[dchan51360]

Yeah. Just a low air in one tire can cause that symptom too.

Forgot that people are not aware of this.

If you want to be absolutely sure if the wheels are turning the same amount for travel the second article there gives you the most accurate way to tell and you don't have to put it up on a rack. You do need enough space to run straight and flat however.

I found that the amount of load you had can affect this. ie more weight in the right rear will "flatten" the tire ever so slightly, and affect the measurement. Not usually enough to cause too many problems, but I did find that the easiest check, especially if you are on the road (like I was in UT one time trying to figure it out before I came home) I used chalk on the out side of the wheels and drove the van in a straight line in a flat parking lot. figured out that one tire was low. I had a compressor in my van (always have one actually) so I adjusted the pressure on the tires and got them all to roll the same amount and problem went away.

 

[dchan51360]

Removing the ATC fuse will cause an AWD error light on your dash because the encoder motor will not cycle when you start up the vehicle. Also I think the cruise stops working too?

But without the encoder engaging, you should never get that "binding" feeling. But you are also not going to get AWD to engage.

 

[Holiday]

I think you found the problem/solution!!!

My 4 tires are Nokian 215/70r16 WRG4 SUV. Bought them 3 years ago. 35 psi on 4. The thread have excessive Inegal wear! They are worn out completely differently! I need to change them anyway!

I will give you updates.

Glad that helps. The 2004 article has a really good step by step test to help pinpoint the problem. Highly recommend following it, some great info.

 

[Olivier02]

I removed the ATC fuse 6 hours ago and no AWD error lights on the dash (normal or not?) No more binding obviously Ahah. I just reput it and everything is fine for the moment.

So i will follow the article that holiday showed and i will purchase brand new tires!
I will maybe be able to return my Dorman encoder motor for another one. Hopes this will help too (if it is part of the problem). I Will also check my connection (TCCM) for any corrosion.

Thanks you very much for your help!!
I will try to make that AWD flawless.

Olivier Beaudry

 

[gwd]

The fuse turns off the transfer case electrics and just goes for the ride disabled.
The rear drive shafts still turns.
The front one rotate from the tire side but the power will not be coming from the case.
If the wheels bind then in front then maybe the front wheel hubs are jamming or something is loose in front differential.
Those are the things you have not looked to or changed.

 

[snobird60]

On my 2003 Safari AWD, I had similar issues.
I decided to dump some extra money into ALL NEW fluids EVERYWHERE. Went to a local TRANSMISSION shop, where I get a lot of my Astro ) Safari maintenance done, so they should have known what they were doing.
Immediately I had the dreaded sticky / hopping/ crabbing wheels on turns. Initially we thought it might WRONG FLUID in the rear differential, the notorious G80 limited slip. Changed the rear diff fluid, no fix.
Then we thought it might be wrong fluid in the Tcase, and this time I provided the hard to find and too expensive Autotrak 11 directly from the GM stealership. Still no fix. Still hopping.
Drove a few hundred miles, drained the Tcase, and refilled with AT 11 AGAIN. This time, it cleared up.

In hindsight, it was probable that the shop used the wrong fluid in the Tcase ( they denied it) and even with the first new AT 11 fill, the Tcase was contaminated until the second fill.
PS: I have swapped in several encoder motors. I never take a long trip without a spare. My first repair with a NEW DORMAN only lasted 40,000 kms, so I do not trust that brand. Right now I am carrying TWO extra encoder motors .... Losing AWD on a very soft sandy Mexican beach, and having to limp and dig your way back to solid ground, will encourage you to always have a spare. And I spend a lot of my time in Mexico, where weird parts like an encoder motor are not available at most auto parts stores.