np203 4x4 problem cant get power

[matthew.marrero.104]

i have a 1979 GMC high sierra stepside 4x4 i have a NP203 T-case and I can engage my 4x4 into any gear and it does what it is suppose to even shortening my gears in 4 lo but i cant get power to my 2 front tires i have lifted the 2 front tires of the ground and put the truck into neutral and 4 lo and i can grab my drive shaft and the 2 front tires spin with ease forward and backwards with my hubs locked like they should and they don't move at all when they are free only my axles spin so its not my front diff or any of my axles or my hubs so it has to be my T-case i don't wanna tear it apart unless there is absolutely no other solution and i will try anything

[enaberif]

NP203 only has hubs that can lock if you put a part time kit into the transfer case. Do you know much about this truck? Did you or someone previously put a part time kit into the truck?

The part time kit will also change the shift pattern.

[FlatBlack77]

you can put lock out hubs on a truck without the part time converted 203 case. its pretty pointless but it is completely possible. its mentioned in a handful of threads around here

[enaberif]

you can put lock out hubs on a truck without the part time converted 203 case. its pretty pointless but it is completely possible. its mentioned in a handful of threads around here

Yes you can but if you run them in a unlocked state you can damage your transfer case. You would have to keep them locked at all times but it doesn't change what happens with the transfer case.

[Jason S]

  so it has to be my T-case i don't wanna tear it apart unless there is absolutely no other solution and i will try anything

The front axle doesn't engage in either Lo-Loc or Hi-Loc? 

You could very well have a part time kit already in the t-case.

Have you checked the adjustment on the t-case shifter?  Also, you could disconnect the shifter arms from the t-case and manually shift the levers to see if you can get it to engage the front axle.

[Irish_Alley]

you can put lock out hubs on a truck without the part time converted 203 case. its pretty pointless but it is completely possible. its mentioned in a handful of threads around here

Yes you can but if you run them in a unlocked state you can damage your transfer case. You would have to keep them locked at all times but it doesn't change what happens with the transfer case.

never heard of damage to the tcase if you do this. this is a sticker from the conversion kit it doesnt say anything about that but that doesnt mean it cant happen

  so it has to be my T-case i don't wanna tear it apart unless there is absolutely no other solution and i will try anything

The front axle doesn't engage in either Lo-Loc or Hi-Loc? 

You could very well have a part time kit already in the t-case.

Have you checked the adjustment on the t-case shifter?  Also, you could disconnect the shifter arms from the t-case and manually shift the levers to see if you can get it to engage the front axle.

[enaberif]

Depends on the part time kit installed. Don't forget the NP203 has 2 different styles. There is the complete shaft upgrade or the slug upgrade. The DNE if I recall was the shaft which is the superior version. The newer slug version isn't so great but still works.

[Irish_Alley]

didnt know there was 2 styles

[FlatBlack77]

you can put lock out hubs on a truck without the part time converted 203 case. its pretty pointless but it is completely possible. its mentioned in a handful of threads around here

Yes you can but if you run them in a unlocked state you can damage your transfer case. You would have to keep them locked at all times but it doesn't change what happens with the transfer case.

im aware of that im just saying that the fact that the truck has lockout hubs has nothing to do with the transfer case

[enaberif]

you can put lock out hubs on a truck without the part time converted 203 case. its pretty pointless but it is completely possible. its mentioned in a handful of threads around here

Yes you can but if you run them in a unlocked state you can damage your transfer case. You would have to keep them locked at all times but it doesn't change what happens with the transfer case.

im aware of that im just saying that the fact that the truck has lockout hubs has nothing to do with the transfer case

But it does. It takes 2 parts to make the transfer case to work properly.. locking hubs is the first and part time kit is the 2nd. If one or the other are not installed properly or at all then things may not work properly.

Also take into consideration with the part time kit that if you don't engage the transfer case often enough you can also cause damage to the transfer case.

[Dan75k20]

If you were in Pittsburgh pa i would give youa 203

[matthew.marrero.104]

i do not have a part time kit its a np203 mated to my tranny it engages the 4wd cause it shortens my gear ratios but there have to be something going from that to the chain or the gears going to the front shaft cause it spins when I'm in any 4wd gear with my hubs free so it spins but i cant figure out why it doesn't get power maybe something is missing and i dont have lock out hubs i have warn manual hubs Ive rebuilt them and nothing happens.

[enaberif]

i do not have a part time kit its a np203 mated to my tranny it engages the 4wd cause it shortens my gear ratios but there have to be something going from that to the chain or the gears going to the front shaft cause it spins when I'm in any 4wd gear with my hubs free so it spins but i cant figure out why it doesn't get power maybe something is missing and i dont have lock out hubs i have warn manual hubs Ive rebuilt them and nothing happens.

If you don't have a part time kit lockable hubs don't do anything then. You need a part time kit to work with the locking hubs properly.

You can't just install locking hubs and expect your transfer case to work properly.

[Jason S]

Matthew,

As others have pointed out and from what you describe, it sounds like your issue is using manual locking hubs (i.e., Warn locking hubs) with an original and unconverted NP203.

To cover the basics:
With an original and unconverted NP203, the system is considered a full-time four wheel drive. So it is always in 4WD.

There were no manual locking hubs used or needed with a factory original NP203 setup.  There were either slugs or drive plates on the front axles, but no manual locking hubs.

In an unconverted NP203, there are five positions for the transfer case. All positions, except neutral are four wheel drive. Working from the dashboard backward these are:  Lo-Loc, Lo, Neutral, Hi and Hi-Loc.   

The NP203 has a differential inside the case that works similar to the differential in an axle.  When driving on paved roads and normal operations, the transfer case should be in the Hi position. When all wheels have adequate traction, then the power sent from the transfer case to the axles is generally equal.  If wheels slip on either axle, the differential will send the power to that axle. This would be similar if the transfer case was in the Lo position.

When the Hi-loc or Lo-loc positions are selected, then the differential inside the transfer case is locked out and power is distributed equal to both axles regardless of traction. 

In an unconverted NP203 (i.e., no part time kit installed) that has had manual locking hubs installed on the front axle, the truck should move in Hi or Lo as long as the front manual locking hubs remain in the "lock" position.  If the transfer case is in Hi or Lo and the manual hubs are in the "Free" position, the differential in the transfer case will send the power to the front axle as that is the axle with the least amount of traction (least resistance). 

The part time conversion kit for an NP203 disables (or replaces) the differential inside the transfer case.  With a part time kit installed, the transfer case operations are as follows:
Hi-Loc = 4WD Hi
Hi       = 2WD Hi
N        = Neutral
Lo       = 2WD Lo
Lo-Loc = 4WD Lo

In a part time converted NP203, when either the Hi or Lo position is selected the transfer case will only send power to the rear axle.  The Hi-Loc and Lo-Loc positions will send power equally to the front and rear axle. 

There are workarounds for using an unconverted NP203, including operating in Hi-loc and removing the front driveshaft. If part-time operation is desired, then I'd suggest installing a part-time kit into the NP203. It's much easier to just lock hubs and move a shift lever than it is to install a driveshaft, lock hubs and move a lever when four-wheel drive is needed.

While on the NP203 subject: The transfer case shifter and adjustment can be the source of issues with either unconverted or part-time converted NP203's.  Mud, grease, rust and other road grime can accumulate in the shifter housing. If the shifter is gunked up with debris it may not move the shift levers on the transfer case to the correct position.   

[matthew.marrero.104]

well even in lo loc or high lock i cant get power to my front wheels and how much is an part time 4wd kit??