its back! Trifecta lights!!!

[mofoaka]

I have a 06 4.8is. my previous fix of the TC actuator gear has lasted 3000 miles to eliminate the SLSI light and the 4x4 light. While driving on the freeway to work today, I suddenly hear a "ding" from the cluster notifying me there is a code. I see the 4x4 light come on. Then the cluster says DCS 4x4 inactive, then the SLSI came on seconds after.

I didn't hear the loud clacking noise after turning off the car. I'll have to run the DIS when I get home and look for codes. Hoping its just the gear again and not the alternator.

I already have a brand new battery, load test on the alternator was good. I did recently have some welding work done to put on dinan exhaust cans. Do you think when welding the exhaust on it cause some sort of grounding issue?

[Ricky Bobby]

Scan with DIS and let us know what you find. If you are suspecting alternator, unlock the OBC and run test 9 for Battery voltage while running to see if you have any under/over voltage (although you should have those codes in DIS)

[mofoaka]

yea the SLSI message override any messages displayed in the secret menu. I'll run a DIS diagnostic and report. This is crazy. I decided to read all these 4x4 and SLSI message errors on the board and thought to myself.. thank god i fixed mine for cheap! the next morning this pops up. its like a BUG!!

[SlickGT1]

How did you fix the gear last time. Flip or bought a new one?

[mofoaka]

bought a new gear last time. kevlar reinforced gear which cost me 20 bucks. i'm wondering why this gear isn't made of aluminum instead. My other guess would be the SAS maybe when i go to lunch i can reset it in the parking garage. we'll see! otherwise i'll just plug in the DIS to read some codes. If it points to the TC actuator gear again, i'll just flip it this time

[mofoaka]

okay so codes are
5f3a DSC : Transfer case malfunction ---- fault currently not present
VTG 5462 VTG : servomotor or coupling force too high - mechanical fault - fault currently not present.

So I removed the actuator off the TC and I noticed the electronic motor was still pretty hot. I opened up the actuator to inspect the gear and it was still intact. After seeing this, I had a sinking feeling that it might be the TC itself. Inspected the gear inside the TC that connects to the actuator itself. It has slight movement left and right but no movement in and out. I wasn't able to spin it freely either. I decided to put everything back together and clear the codes. Turned on the car and all (NO MORE TRIFECTA LIGHTS and SLSI) is back to normal. I think i'm going to change the TC xdrive fluid and all tranny fluids. If it comes again i'm going to change the actuator itself the next time.

wish me luck!

[Astrok]

I had random trifecta issues see my other post on this issue. Before you start chasing codes monitor your car voltage for a couple of weeks voltage spike problem is very random and must be rule out over time not with one test