forward and reverse turning the wheels. SOmething is off. If I shift into 4low I get the low gear ratio but still no 4x4.

What are the main culprits for this? I dont see a fuse for 4x4. What relay controls the transfer case switch? Any help appreciated

It's only part-time 4WD. If it's like the V6 R51, you have open front and rear differentials that have electronic limited slip. When the system senses a spinning wheel, it applies the brakes on the spinning wheel and applies power to the wheel with the traction. Just because it's "4-wheel drive," it doesn't mean all 4 wheels turn at the same time, as the name would suggest.

There are many reasons why 4WD would not engage:

• 4WD shifting knob malfunction

• Clutch pressure switch

• TCU malfunction

• Transfer malfunction

Generally speaking, if you could look under the vehicle, find TRANSFER box (it'd the one with drive shafts going one to front and other to rear diff). On transfer box there's a mechanical actuator which moves a lever to change driving modes:


I would look if this lever actually moves back and forth when you switch from 2WD to 4WD. If it does, then it might only be a sensor, which senses transfer box inner positions, so there's no feedback of actual mode.
But I guess it does not move at all, so there's most probably 4WD switch knob malfunctioning, bad contact.

If he says he shifts to 4-LO and it he feels it go into low gear, it sounds to be like the transfer case is working.

So I had a chance to take a look at this in a warm garage tonight. I was hoping it would be electrical like a relay. Unfortunately I was not that lucky. I crawled underneath to make sure the connections to the T-case looked good. While I was under there I just gave the halfshaft to the front diff a turn. After about 5 seconds it hit me that I should not be able to turn that with all 4 on the ground. Inspecting the front diff the passenger side proppelor shaft is slid out a couple inches with grease/oil all over that area.
Now I have to figure out if I need a whole new carrier or if I can just fix the retaining system. If anyone has any experience working on these carriers let me know. This sucks. I can replace the carrier but it would be a hassle and expensive. I allready replaced it once when I switched the ratios to 3.36. One thing that probably caused this is that the front diff is a 2007 version and the 2008 had some updates.

Hi there, I have a 2011 Nissan Pathfinder manual ST-L.
Recently switched 4wd selector to auto and immediately the 4wd icon disappeared and 4wd fault light came on.

I have taken it to a 4wd specialist who plugged it in and can not find any fault.
He says that it does not engage in auto or 4H but does engage when switched to 4L.

Any ideas?

Any help much appreciated.

Owned a 2002 pathy before this one and loved it. Hope I can love this one !!

Rhyno.

Rhyno wrote:Hi there, I have a 2011 Nissan Pathfinder manual ST-L.
Recently switched 4wd selector to auto and immediately the 4wd icon disappeared and 4wd fault light came on.

I have taken it to a 4wd specialist who plugged it in and can not find any fault.
He says that it does not engage in auto or 4H but does engage when switched to 4L.

Any ideas?

Any help much appreciated.

Owned a 2002 pathy before this one and loved it. Hope I can love this one !!

Rhyno.

In North America, our models with the AUTO mode transfer case (Pathfinder LE, Armada) have had a few problems with the terminals loosening up in the harness connector for the transfer relay, which powers the transfer pump on the transfer case. The transfer pump provides lubrication to the wet clutch at idle, speeds below 35MPH and reverse when in "AUTO" mode. When checked for 4WD codes, stored codes show up for the pressure switches. The fix is to remove the transfer relay from the harness connector, use a small screwdriver or pin to tighten the terminals inside the harness connector, and reinstall the relay and erase the codes. On the North American models, the transfer relay is in the engine compartment, on the left side, not far from the brake booster. Not sure where it is on the Aussie models, though, but might be something to look into.

I am assuming you’re referring to the CV joints? Shouldn’t be a problem then, fairly easy fix. Although I do recall on TT there was some talk about this being an issue about the CV’s popping out, seems as if it’s a C-clip issue.
http://www.titantalk.com/forums/titan-p ... -diff.html


The front diff only had a slight mechanical update (3 rib vs 2 rib) and also seems as if that C-clip issue might have been related according to the TT sites.

smj999smj wrote:

Rhyno wrote:Hi there, I have a 2011 Nissan Pathfinder manual ST-L.
Recently switched 4wd selector to auto and immediately the 4wd icon disappeared and 4wd fault light came on.

I have taken it to a 4wd specialist who plugged it in and can not find any fault.
He says that it does not engage in auto or 4H but does engage when switched to 4L.

Any ideas?

Any help much appreciated.

Owned a 2002 pathy before this one and loved it. Hope I can love this one !!

Rhyno.

In North America, our models with the AUTO mode transfer case (Pathfinder LE, Armada) have had a few problems with the terminals loosening up in the harness connector for the transfer relay, which powers the transfer pump on the transfer case. The transfer pump provides lubrication to the wet clutch at idle, speeds below 35MPH and reverse when in "AUTO" mode. When checked for 4WD codes, stored codes show up for the pressure switches. The fix is to remove the transfer relay from the harness connector, use a small screwdriver or pin to tighten the terminals inside the harness connector, and reinstall the relay and erase the codes. On the North American models, the transfer relay is in the engine compartment, on the left side, not far from the brake booster. Not sure where it is on the Aussie models, though, but might be something to look into.

Hi thanks smj999smj,
appreciate the quick reply. The car is with an auto electrician at the moment so hopefully he knows what to do. Otherwise ill suggest your idea.
Thanks again.

Well, the good thing about my suggestion is that it's quick to do and doesn't cost anything. Fortunately I ran into the post on an Armada forum or I would have really pulled my hair out trying to figure it out.