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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/2002 oldsmobile bravada transfer case knock

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Expert: - 6/10/2010


Question
hi i just recently bought this bravada and it seems when i fix one thing another problem comes up. im not sure if this knock is coming from the tranny or the transfer case the noise seems to be located somewhere inside where they are connected. iv checked the fluid and all the bolts every thing seems to be tight and full. the noise occurs when the car is idling in gear or not.and may occurs when im actually moving but i think the car drounds the sound out. thank you for your time. the suv is an automatic if that makes a difference

Answer
Daril,

As there should be no internal components moving in the transfer case unless the transmission is put into gear, I would suspect a front bearing in the transmission, or an engine problem.  It's also likely that you could have a broken or bad transmission or motor mount.  I would check for this first as this could cause the transmission, transfer case or any connected components such as linkage to hit the frame or body.  One way you can check this is by revving the engine and have someone watch the engine and/or the transmission to see if they are moving enough to cause any parts to hit anywhere.

I would go to an auto parts store, or a hardware store and purchase a cheap automotive stethoscope.  These are great for finding and pin pointing internal mechanical noises such as the one you are describing.

Without actually hearing this myself, it's really hard to diagnose the actual problem.

Carl  

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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