Aztek Fan Club

[cuytastic101]

I have a 2002 AWD 'Tek with 74k miles on it.  I've had a noise from it upon making sharp turns for at least two years now.  Never really gave it much thought, just kind of a "when it gets worse I'll look into it" kind of thing... And it never got worse.  The noise is the same now as it was two years ago.  Yesterday, turning into a gas station and making a very very very sharp left around the pumps of course it made the noise... Everyone in the gas station turned around and looked at me like I was driving some jaloppy from Mars.  This was the first time I'd heard it with the window down and it sounds absolutely horrible.  So, today when I ran to town, (I live in the stix way out in rural Michigan) I listened for the noise.  It only happens when I turn left and gets louder the sharper the turn is.  Example: Pulling around a Taco Bell into the drive thru only gave a small whine, but a sharp turn into my driveway and going around the circle drive it was significantly louder.  No sound at all when turning right, but it does happen in both forward and reverse. 

Do you think it's the same issue with the Versatrak/Transfer Case, or something else?  At least in my logic (based on limited car knowledge) I'd expect to see a performance change if there was an issue with the AWD, but this noise has gone on through two Michigan winters, a trip to Chicago and back, and two trips to Cedar Point and back, one of them during a heavy snow storm last October, and nary a hint of an issue with Versatrak.

On a sidenote, I had a full brake system overhaul (Calipers, Rotors, Fluid, Lines and Pads) less than 10k miles ago (never drive 5k miles on bad pads... bad things happen), and both front wheel bearings replaced slightly thereafter.  I check periodically for fluid leaks under the car, purely out of paranoia (My last car started leaking tranny fluid at 60k miles) and haven't seen any evidence of drips.

[neopostman]

You may try some Mobil1 GEAR OIL SYN 75W140. I've using this in my 01 Aztek AWD for over 2 years as well as the Valvoline brand and have nearly 124K on mine with no problems.

[diceallion]

Not only does my groan like a old man, when I did change the oil year an a half ago at the cost of about $250, I challenged my mechanic about turning in circles. He practically laughed at me. So me trusting hi
 so much I didn't do it. I regret it. Maybe this is the reason it still moans???  Maybe this is the reason my rear dif is now leakin a little from the seal???   

[morty]

Giving the Purple a try. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

[diceallion]

Ive said it before Ill say it again, LOL, do like me...  Remove the darn AWD, do our selves a favor and get rid of that AWD problem for good!!!  My Tek has never run better since I eliminated the thing.

[morty]

I can live with a lot of groaning before I do that! Mine doesn't leak or have any other major problems with the AWD unit. Last fluid change worked, I'm hoping the Purple change will also so I can save some $'s!

[LorneH]

With regards to:

Do not under any circumstances use anything other than Versatrak fluid in it.

Is this something to worry about after warranty? I have gone with the recommended fluid twice now and am due for another change; couldn't it be that the fluid is garbage and that's why we keep having these problems?

L

[diceallion]

Also the darn cost of the fluid is just ridiculous...  Remove the system... drop some weight from the truck