Propeller shaft always spin?

[Jim?]

Hello
On a 05 MO. AWD will the propeller shaft always spin in drive?
I had it on a lift and it did not spin.
A online guy told me the front wheels had to be on the ground for the shaft to spin.
I marked the shaft and drove, the shaft did move but I don't know how much.

The reason I'm looking at this is the AWD is not working.
A dealership lifted it and put it in drive for 1 minute and said it needed a new transfercase for about $3600.

Any suggestions on how to be sure it is the transfercase or the differential clutch?

Thanks
Jim?

[njjoe]

J-

The drive shaft (known as the propeller shaft in Nissan-speak) is coupled to the transfer case which is connected to the transmission, so yes, it will rotate as the front wheels rotate. The AWD clutch is located aft of the propeller shaft just ahead of the rear differential.

When you said you had it on a lift and it did not spin, what exactly were you doing? Was the engine running with the transmission in gear? Did you just manually rotate the rear tires?

Is the car drivable? Any odd noises from the driveline?

-njjoe

[Jim?]

Hello njjoe
I had each wheel raised with a jack stand.
The car was in running in drive and the front wheels spun, but not the propeller shaft.
The car drives fine, just won't go up snowy hills like it use to.
I can not hear anything odd, like gears grinding.

If I spin a back tires by hand only that tire moves, I thought both sides moved when you turned one side by hand.

What I think I will do now is clamp a plastic stick to the propeller shaft that is just long enough to hit the
cars underside and drive it to see how fast and long I hear it hitting.

Thanks
Jim?

[MuranoSV]

I think that both TC and rear differential have problems.
Does OP have the drive shafts from the rear wheels to the rear differential ?

[Jim?]

Hello
What is OP?

There are drive shafts in the back on both sides.

Jim?

[MuranoSV]

OP is Original Poster.
The power plant & drive line sytem are connected as the followings, as I know.
- Engine => CVT => TC => Prop Shaft => Coupling => Rear Diff. => Rear Drive Shaft => Tire
When engine runs and CVT is engaged in "D", then prop shaft should spin, I think.
Also, if the rear diff. is OK, when you turn one tire, the other one should turn to the reverse direction as long as the prop shaft doesn't spin freely.

I don't know what might happened with your MO.

[Jim?]

Well I will put the stick on the shaft in the morning and the let you all
know if the propeller shaft only turns with the front wheels on the ground.
If it won't turn I guess I will need some Transfer case parts.

Thanks
Jim?

[Jim?]

Hello All
I put 3 wire tie on the propeller shaft and drove 10 miles before they wore off.
They clicked on the car underside the whole way. The Propeller shaft is turning.

The mechanic from "JustAnswer.com" was right, the front tires have to be on the ground to
make the propeller shaft spin. So now I know my problem is in the rear.
Well worth the $18.00 I spent, he saved me $3000.00

Also most of all I wonder if the dealership I went to knew this about the propeller shaft
not spinning when the wheels are off the ground and wanted to screw me and other over
by putting a $3000.00 transfer case in we do not need?

Anyone know a good investigative reporter?

Jim?