Hi. I haven't been on the forum for months. Having too much fun in the Grenadier, partly. But lately the truck has been ... misbehaving. Thought I'd share this latest event, in case it rings a bell with anyone else's situation.
Since the truck's first service at around 17,000 km, I've experience a handful of times when it feels/sounds like a diff may be locking when the truck is cold around the first few 90 degree turns. Tire chirp/skid. Likely the rear diff? Maybe centre or transfer case. It was reported and went back in for investigation but dealer couldn't replicate. Diff and fluid levels were checked, all okay apparently.
This happened 6 or 8 times. There was one incident, again around a corner shortly after starting up, when it didn't lock but a big CLUNK came from underneath, perhaps the rear end. Also reported.
Then, a couple of days ago when driving up a long uphill mountain highway, the truck started to shudder and vibrate, followed by "Drivetrain Error" and a total loss of power. I limped to the side and turned it off. Dealer immediately dispatched a tow truck but I needed to get off the non-existant shoulder on the mountain so I started it and left it in neutral and rolled down the hill. The motor was running very strangely and rough upon starting it. Anyways, it's at the dealer. Has been for a few days. One bit of info the service manager shared was that the rear diff fluid, changed only a few hundred km ago, was unusually dark but no metal bits.
Video attached.
I have a loaner and I'm not rushing them because I need this fixed once and fixed for good. I have no confidence in long excursions with my truck right now.
My dealer and the service manager have been fast to take the truck in immediately, and are great to communcate with, and fortunately I live very close to the dealer. But confident answers about WHAT/WHY haven't been forthcoming. That's partly why I'm sharing.
I'll let you know what comes of this incident.
Maybe also worth mentioning ... maybe unrelated to the "Drivetrain Error" but who knows...
Since the truck's first service at around 17,000 km, I've experience a handful of times when it feels/sounds like a diff may be locking when the truck is cold around the first few 90 degree turns. Tire chirp/skid. Likely the rear diff? Maybe centre or transfer case. It was reported and went back in for investigation but dealer couldn't replicate. Diff and fluid levels were checked, all okay apparently.
This happened 6 or 8 times. There was one incident, again around a corner shortly after starting up, when it didn't lock but a big CLUNK came from underneath, perhaps the rear end. Also reported.
Then, a couple of days ago when driving up a long uphill mountain highway, the truck started to shudder and vibrate, followed by "Drivetrain Error" and a total loss of power. I limped to the side and turned it off. Dealer immediately dispatched a tow truck but I needed to get off the non-existant shoulder on the mountain so I started it and left it in neutral and rolled down the hill. The motor was running very strangely and rough upon starting it. Anyways, it's at the dealer. Has been for a few days. One bit of info the service manager shared was that the rear diff fluid, changed only a few hundred km ago, was unusually dark but no metal bits.
Video attached.
I have a loaner and I'm not rushing them because I need this fixed once and fixed for good. I have no confidence in long excursions with my truck right now.
My dealer and the service manager have been fast to take the truck in immediately, and are great to communcate with, and fortunately I live very close to the dealer. But confident answers about WHAT/WHY haven't been forthcoming. That's partly why I'm sharing.
I'll let you know what comes of this incident.
Maybe also worth mentioning ... maybe unrelated to the "Drivetrain Error" but who knows...
- I've had the (common-ish?) 3-2 and 2-1 downshift clunk, which I notice is not present on any of the loaner Grenadiers FWIW.
- My truck gave me the "Low Oil" warning 3 times in less than 1,000 km leading up to its first service (topped up with a litre each time). Headscratcher for the dealer.
- I have a f**k ton of electronic warnings about signal lights, marker lights, brake lights, and hazard light malfunctions, and several back-up camera failures that the dealer is working on. Those don't prevent me from driving so I can afford more patience with those than I can with anything related to motor or mechanicals.
