Got 4WD system overheat, should keep driving?

[Ken12138]

Hi everyone,

Just reach 1000miles on my 2023 trx. Yesterday when I was on highway for about 2 hours drive, I got the message 4WD overheated, performance reduced. The dealer has no spot for transfer case oil change till next month. Is it a big issue? Should I keep driving it ? Thanks a lot

 

[Ronin47]

I wouldn't keep driving it. Maybe the oil is low or it could be a sensor, I wouldn't take the chance until finding the root cause of the problem.

 

[Two]

Change the fluid and see what happens. One plug to let it out, one to put new fluid in. Dirt simple.

Many Stellantis vehicles come with not quite enough fluids I've noticed. Which is why checking them all (and for loose fasteners) is the first thing I do when they come off the trailer at home.

 

[Ken12138]

Change the fluid and see what happens. One plug to let it out, one to put new fluid in. Dirt simple.

Many Stellantis vehicles come with not quite enough fluids I've noticed. Which is why checking them all (and for loose fasteners) is the first thing I do when they come off the trailer at home.

I just bought the oil and is it ok if I take it to third party workshop? Don’t really have the place to do it myself and dealer is booked up.

 

[OnTheReel]

I just bought the oil and is it ok if I take it to third party workshop? Don’t really have the place to do it myself and dealer is booked up.

Don’t see why not. Anyone even slightly mechanically competent can do the job very quickly and easily. And if that fixes it, great. If it doesn’t…well…there’s no reason the dealer even needs to know you had it changed.

 

[Ken12138]

Don’t see why not. Anyone even slightly mechanically competent can do the job very quickly and easily. And if that fixes it, great. If it doesn’t…well…there’s no reason the dealer even needs to know you had it changed.

Just a bit nervous about dealer may find out I used tazer and void the warranty. Is it possible if the transfer case need to be replaced and dealer rejects it due to the tazer?

 

[OnTheReel]

Just a bit nervous about dealer may find out I used tazer and void the warranty. Is it possible if the transfer case need to be replaced and dealer rejects it due to the tazer?

I’ve been kicking around here for awhile, don’t recall anyone getting warranty work rejected over a Tazer. Obviously you’ll want to unmarry and remove it before bringing the truck in. With that done it’s not supposed to leave a footprint.

You weren’t in forced 2WD mode or anything when this happened, right?

 

[Ken12138]

I’ve been kicking around here for awhile, don’t recall anyone getting warranty work rejected over a Tazer. Obviously you’ll want to unmarry and remove it before bringing the truck in. With that done it’s not supposed to leave a footprint.

You weren’t in forced 2WD mode or anything when this happened, right?

no i tried that once but just for sec. this happened during long distance highway. will this record be found by dealer？

 

[OnTheReel]

no i tried that once but just for sec. this happened during long distance highway. will this record be found by dealer？

Logically, if that’s all true it’s extremely unlikely that it’s anything you or the Tazer did to cause it. With that said we do take our chances with any mods, and I don’t know what’s logged and for how long.

I do know that this “4WD overheated” error is not that uncommon. I’ve never had it but have seen it come up in the forum and FB group occasionally since these came out. You sure ain’t the first so hopefully it won’t be viewed with too much scrutiny or finger pointing. Good relationship with the dealer would probably help. Keep us posted.

 

[TRXNUT]

Not sure how it works for you guys south of the border but up here as long as you have proof of a registered shop with a certified mechanic doing the work (ie: oil change, diff fluid change, ect) the dealer cannot void your warranty as it's considered that a "component person" performed the work. However the loophole for the dealer is if that's the part that failed and that "other" shop was the last to touch it you will be stuck in between a finger pointing match with a busted truck until they decide who's taking ownership of it. My suggestion is take it to another dealer who can fit you in sooner and start a file with ramcares documenting the issue and the inability of the dealer being able to accommodate you in a timely manner. That way it shows you were being diligent in trying to rectify the situation but wasn't taken "seriously" by a Ram/Stellantis representative (dealer) and now the vehicle is in much worse condition because of their inability to accommodate your situation.

 

[Mdtrx]

I’ll tell you what it is because it happened to me and others. Your transfer case is bad and will most likely need to be changed. Now Ram won’t want to warranty it out so they will reset the code but it’ll happen again. So you keep complaining to the dealership who will escalate the issue to Ram.

Now you will begin to notice that it happens more often and only after the transfer case is hot (approximately 30-60 minutes of driving).

Best of luck.

 

[Informal]

The Tazer is undetectable if removed... It leaves no footprint behind.

With this type of issue, especially how new it is... I would remove it before the visit to be safe.


I've been thinking about this quite a bit since I installed my Tazer..... My back has been shit since HS football.... And it was unpleasant for me to tie up all 3 of my OBD goodies.... to my anal standards, and I decided I'm leaving all that shit in when I go to the Dealership for routine maintenance.... If my next Dealership visit is something other than routine, I'll most likely revisit my hard-line stance on this matter. ... A small handful of people at the Dealership I purchased from, are members here... So I've already incriminated myself here, no reason to lay on my floorboard again in agony... removing/re-installing it.

 

[Ken12138]

I’ll tell you what it is because it happened to me and others. Your transfer case is bad and will most likely need to be changed. Now Ram won’t want to warranty it out so they will reset the code but it’ll happen again. So you keep complaining to the dealership who will escalate the issue to Ram.

Now you will begin to notice that it happens more often and only after the transfer case is hot (approximately 30-60 minutes of driving).

Best of luck.

so you mean its not the oil but the whole transfer case need to be replaced? I just bought the oil and scheduled a transfer case oil change in a dealer that is pretty far away, hope it could solve the issue

 

[Ken12138]

The Tazer is undetectable if removed... It leaves no footprint behind.

With this type of issue, especially how new it is... I would remove it before the visit to be safe.


I've been thinking about this quite a bit since I installed my Tazer..... My back has been shit since HS football.... And it was unpleasant for me to tie up all 3 of my OBD goodies.... to my anal standards, and I decided I'm leaving all that shit in when I go to the Dealership for routine maintenance.... If my next Dealership visit is something other than routine, I'll most likely revisit my hard-line stance on this matter. ... A small handful of people at the Dealership I purchased from, are members here... So I've already incriminated myself here, no reason to lay on my floorboard again in agony... removing/re-installing it.

After I updated the tazer to the latest version, once I unplugged it my screen dies immediately. Is that the new security function or something??

 

[Mdtrx]

so you mean its not the oil but the whole transfer case need to be replaced? I just bought the oil and scheduled a transfer case oil change in a dealer that is pretty far away, hope it could solve the issue

Yes sir. We tried replacing the oil as well and it didn’t help.

 

[TRXpensive]

After I updated the tazer to the latest version, once I unplugged it my screen dies immediately. Is that the new security function or something??

You may have inadvertently enabled the screen "DarkMode" option.

LIVE Main Menu:
• “LightShow?” activate Light Show
• “Live Settings?” LIVE SETTINGS SUBMENU
• “PlsBrk” and “PlsBrkNum” enable and customize
third brake light flash pattern
• “Winch XXXX” define Winch Mode RPM (excl. 4XE)
• “TireFill?” flash to indicate pressure while filling tires
• “DarkMode?” turn off exterior lights and dash/radio/
shifter lights while parked with the engine running
• “Video?” cycle cameras/video inputs
• “VAC” display Vacuum/Boost Gauge
• “0-30/0-60 timer” display 0-30 or 0-60 times on
EVIC display
• “ForceRWD” force RWD or AWD (392 only)

Start the truck and put it in gear. If the screen comes back on, you're in DarkMode.

 

[Two]

so you mean its not the oil but the whole transfer case need to be replaced?

I would at least check the fluid level. It's a five minute no cost operation.

 

[Mdtrx]

I would at least check the fluid level. It's a five minute no cost operation.

I agree with Two.

 

[Ken12138]

Thanks so much guys all of your responses are really helpful. I will keep update once I get to the dealer tmr.

 

[Ken12138]

You may have inadvertently enabled the screen "DarkMode" option.

LIVE Main Menu:
• “LightShow?” activate Light Show
• “Live Settings?” LIVE SETTINGS SUBMENU
• “PlsBrk” and “PlsBrkNum” enable and customize
third brake light flash pattern
• “Winch XXXX” define Winch Mode RPM (excl. 4XE)
• “TireFill?” flash to indicate pressure while filling tires
• “DarkMode?” turn off exterior lights and dash/radio/
shifter lights while parked with the engine running
• “Video?” cycle cameras/video inputs
• “VAC” display Vacuum/Boost Gauge
• “0-30/0-60 timer” display 0-30 or 0-60 times on
EVIC display
• “ForceRWD” force RWD or AWD (392 only)

Start the truck and put it in gear. If the screen comes back on, you're in DarkMode.

not really. The dash is always on and even I start driving the info screen is still dark. However once I plug the tazer the info screen and the CarPlay went back immediately.