Tod?

Hi everyone!

I'm fairly new at this, I have posted a couple of times before...

I wanted to point a couple things out here.

I've been going to the beach lately... and noticed when i'm not in 4WD, going through sand, the 4wd then kicks in automatically, and I hear the TOD I assume Jumping... and my TOD lights are on, but RIGHT when it jumps, the TOD lights blink off, then are back on...

Next, I come to a stop, and turn on the 4WD manually... I accelerate.. all is fine.. I don't feel and jumping at all... BUT THEN I hear this NOISE.. oh my lord... It sounds like... a chain... that hasn't been lubricated... kinda rusted making crackling/rubbing noise...

Next time at the beach, I will try to take a couple of videos, see if it can be heard, I think it can...

More things. when you set to reverse... or Drive.. or park.. This may be normal.. but when changing between them, I hear a clank.. like a bar hit another bar...

recently, I started to hear this noise, but without changing... RIGHT before I come to a stop, I hear that clank.. only, much less noticable... barley hear it... and when I speed up, it does it again....

This is 2001 VX, with about 105k miles on it... Oil change done about a month ago...


This is alot to think about and no kind of video or visual aspect... but i will try to take a video next time I go to the beach...



thanks guys! Any help/tips will be greatly appreciated....
Randy M.

Well, If I had to guess, it sounds like you need to do a major trans service.

When was the last time you had your transmission pan dropped, cleaned, replaced with a new filter and refilled the tranny and transfer case with fresh ATF? Or maybe the real question is, have you ever had a complete trans service?

Wheeling on sand sand requires a close watch on tranny and diff maintenance.

The clunking you are hearing/feeling is most likely your transmission shifting harshly and possible also you could have the 'drive line' clunk people talk about.

Bart

The jumping TOD, lights and all, would be normal on sand if you are NOT in 4WD. That is the TOD doing it's thing. As the TOD computer detects wheel slip (spinning in the sand), it will throw power to the front wheels for a second until it doesn't detect wheel slip, then it will pull the power back. If the wheels slip again, it will throw power to the front wheels again, hence the "jumping" sights and sounds. The TOD doesn't usually keep power at the front wheels unless you are doing some serious slipping around.

The grinding noise may be the fact that you are low on transfer case fluid. Mine got a little low in Moab last year, and it seems that you can hear the gears meshing. I would check the transfer case fluid pronto.

If the clunking isn't harsh when you put the VX into gear, it's probably normal. With over 100k on it the drive train parts probably have a little play in them so when it goes into gear things may move a little. If the VX slams into gear then you may have a mode selection switch problem.

The clunk you hear/feel as you come to a stop may be the slop in the drive train again. I know as I decelerate at a stop, the transmission shifts down into first and the VX, sometimes, noticably lurches as first gear grabs. Kind of like engine braking in a standard.

Hope that helps.

Check your rear diff fluid level too. Beach conditions may be the only time the LSD is being utilized.

[QUOTE=MSHardeman;156216]The grinding noise may be the fact that you are low on transfer case fluid. Mine got a little low in Moab last year, and it seems that you can hear the gears meshing. I would check the transfer case fluid pronto.[QUOTE]

Or even sooner, if possible...:_wrench:

1rst have the VX drive by a transmission especialist,that way is easier to source the possible issues the TOD/trans is experimenting right now because describing thru letters is hard to get the right answer.

Probably your TOD sensors need to be checked,the shifter can be outter manufacturers's specs,ATF level are low,gears can be worn/broke;What about your tires ? Are the tires all even in tread or they are different brands ?
If you trans gets to hot that means (1) your fluid is not lubricating any more,(2) the coolant is not disipating the heat & all that can cause to perform irregularly,is there any leaks from the T case or trans ?

You are suffering many issues all at the same time & need to take hands over that matter before it goes BOOM

Hey thanks for the many replies within today!

Honestly, I don't know when the car was serviced for the tranny, and I suppose thats the TOP priority... and checking the transfer fluids....

bought the car at 85k miles, has had about 2 oil changes but not anything more.

There is only one mis-matched tire, I hope it doesn't cause perminate damage... I am trying to find a set of tires that are new, and not so expensive yet decent to run through sand... But down here in south texas, its kinda hard to find some decent ones that actually fit...

Thanks guys so much for saving my VX! once I get it all patched up :)

I got a new set of OEM at $100 each when Discount tire had them for $228 each.