Possible faults of the transfer case, their causes and methods of elimination (VAZ-21213)

Vibration of the transfer case and the body floor (in the front seat area) when starting the car and accelerating to 80 km/h

Cause of malfunction	Method of elimination
1. The transfer case is not centered relative to the power unit.	1. Center the transfer case.
2. Transfer case mounts and rear powertrain mount are not tightened or are damaged.	2. Tighten the nuts and bolts securing the supports, replace damaged supports.
3. Difficult turning or jamming in one of the planes of the hinges of the front or rear cardan shafts.	3. Repair the cardan joints or replace the shaft assemblies.
4. Incomplete release of the parking brake.	4. Adjust the parking brake.
5. Tight rotation of the constant velocity joint of the intermediate shaft.	5. Check the condition of the cover and hinge. If the hinge parts are damaged, replace it.

Vibration of the transfer case and the body floor (in the front seat area) in steady state driving conditions (most typical at speeds of 80-90 km/h)

Cause of malfunction	Method of elimination
1. Increased imbalance of the cardan shafts.	1. Replace or repair the drive shafts.
2. Increased imbalance of the transfer case center differential.	2. Replace or repair the center differential.
3. Seizure of the cardan joints of the front or rear cardan shafts.	3. Repair the joints or replace the driveshafts as an assembly.
4. Seizure of the constant velocity joint of the intermediate shaft.	4. Check the condition of the cover and hinge. If the hinge parts are damaged, replace it.
5. The engine mount nuts and bolts are loose or the engine mounts are damaged.	5. Tighten the engine mount nuts and bolts or replace the engine mounts.
6. Bending of bolts and flange of the intermediate shaft elastic coupling.	6. Replace the bolts or intermediate drive shaft.

Noise when turning or wheel slipping

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Cause of malfunction	Method of elimination
1. Tight rotation of satellites on the axis.	1. Replace worn or damaged parts.
2. Seizure of axle drive gears in the differential housing.	2. Replace worn or damaged parts.
3. Damage to the working surface of the satellite axle.	3. Replace worn or damaged parts.
4. Large axial clearance of the axle drive gears in the differential housing.	4. Use adjusting shims to set the gap to 0-0.10 mm.

Difficulty shifting or differential locking

Cause of malfunction	Method of elimination
1. The clutch is seized on the splines of the hub or on the splines of the differential housing.	1. Clean off any burrs, nicks or scratches, replace any defective parts.
2. Notches on the teeth of the small ring gear of the highest or lowest gears, as well as on the teeth of the couplings and on the splines of the front axle drive shaft.	2. Clean up nicks and burrs, replace defective parts.
3. The fork or stem is bent.	3. Straighten out deformed parts.
4. Deformation of the transfer case drive levers.	4. Straighten the levers and replace them with new ones if necessary.
5. Jamming of drive levers on axles.	5. Remove the levers, clean the axles and bushings. Replace any defective parts.

Spontaneous disengagement of gears or differential locks

Cause of malfunction	Method of elimination
1. Wear of gear teeth and couplings.	1. Replace worn parts.
2. Decreased elasticity of the clamp springs or wear of the clamp parts.	2. Replace springs or worn parts.
3. Incomplete engagement of gears and differential locks due to deformation of drive parts or as a result of nicks on gears, couplings and splines.	3. Straighten or replace deformed parts, clean up nicks and burrs, replace unusable parts.

Oil leak

Cause of malfunction	Method of elimination
1. Damage to sealing gaskets.	1. Replace the Gaskets.
2. Loosen the nuts and studs securing the covers to the crankcase.	2. Tighten the nuts and studs at the leaking points.
3. Shaft seals are worn or damaged.	3. Replace the seals.
4. Wear of the sealing rings of the transfer case drive rods.	4. Replace the sealing rings.