Black fluid is not a good sign. That means that it has gotten quite hot. I don't believe that Autotrak 2 smells any different when it is degraded than the new stuff. Never has in any of the tc services I have done and that did include some that I had to tear down to find out that the clutch pack was toast.

 

By smelled the same I meant it didn't smell burnt. Tomorrow will tell, I'll top it up all the way and test drive it. Wonder if the old oil which I imagine is the orginal fluid degraded enough to cause the clutches to just slip?

 

Topped up the fluid, no go on the ground. Guess the clutches are pooched. No need to remove the torsion bar cross member to remove the transfer case is there?

 

You should not need to remove the torsion bar cross member.

 

Here's the update on the problem. The clutch pack was screwed. Had the clutches replaced. Also had a GM encoder motor as the new aftermarket one wasn't putting enough pressure on the shift fork I'm told.

 

Damn. That sucks. At least you got it fixed. I'm curious how much that set you back.

 

$450 can for the transfer case service and $350 for the Reman GM encoder motor. I provided the oil, they cleaned put new seals in the T case too.

 

$450 for the clutch replacement isn't bad. Those clutches are $$.