[Tim Ward]

Alright this one has me scratching my head. I’ve got a 2018 Toyota Fortuner and lately when I engage 4WD (which I admit I don’t use often, only when I go camping near Al Ain on the soft stuff), there’s this awful grinding or growling noise coming from underneath whenever I turn the steering wheel even a little bit. In straight line it’s fine, and in 2WD mode everything is completely silent and normal. A friend said it might be the chain inside the transfer case stretching or maybe low on fluid, but another person warned me not to ignore it because a blown transfer case is crazy expensive to replace. I’ve been trying to find a shop that specializes in transfer case repair Abu Dhabi area since I figure they see more 4x4s than regular mechanics. Has anyone experienced something similar that ended up being just a fluid change or shift motor issue instead of a full rebuild? Really don’t want to be that guy who breaks down in the middle of nowhere because I ignored the warning signs.

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