2012 AWD Denali rolls in Park with 1 tire off the ground

[dkad260]

For the sake of discussion, I don't usually raise a vehicle on an incline, but this is only a slight incline and I needed to remove the LF tire.

Being a new vehicle to me, I wanted to be sure it would be resting against the parking pawl before I raised the vehicle.

I wasn't going to perform any work unless the rear tires were locked down.

I wanted to be sure it was not going to move so I carefully lifted the LF and the vehicle began to move forward with the LF tire turning backwards.

I'm not someone to work unsafe, if the rear tires were locked I would have used a wheel chock for safety, along with a jack stand and removed the wheel as intended.

Maybe it would have locked in if it moved any more but it was already holding in Park.

I'm curious to know why this transfer case (BW4485) would allow such a movement. Perhaps it's normal, but I want to be sure so I wanted to ask.

 

[Bill 1960]

It only takes one wheel up. Front differential, center differential, rear differential. All the rotation can go to a single wheel.

The parking brake is a safer bet than a parking pawl. Although the really safe thing is wheel chocks.