I feel like the performance of the VTM4 system in my truck has degraded. This could be the result of heavy use/abuse this past winter in deep snow. How wearable are the components of the VTM4, especially the clutches? What can be done about it? Has any one had similar issues? Here is the story...
I live on a loose gravel road with a decent grade (3-4%) and every time I back out of my driveway and start up the hill, I can easily brake the front tires loose. So I have a base line for how quickly the VTM4 engages since I have owned this truck.
Enter last winter and the ridiculous amounts of snow we got. I did get the RL stuck more than once and freeing it was a workout. I had to lock the VTM4 and go back and forth until it dug itself out. On one occasion the VTM4 light flashed more than once. It was hard on the whole truck, but I feel the rear drive saw a level of use that was maybe more than it was designed for.
That was months ago, snow cleared and loose gravel road is back. One day I noticed the VSA engaged as the front tires spun going up the hill. This has never happened before. Usually the VTM4 wont allow the front wheels to spin and the VSA never needs to react. Suspecting a lack of 4wd, I then locked the VTM4, tuned off VSA and floored it from a stop going up the gravel hill. The front wheels spun for about 1 second, and the truck accelerated. Is this normal??? because I seem to remember the front wheels not spinning at all with the VTM4 locked.
Anyway, I swapped VTM4 fluid. The old fluid smelled like burnt ATF. I added new fluid and went for a drive. The performance was the same.
Did I wear out my VTM4? Is my experience normal?
I live on a loose gravel road with a decent grade (3-4%) and every time I back out of my driveway and start up the hill, I can easily brake the front tires loose. So I have a base line for how quickly the VTM4 engages since I have owned this truck.
Enter last winter and the ridiculous amounts of snow we got. I did get the RL stuck more than once and freeing it was a workout. I had to lock the VTM4 and go back and forth until it dug itself out. On one occasion the VTM4 light flashed more than once. It was hard on the whole truck, but I feel the rear drive saw a level of use that was maybe more than it was designed for.
That was months ago, snow cleared and loose gravel road is back. One day I noticed the VSA engaged as the front tires spun going up the hill. This has never happened before. Usually the VTM4 wont allow the front wheels to spin and the VSA never needs to react. Suspecting a lack of 4wd, I then locked the VTM4, tuned off VSA and floored it from a stop going up the gravel hill. The front wheels spun for about 1 second, and the truck accelerated. Is this normal??? because I seem to remember the front wheels not spinning at all with the VTM4 locked.
Anyway, I swapped VTM4 fluid. The old fluid smelled like burnt ATF. I added new fluid and went for a drive. The performance was the same.
Did I wear out my VTM4? Is my experience normal?