4wd actuator connector issue

[jtrock123]

All,
I have a 2019 ram 1500 5.7 hemi. Recently I have not been able to get it to go into any 4wd modes. I bought a replacement actuator to replace the old one. I disconnected the old one and connected the new one before installing. It went into 4wd modes immediately. I reconnected the old one and tested, and it went into 4wd mode successfully. I tested a few more times with the old actuator and it started having the same problem. I went to disconnect while it was trying to engage and I felt the actuator engage. After several attempts it seems like the original actuator Is fine, but the connector doesn’t make great contact with the pins. Anyone seen this issue before or know of a recall on the 1500 that replaces this connector?

 

[silver billet]

All,
I have a 2019 ram 1500 5.7 hemi. Recently I have not been able to get it to go into any 4wd modes. I bought a replacement actuator to replace the old one. I disconnected the old one and connected the new one before installing. It went into 4wd modes immediately. I reconnected the old one and tested, and it went into 4wd mode successfully. I tested a few more times with the old actuator and it started having the same problem. I went to disconnect while it was trying to engage and I felt the actuator engage. After several attempts it seems like the original actuator Is fine, but the connector doesn’t make great contact with the pins. Anyone seen this issue before or know of a recall on the 1500 that replaces this connector?

I've read reports that this can be caused by oil changes, taking the filter out means you're getting oil over anything under and near that part of the engine and the 4x4 actuator is right under the filter, oil gets into the connector and does its thing there. I'd try spray the connector out thouroughly with brake cleaner and see if that fixes the issue. Might take more than one attempt to fix it, but try spraying it out as often as needed over the course of a few weeks.

 

[cshorvat]

Curious how this turned out.

 

[mpmitch1]

Inquiring minds are waiting.....

 

[shawnblink281]

Hey all just wanted to let you guys know I was having the same issue, pulled the plug on the actuator cleaned it then put it back in and it worked! So thanks for the help!

 

[fmartins96]

Having the same issue on my 2020 1500 Limited. I tried spraying electronic cleaner on the connector, plugged back in and tried again 3 times. Hasn’t worked for me. I bought the actuator from Amazon. Seems like it worked for the guy with the high mileage Limited from Truck Central (on YT). My only concern is how much fluid I will lose and if I need to refill.
Most people say its not more than 2 table spoons but will it be harmful to not refil?

 

[THFD334]

Having the same issue on my 2020 1500 Limited. I tried spraying electronic cleaner on the connector, plugged back in and tried again 3 times. Hasn’t worked for me. I bought the actuator from Amazon. Seems like it worked for the guy with the high mileage Limited from Truck Central (on YT). My only concern is how much fluid I will lose and if I need to refill.
Most people say its not more than 2 table spoons but will it be harmful to not refil?

ill let you know in about 10 minutes. I’m diving in.

 

[Teaser71]

Same issue. I cleaned it with WD40 contact cleaner and after once nothing. Second time I cleaned it and then compressed air to really dry it good. Works like the day I bought it.
Thanks for the info guys.

 

[silver billet]

Same issue. I cleaned it with WD40 contact cleaner and after once nothing. Second time I cleaned it and then compressed air to really dry it good. Works like the day I bought it.
Thanks for the info guys.

Some of us are running the pacbrake oil filter relocation kit, it moves your oil filter closer to the bumper so that you don't have to worry about oil dripping down on the harness anymore.

 

[fmartins96]

ill let you know in about 10 minutes. I’m diving in.

So I have taken the truck to RAM to look at it. They charged me $663 for a “software update” and said this was the issue. When I got the truck and tried to put on 4wd auto, it did not work.
I am going back after the winter storm passes but I am most certainly sure the problem is the actuator. When I looked under the truck today, there is oil alllll over the actuator and transfer case. There are 0 leaks, but the oil was spilled during the oil changes.

 

[merdas]

I am having the same issue, I replaced the actuator with Dorman one, I bought on Amazon. The issue remains. The 4wd service light comes on intermittently. Not sure what are my options. This is so annoying.

 

[firecadet613]

I am having the same issue, I replaced the actuator with Dorman one, I bought on Amazon. The issue remains. The 4wd service light comes on intermittently. Not sure what are my options. This is so annoying.

Did you clean out the truck harness electrical connector? Mine was covered in oil when I swapped by actuator out.

 

[merdas]

Yes, I did with the brake cleaner, did not help much.

 

[dale lyne]

There are 2 actuators, one for the transfer case, and one for the front axle. I just replaced my front axle actuator because it kept blowing fuse #77, a 10 amp. The mechanic pulled the connector
and the fuse did not blow. So he wrote in the service order the actuator needed to be replaced, but didn't have one on hand. This fuse powers the front actuator, and the control buttons inside the truck. Nothing was lighting up because of the blown fuse. The actuator I removed was not a Mopar part at all. I replaced it with a Dorman and so far so good back in operation.

But I was pondering the age old question, "Why do you need to cycle the 4X4 to keep it functioning?" the answer is so simple, and it has nothing to due with gears or lubrication, it has to do with the nature of electronic motors. The stators are made of copper, and what happens to copper when it sits for a long time... pull a penny from your pocket and have a look. Corrosion. So the next time you put your truck in 4 low, I bet it takes a minute the first time... and then 30 seconds the next... that is the motor turning slowly because of corrosion. I have a polisher I never use, and if I pull it out now, it will spin slowly for the first 4-5 minutes and then pick up speed until finally it is back to proper rpm. All electronic motors have the same problem, they need to be used to stay in good shape.

Thank you for the warning of the oil on connectors, I did my own oil change and made a mess, but in my case was not the problem.

 

[STB20]

were is the #77 fuse located

 

[IceyTys]

I am having the same issue, I replaced the actuator with Dorman one, I bought on Amazon. The issue remains. The 4wd service light comes on intermittently. Not sure what are my options. This is so annoying.

Did you ever get this figured out? I replaced my front actuator and it didnt seem to make any difference. Connectors look nice and clean, dont think its that. I am wondering if its the 4WD controller itself, however I hear it clicking below the truck with I try to switch to 4WD. Ugh...so very frustrating here.

 

[Didz]

I literally just picked up my car from the dealer (an hour before posting). Took it in a week ago because the starter motor died on me so I told them to check the car and see what else was needed. Spark plugs, engine mounts, transmission mount and of course the starter. I jumped in outside the dealership door and as I dropped it into drive..."Service 4WD system" and it wouldn't even engage drive. Walked back in, they came out, disconnected the battery and reconnected it and all was good. Drove the car for about 2kms, and I always have it in 4WD auto, dropped it into neutral at a red light and when I tried to engage 4WD...nothing, just the flashing lights. Drove back to the dealer and their solution is always to disconnect the battery and told me to bring it back tomorrow so they can have a look at it. I got home and realised I didn't have the garage remote, wanted to honk the horn to get our house boy to open up the gate and the horn isn't working either!!

I just sent an email to my dealer tell them all of this and making it clear that they are to bear the costs of the repairs as everything was working fine when I took it in, so we'll see what the reply is tomorrow. I checked out Truck Central's channel and he diagnosed his issue as the actuator. I hate not using factory parts, especially because I live in Bahrain and when ordering parts from the US replacing faulty parts is a hassle, but $700+ online means that my dealer will sell it to me for USD converted to BHD, which mean 700 Bahraini Dinars which converts to USD1862 so the Dorman option is looking really good if they decide to screw me over and not cover the cost of repair. But before all of that I will check the connection tomorrow.

On another note, I had to laugh when the mechanic was telling me, the 4WD system has gone faulty because I have deleted the air suspension...I told him the Ram isn't a tuk-tuk from India!

 

[HSKR R/T]

I literally just picked up my car from the dealer (an hour before posting). Took it in a week ago because the starter motor died on me so I told them to check the car and see what else was needed. Spark plugs, engine mounts, transmission mount and of course the starter. I jumped in outside the dealership door and as I dropped it into drive..."Service 4WD system" and it wouldn't even engage drive. Walked back in, they came out, disconnected the battery and reconnected it and all was good. Drove the car for about 2kms, and I always have it in 4WD auto, dropped it into neutral at a red light and when I tried to engage 4WD...nothing, just the flashing lights. Drove back to the dealer and their solution is always to disconnect the battery and told me to bring it back tomorrow so they can have a look at it. I got home and realised I didn't have the garage remote, wanted to honk the horn to get our house boy to open up the gate and the horn isn't working either!!

I just sent an email to my dealer tell them all of this and making it clear that they are to bear the costs of the repairs as everything was working fine when I took it in, so we'll see what the reply is tomorrow. I checked out Truck Central's channel and he diagnosed his issue as the actuator. I hate not using factory parts, especially because I live in Bahrain and when ordering parts from the US replacing faulty parts is a hassle, but $700+ online means that my dealer will sell it to me for USD converted to BHD, which mean 700 Bahraini Dinars which converts to USD1862 so the Dorman option is looking really good if they decide to screw me over and not cover the cost of repair. But before all of that I will check the connection tomorrow.

On another note, I had to laugh when the mechanic was telling me, the 4WD system has gone faulty because I have deleted the air suspension...I told him the Ram isn't a tuk-tuk from India!

What are you doing to your truck that the engine and transmission mounts were bad? Granted the high heat of the desert probably doesn't help, but I haven't heard of anyone needing transmission mounts. Seems maybe telling them to fix whatever else they found gave them an open check to just replace random parts.

How many miles/kilometers do you have on the truck?