Wheel Dragging
 

I have an issue that when I turn the wheels much to the right or left, the tires start binding up also in reverse. If I jack the front off the ground, the front end turns beautifully lock to lock.

The best way to describe it is that somehow when half-way through a right or left turn , it's like the tire grabs and won't move till the suspension loads up and 'pulls' it loose. I can hear " POP" sound whenever making turns. Replaced new Tie Rod End,Upper Control Arm,Lower Ball Joint,Pitman Arms and stabilizer arm. Sadly it still there... Does it anything to do with Wheel Alignment? Anybody???

That actually sounds like it is in 4HI LOCK instead of regular 4HI (AWD).

my 4x4 selector stuck in 4 high, and it said it was in AWD, did you try rotating the shifts around from low 4,to high 4 to AWD, I roll my H2 back and forth to make sure its in AWD, because when I have it in 4 wheel High, it pulls, and binds just as you described on dry pavement.....

I did some offroad just before the dragging and yes I did try to cycle through the selector switch but however,I only noticed halfway click sound from the undercarriage. Does it mean the lock mechanism failing? If so,what is your suggestion?
Thank you very much guys, appreciate your effort....

I'd try it a few more times. You can change between 4HI (AWD) and 4HI lock while moving less than 40mph. Shifting to 4LO must be done with the vehicle rolling very very slow or stopped with the trans in neutral. The attached outlines it on the last couple of pages.

thanks for the attachment MixManSC.
I will give it a try again because I didn't try it while moving. Fingers cross...

Guess what...First thing in the morning I'd attempt to release it but the selector switch quit responding. Tried a few times but failed. Now what...🤔🤔🤔 Confused...

If you get the "Service 4WD Message" you have to shut the truck completely off and start it back up to clear the message before you can try again. That alone is a bit annoying but once that message comes up it will not allow any more changes.

I dont see any check light or service message in the dash. Why all of the sudden it quit? This time no clicking sound just dead silence...

Year and miles, year and miles, year and miles .... always helps when you ask a question.

Why? Because old stuff breaks.

Crawl underneath and check the wiring harness and connector to the T Case actuator motor. If that all looks OK, disconnect the actuator by unplugging the connector, clean the connection with electrical contact cleaner and try it again. Then check the switch and the wiring harness connector to it, same thing.

Sounds like your T Case actuator and/or switch may have been going bad and now puked. I would lean towards the actuator.

When you did the offroad, did you get the actuator wet, like in deep water or muddy water? Any brush snag the wiring to the actuator?

If you need to rule out which, test the wiring at the connectors with a volt meter.

Sorry my bad. It was 2004 H2 with 140k miles on the clock. Offroading in the dry sand dunes. I did crawl underneath and check the connection,seems to look ok but I will attemp with your suggestion this evening. 2 days back the actuator did responding but only half a click whenever i'd try to select 4AWD whilst compare to the 4low or 4high it produce a full click sound. I am assuming actuator gear might loosen or broken.

Clicking as u push buttons
 

Update.

T-cast shifter click only between 4HI to 4LOW but won't click on 4AWD. I decided to remove the actuator and tried to manual release it by turning counter clockwise the shifter shaft on the T-Case in attempt to release it back to 4AWD but unable to shift it back to 4AWD offcourse with the gear in Neutral. What actually wrong here,The actuator motor or T-Case?
Whenever I try to unlocked it manually I felt a resistance. It was free move for a half turn at first and then it felt like there is a spring attached. I couldn't get full turn due to the resistance. Is that normal?
And also, 04 H2 T-Case actuator motor is identical with 04 FORD F150 isn'n it? By the look of it triangle shaft shape,it look identical.
Any help is appreciated

Update.
I removed the actuator and try to shift it just to see the respond of the actuator itself. Guess what,it moved corresponding to the gear selection. Now I'm puzzled,does this mean I have a bad Transfer Case since the actuator motor is working fine? If so,what is the recomended?

Hello Reynold,

any update on your issue?

Cheers