Help with transfer case and/or driveshaft issue

acmegeek · #1 09-10-2016, 05:37 PM

Howdy,

I've scoured all the threads and boards, and am just not sure how my particular issue fits in with the known issues.

It is a 2003 X5 3.0, with the 26207508629 front driveshaft, so as far as I can tell it does not have the actuator motor with the failing plastic gear.

Failure was starting off from a light, hearing a loud noise (like a bang), and then just losing all power to the wheels. Engine still ran, etc. Once towed home, I checked a few things. Made sure trans fluid was full (it was level when checked).

When I put it in drive or reverse, I get zero movement at the wheels. I then put the parking brake on while in drive, got out and looked under and the front driveshaft was spinning (and I couldn't stop it with a gloved hand, and yes, I did it very carefully). But zero movement or even torque on the rear driveshaft. In fact, I could turn it back and forth a little even as it is still in drive with the front driveshaft spinning.

Next, I put it back in park, and strangely, I could easily push the vehicle back and forth several feet and watch both front and rear driveshafts turn. I was expecting the parking brake to prevent this.

I am now very aware of the front driveshaft spline issue, and given it is an early 03, does not have the actuator motor (I may be wrong on this). I do think there is some play in the chain and splines, but am baffled why I have zero movement through the system.

Is this simply failed splines, or something else amiss? Anybody have similar experience?

Thanks!

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80stech · #2 09-10-2016, 09:51 PM

If front drive shaft is spinning front wheels should be turning. You must have a problem in the front diff. Maybe front axles but that is REALLY unlikely.

acmegeek · #3 09-10-2016, 10:06 PM

Yeah, that does make sense. Thanks for that idea. I hadn't really considered that. I did replace one of the front axles a few months ago. But all seemed to go well there. Just not sure what might be wrong there. The biggest head scratcher is how the rear spins totally free of transmission output (as evidenced by the front shaft spinning), and that the parking brake does nothing to stop it.

80stech · #4 09-10-2016, 10:15 PM

The parking brake stops only the back wheels, so yes, the rear driveshaft should not spin. I think maybe you are not understanding that the transfer case acts as a differential between front and back.

acmegeek · #5 09-10-2016, 10:23 PM

I might be off on my transfer case understanding for sure, but I just know that when in park, with all 4 wheels on the ground, I can push the whole vehicle as if in neutral.

But... now that you mention it, when it first failed, and I was trying to figure it out, it make some terrible clatter putting it back into Park. So, perhaps, I sheared off or otherwise disabled the parking brake pawl/pin/etc? Tomorrow I'll try jacking up each front wheel and spinning it to see what connects to the front driveshaft.

Thanks, you really got me thinking!

80stech · #6 09-11-2016, 02:41 AM

The parking brake and parking pawl are 2 entirely different things.

David.X5 · #7 09-11-2016, 09:10 AM

If you recently worked on an axle, I would check first it didn't pop out of engagement in the diff. One loose axle would explain these symptoms.

Frankly, I thought you had front driveshaft splines go bad. I am not sure your gloved-hand test puts enough load to really test. You can inspect them by removing the front guibo and sliding the axle out.

acmegeek · #8 09-11-2016, 03:43 PM

Great news! It was the axle! It had just popped out. Jacked it up, took wheel off, used a 1x2 and a rubber mallet to seat it, and it went in cleanly and solidly. Wheel back on, dropped jack, and it drives!

Thanks for all the help! I hadn't thought of the axle!

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