My dealer is replacing the transfer case of my '05 with a used unit. My unit started making noise at 57k, they are installing a unit with 51k. They assure me that the replacement unit will be inspected and warranted for the balance of my warranty contract. What"s the life expectancy of the average transfer case? Is this just a short term solution or can I expect a 100k from a typical unit.

 

I'm on 115k on the original transfer case and I know a lot of members with over 150k on the original transfer case. I've even heard of a couple going to 200k. The main thing is the preventative maintenance that you have to perform on the tcase. You MUST change the fluid otherwise you're just throwing money out the window. Also, don't drive it like a maniac all the time (flooring it from stop light to stop light.) Just make sure they swap out the fluid in the unit before they replace it. Tell them you won't pay for the repair or accept the car without new fluid in the transfer case. They will tell you they are "sealed for life" which is BS.

 

Rantsc, the life of the transfer case is directly related to hard hard you drive the car. You like to accelerate and push the RPMs high (above say 4,000 typically during accelerations), then you can expect a shorter life out of the transfer case. You keep the RPMs down under say 3,000 during acceleration and you can get really long life out of the transfer case. I am approaching 130K miles on my transfer case with no signs of failure. Where other people have had a transfer case fail in as little as 30K miles. So, will the transfer case give you long life, it may, it may not. It is directly up to you.

 

Well I have to disagree. I got my 05 when she had 17000 miles on her and I drive her very easy. I understand the previous owner was a lady. My TC failed at just over 30K. My dealer advised not installing a used or rebuilt unit and said he would not warranty the work since he had no way of knowing what shape the unit was in. My extended warranty would not pay for new but my dealer sold me a new one for only $600 out of my pocket and the warranty service paid for the rest. I feel much better with a new one.

FYI, when I picked it up I noticed some clicking in the transmission. I had them check and it seems when the pulled the TC it broke a seal in the transmission and some of the fluid leaked out. They pulled it and refilled the transmission and reinstalled the TC. At least that was the story I got.

 

At 204K miles our transfer case is going strong. So is the standard transmission and (original) clutch. The engine has had no problems either. We did have the rear differential replaced at 30K under warranty. Great car, 2003 x-type 2.5L.

Pete.

 

tarheel, as with anything mechanical, there is always the chance that it will break "just because". Whether it was bad manufacturing, bad material, etc. So, in your case, that sounded more like a transfer case that was going to fail "just because", regardless of what you did.