Reading through these threads, I wonder if the electronics in the actuator can somehow be damaged if the flash directions are not followed 100%. I had mind done in August and the 4 Low works fine, but you know this is why I never sold my 98 ZJ with the shift it yourself Selectrac NV 242. I said it back in the old days of Jeeps Unlimited and I'll say it again, the older Jeeps had their quirks but at least you did not have problems like this. I was suspicious of the electronic transfer case in the WK because when I was looking to buy my 98 I had heard of all the electronic actuator problems that Chevy/GMC and Ford were having. The one problem I had with the 98 that the dealer could not fix (brake rotor warping) was easily fixed the first time with better quality aftermarket rotors (Wagner). Well the power of the Hemi won me over to the WK but we still have the 98 ZJ (its my son's now).
I hope this gets resolved for all that are having trouble. You know the WKII also had big problems with the electronics causing 4x4 failures esp driving on sand (some issue with the traction control/abs vs the 4x4). Its enough to make me go back to a simple shift it yourself system for the next Jeep (Wrangler) or a simple compact pick up truck with part time 4x4. At least those always WORK.
Reading through these threads, I wonder if the electronics in the actuator can somehow be damaged if the flash directions are not followed 100%. I had mind done in August and the 4 Low works fine, but you know this is why I never sold my 98 ZJ with the shift it yourself Selectrac NV 242. I said it back in the old days of Jeeps Unlimited and I'll say it again, the older Jeeps had their quirks but at least you did not have problems like this. I was suspicious of the electronic transfer case in the WK because when I was looking to buy my 98 I had heard of all the electronic actuator problems that Chevy/GMC and Ford were having. The one problem I had with the 98 that the dealer could not fix (brake rotor warping) was easily fixed the first time with better quality aftermarket rotors (Wagner). Well the power of the Hemi won me over to the WK but we still have the 98 ZJ (its my son's now).
I hope this gets resolved for all that are having trouble. You know the WKII also had big problems with the electronics causing 4x4 failures esp driving on sand (some issue with the traction control/abs vs the 4x4). Its enough to make me go back to a simple shift it yourself system for the next Jeep (Wrangler) or a simple compact pick up truck with part time 4x4. At least those always WORK.
I complained to Chrysler enough that they were going to give me a new actuator installed for $100.
I went out, bought a $300 Superchips tool and fixed the problem myself. I also get a new tuner to play around with. The best part, I dont have to go back to that fcvking dealership anymore!
I'm actually turned off from buying a NEW Jeep from the dealer. I never heard of such chitty service departments until I went to my local Jeep dealer.
Have you called the Jeep service number and complained? I just left the dealer and he said that people need to call enough that Jeep recognizes there is a problem. They are ordering a new actuator to test.
Still waiting on response from Chrysler and Dealer..... In the meantime, I'm test driving a 4Runner Trail Edition this afternoon. Toyota salesperson led me to believe they are aware of this issue and will continue this saga with my trade-in where I leave off. If I like the $$ they offer me for the trade, I may decide to put this mess in my rear-view mirror. Pun intended.
I goofed and had the update done before I read this post. My jeep now intermittently drops idle (while sitting at a stop light) to the point I can hear individual cylinders - wife had it stall on her twice. Dealer could not replicate it, and it did not throw a "check engine" light. Dealership scanned and found bad transfer case motor - of course it is backordered. Still charged me almost $100 for the time spent to diagnose the rough idle (that they couldn't find the problem). Now my low tire pressure warning goes off, but all tires are 35 lbs. (I found the spare to be 22 lbs, so I filled it - but jeep still showing low tire pressure warning.) 3-6 inches of snow forecasted for tomorrow - I asked wife to leave the transfer case shift lever alone. So glad we upgraded her 2004 Cherokee with 100,000 miles for this expensive 2010 with less than 40,000 miles!
Dealership just called to inform me that the transfer case motor is on backorder, without an estimated time of arrival! Service department guy (Bill) also informed me that we now have a 2 wheel drive jeep until the new transfer case motor comes in!!
Dealership just called to inform me that the transfer case motor is on backorder, without an estimated time of arrival! Service department guy (Bill) also informed me that we now have a 2 wheel drive jeep until the new transfer case motor comes in!!
Question..
If you could reverse the flash of the Recall would you?
Meaning a reflash of the FDCM to pre no 4 Low but having the fear of the transfer case accidentally going into neutral? If it ever did go into neutral.
I would reverse mine in a heart-beat!!!! This is sooooo frustrating I can't stand it. I'm going to go car shopping this week and considering other than Jeep.
Today I had another interesting happening. My battery died. I jumped it to get to a shop for a new battery and when it started..... wait for it!..... I was in 4WD Lo! What's with that? I couldn't force it in 4WD Lo at all since they fouled things up. Did someone say "soccer mom car"?
Well that's makes you wonder if the recall will save it from say going into neutral??? If it can shift to 4 lo on its own why not neutral....even after the recall.
they should have never stopped making them like this:
Instead of idiot proofing the whole helpless world....
I taught my son how to use Selectrac in about an hour, he does not need electronic 4x4. Maybe my next Jeep will have to be a Wrangler.......
I've had several vehicles with electronic 4wd. Never had any problems. Get a Jeep and now my 4wd low doesn't work. You would figure 4wd in a Jeep would be the last thing to go. Oh how I was wrong!
Probably the most irritating part is the silence of Jeep Corp. about all of this. I am pretty sure they are aware. We get commentary from service managers, but they could be speaking truth or bull puckie. Service managers are even to slightly below used car salesman for pissing on your leg and telling you it is raining. The run on actuators to the point of causing back orders is telling us something. Either the actuator was the real cause of the recall, or the reprogram kills good actuators. If you go back and read the initial recall notice, before they came up with the reprogram fix, it was all about the actuator.
Hmm, so this is how I see it.
First recall: actuators are the culprit, they replace them free of charge "have a nice day vehicle owner with your working 4wd"
Some time in between for jeep to realize.. Let's issue a recall for software to "fix" the same issue the actuators were fixing, but in reality it's to only make the vehicle call out actuators so customers have to pay for them to be replaced after that recall...
Second recall comes out: here is a software fix for your jeep. Here you go vehicle owner ( couple days later you go back to the dealer with 4lo not working) "hi vehicle owner, your jeep is saying your actuator is bad, when would you like to get taken an advantage of??"
Sorry... That's a basic rundown of how I see it. Until jeep is willing to pay for an actuator either as the recall or after the "software fix" I refuse to have it done.
First Jeep rolls away after a remote start, they investigate and find a fried actuator. Not sure why it fried, but NHTSA is breathing down their neck, so they issue first notice.
After more investigating they find the cracked FDCM as the reason the actuator fried. Figure they can rewrite the software to fix saving them money.
Problem with that is, if crack has just started, or is extreme, or hasn't happened, will cause all different ranges of signals thru the FDCM. So now it has to be super sensitive with controlling. So any little variance, and the system locks down.
I honestly think the only fix is a new FDCM and back to the old flash.
My FDCM was replaced at the end of September. It left the dealer with 4low not working. Had to take it back the next day. Their fix lasted one day and the service 4wd light came back on. I just drove it like that for a while, then cleared it with my Flashpaq. That's lasted at least a month or more, then had a host of other problems with my Flashpaq (whole different story, I hate this damn Flashpaq), and had to clear the code again this week.
The dealer ordered something for mine(I forgot, either the shift motor or the control module) and it is on back order until Feb '14.
So how will Chrysler reimburse me for not having 4-low for 4 months? I bought a Jeep with a 2 mode transfer case and now it is a single mode. BS Chrysler!
Dealership just called to inform me that the transfer case motor is on backorder, without an estimated time of arrival! Service department guy (Bill) also informed me that we now have a 2 wheel drive jeep until the new transfer case motor comes in!!
You still have 4wd, just not 4lo. Everything in 4hi still works for me. I think you are right. I tried to make it spin in the snow today - felt like it is in all wheel drive. Thanks for peace of mind - wife has to drive it to work night shift tomorrow....
You still have 4wd, just not 4lo. Everything in 4hi still works for me. I think you are right. I tried to make it spin in the snow today - felt like it is in all wheel drive. Thanks for peace of mind - wife has to drive it to work night shift tomorrow....
The end is near!!! The actuator that the local Jeep shop ordered for me.... after requiring me to pay for up front... came in. I go in Monday for installation. Will the 4WD Lo and neutral work? If not, what do I do? Where do I go?
Am I correct that Jeep hosts this forum? Do they monitor what is being said? Do they care that damage is being done to their rep and they will lose loyal customers?
Do I sound discouraged and frustrated? :rantscream:
The end is near!!! The actuator that the local Jeep shop ordered for me.... after requiring me to pay for up front... came in. I go in Monday for installation. Will the 4WD Lo and neutral work? If not, what do I do? Where do I go? Here is hoping a new actuator will end your nightmare as it did mine for three months now
. I dont know if Jeep owns this forum, but I did send them a link to this thread and they did acknowledge it and told me they would look in. HAPPY TURKEY DAY ALL.
Am I correct that Jeep hosts this forum? Do they monitor what is being said? Do they care that damage is being done to their rep and they will lose loyal customers?
Do I sound discouraged and frustrated? :rantscream:
I finally got my Superchips Flashpaq 3870 on Monday. I cleared the dtc code 3 times following Chrysler's service bulletin and guess what? The 4x4 low works again. I have shifted it about a dozen times so far, and it is still working. I'm keeping a log on all my tests to see how long it'll take before the code pops back up and I have to clear it again. Maybe I'll get lucky and this actually fixed it. If not, I'll get the new actuator whenever the local dealership gets it, and see if they can restore the FDCM to its original programming.
The dealership can not reflash any module to a previous flash version. It's the way bright Star engineering set up the factory tools, most dealer techs are not computer savvy to the level of computer hacking.....There are a few of us in the world outside of Chrysler Powertrain Core Development Engineering Department that can reflash any module to a previous or different version.
Star Mobile or Witech can only flash a "newer" version of a flash file at the dealership.
So no the dealer can't and wouldn't have the slightest idea how to do it.
I just bought a 2005 GC. had the 'service 4wd system' message, but the dealer put 'replace transfer case switch' in the due bill.
while waiting for the switch to arrive, had the local transmission shop do the 'clear 3 times', and the message went away and was able to go into 4-low and neutral.
no problems for about a week, then the revised part came in. Had it swapped at the dealer, and have been driving about week on it (2000 miles). no problems so far.
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