transfer actuator motor issue - SOLVED

my 4wd wont engage, have done the diagnostic test and it came up with number 11 which in the service manuel is the actuator motor.

have had someone flick switch for me while i felt relays and they seemed to start but not hold. turning to 4h relay two started then relay one started then relay two started again. but didnt hold contact.

4wd plugs on bottom of transfer case all test fine.


so my question is has anyone had issues with the actuator motor/how did you fix it??

also dont have abs so its nothing to do with that.

Ryan, the D40s since 2005 have had ABS, yours should be on the left side of the engine bay like in this photo (right side of picture):



Just ignore the other things I highlighted for now!

IF there's nothing wrong with the motors in the transfer case, then something might be out in the ABS sensor department - BUT something wrong there should light up the warning light on the dash (check that it works when you turn the ignition on).

I think I recall one or two transfer case issues, so it's not impossible that those servos have a fault.

2008 pov pack d40, doesn't have abs.

how would you test the actuator motor in transfer case?

also 4wd light must be working to provide self diognostic.

Mines a 2008 RX and it doesnt come with abs either. Bonus really no shuttering rubbish when driving tracks.

LEIGHTO#L80 said:

Mines a 2008 RX and it doesnt come with abs either. Bonus really no shuttering rubbish when driving tracks.

Click to expand...

easier to do a sas aswell nothing to worry about

I don't know of any way to test it apart from taking it to a Nissan dealer or a 4x4 gearbox specialist.

I'm reading in the manual that there are things to check before getting to the actuators and that some of the feedback from the transfer case determines what lights and indicators display on the dash. So, based on that, does your 4WD indicator on your dash ever show that it's gone into 4WD? If so, and you use the correct sequence to enter 4LO (neutral, brake on, vehicle stopped), does the 4LO indicator show at all?

I'm reading page 100 of TF.pdf, the diagnostic procedure for the transfer case selector. Have you got a copy of this manual?

light to engage 4wd flashes, don't hear it start or click to drop in. relays click

then after it should have dropped in roughly 5 or so seconds 4wd warning light comes up,


yes i have copy of Manuel.

The warning light means the servos didn't manage to shift it when it tried. Now that's either the servo failed, or the sensor failed. Electrically, either one will give the same response to the car - 4WD apparently not engaged.

How do you feel about pulling the servos out and testing them?

shouldnt be an issue, where abouts is it found? /page in manual if there is one?

May be a dumb question, but what's the relationship between the ABS and the transfer case servo's/4LO??

Matt, the computer won't allow the transfer case to engage if the ABS system has detected a fault.

Ryan, take a look around page 105 onwards. It's not really clear - that's the control unit. Keep on reading, though - things like the wait detection switch are down at p132.

pulled the control unit to bits and what do you know rust and water/mud marks where its been sitting. ended up testing fine so moving back along the line we go can you believe nissan want $1600 for a new one?!?!?

^^ Ooo, that looks like they've chosen an incorrect material for the casing of that servo, I hope that's been upgraded in subsequent revisions.

What year is your D40 bud??

So you got it all cleaned up and working again??

i tested it off car and there was nothing wrong with it while i had car on jacks turns out i blew another wheel bearing so just replaced that.

o8 rx propper pov pack
i think they were possibly only government issue cause it seems that the people who have them got them from gov auctions.

I'm amazed at that. What condition were the seals in?

Ok, so if the servo is working on a bench, once it's cleaned up and reinstalled, what happens?

If the servo tests fine, maybe a look back at those relays is required - but an inspection of the cabling heading to the transfer case would be my first call, and check that there's no damage caused by a stray piece of debris like a stick/branch/rock. I'd also look inside all of the plugs and make sure there's no corrosion which given the state of the servo - which was INSIDE - is now a distinct possibility!

the seal was fine but didnt fit really well which is wierd, ide probably put silicon around the edge of the seal now having a look inside it. yeh back up the line we go, might actually pull the relays out instead of just feeling them.

You see servo's corroded like that. I wouldn't be concerened about water ingress, I suspect it's from condensation created within the sealed area.

It's probably a poor galvanising job done on the can of the servo.