Problems with 4x4 not working?

Yes you can replace the actuator yourself here is a diagram to help you get the job done. The actuator encoder as they call it is on the side of the transfer case.

Check out the diagrams (Below)

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers

How do you engage the four wheel drive? does it have to be in neutral and drive or do you start it off and drive or put it reverse? I have heard all kinds of different subjects on how to engage the four wheel drive and then how to disengage the four wheel drive. it is a very old truck listed above (Z71). I would really appreciate your help, thank you.

First 1998 is not very old.

Second, that should have shift on the fly in it. That means it has an inter axle disconnect in it and you can shift between two High and four High without stopping. You pull the lever or push the button and the transfer case will shift into four high and the front drive shaft starts moving. At the same time there is a switch that activates the front axle interlock. This moves a collar that locks the right hand axle together and you are now in four wheel.

To shift into four low is different. You cannot shift into that on the fly. You have to stop, put the transmission into neutral, shift into four low and then shift into drive/reverse. Reverse the process to go back to four high or two high.

i have a 1998 z71 4wd truck that i have owned for 10 yrs. i recently replaced the trans and it works fine, but the 4wd doesnt engage. i have replaced the actuator on the front transfer case. i read the power to that plug and had 12 volts. the lights on the 4lo/hi switches blink. i have checked the fuses (2). not sure where to go next . money is very tight.

have it scanned for codes auto parts can do for free

thanks very much. wish i could take to a shop but not possible now thanks again

When I start the truck two wheel drive light is lit up. When I push the four high button it will flash and go off. Do not hear or feel the transfer case engage. I hooked a jumper up to check for codes and there are none. Any advise?

We have now changed the tccm on the transfer case and still does not work

you cannot jump anything to read codes a scanner would be needed for this. put old tcm back in if you have it and check to see if power is going to encoder motor on tcase.check fuses where shown in pic and also check to see if encoder motor is getting power and working. finally check switch on tcase where arrow is to see if that is working.

4x4 will not engage

Do you have a manual shift 4wd or electric?

97 chevy 1500 4x4 does not engage. replaced acuator still nothing. light comes on but front wheels don't pull.

Make sure you are getting power to the actuator. Check the actuator on the front axle.

no power to actuor i replaced switch in cab still dosnt work is their a fuse inline ihave checked all outher fuses

I attached a wiring schematic for the transfer case electrical. Take a look and see if it helps.

I have a 97 chevy 4x4 that the 4-wheel drive want engage. It has a manual shifter. The transfer case will engage but the front tires will not lock in. It made no noise when it quit. I went to use it and it wouldn't engage.

[quote:4cd2bbad93="lhammo"]Drive Train Axles Bearings problem
1997 Chevy Silverado V8 Four Wheel Drive Automatic 231,00 miles

I have a 97 chevy 4x4 that the 4-wheel drive want engage. It has a manual shifter. The transfer case will engage but the front tires will not lock in. It made no noise when it quit. I went to use it and it wouldn't engage.[/quote:4cd2bbad93]



have you replaced the front diffs actuators if not replace it and it should work like new i had the same issue with mine that should solve your problem

I have a 1996 chevy z71 4x4. when i try to switch it to 4wd the little flashes on 4hi. it does engage but the light keeps flashing. I took it to the dealer and they pulled the dash and replaced the things under there. I have no clue on the names of the parts but they said they replaced everything under the dash. they also replaced some sensor on the transfer case. still does the same thing. what else could be the issue. Transmission is new. The dealer said it could be up to 1500 dollars to get it to work. any ideas would be helpful. i have dumped over 4000 dollars into this truck.

unfortunately you 'll have to have it scanned for codes, any garage can do which are cheaper than the dealer. It may be the encoder motor on tcase or a wiring issue but it needs to be scanned first to see what code it is.

i did have them check for codes. nothing showed up. so they told me it could be the actuator or transfer case motor or 4wd module. went to parts store and they said they show no 4 wd module for that year of truck.

there are two different models of this. one is electronic shift and the other isn't. the electronic shift Does have a module. I am assuming yours does not. check the items I've pointed out in diagram starting with the relay underhood center of cowl/firewall. then check the others to see if they are getting power or not. it may be the switch on tcase so you'll get dirty doing this. you can use a test light or volt meter to do it. If the electrical works then it's either one of the switches or an internal problem in tcase.

thanks i will try that. if it did have a electronic switch module where would it be.

under lh side of dash and would have about 30 or so wires leading into it.

My 1996 Chevy Silverado has the push button 4WD, most of the time the indicator light doesnt even light up to show if its in 2hi 4hi 4lo but even if the indicator light is on when i push any of the buttons it goes out and the truck will not shift into 4hi or 4lo, winter is here and i need my 4WD please help. Thank you

Have you checked to see if there is power to the actuator on the transfrer case?

Drive Train Axles Bearings problem
1996 Chevy Silverado V8 Four Wheel Drive Automatic

1996 cheve 4x4, v8 auto, truck. was plowing snow and 4 wheel drive was going in and out, would get rear tire spin and then the front wheels would grab. floor shifter was in 4hi the whole time, trird shifting in lo and hi and still had same results. im not quite sure where to begin looking for problem, would it be the switch on shifter or the electric motor by axel? thanks paul

If it went from 4 hi to 4 lo, the transfer case and shifter is fine. Check the actuator on the front drive axle.

Let me know what you find.

Joe

[quote:fb1f3f3d13="Jacobandnickolas"]If it went from 4 hi to 4 lo, the transfer case and shifter is fine. Check the actuator on the front drive axle.

Let me know what you find.

Joe[/quote:fb1f3f3d13]

yes, the actuator was bad, it works great now. it was a very easy fix! thank you for the help!
paul

I have a 95 Chevy Z71 off road pickup. It will go into 4 wheel drive when moving but will not come out unless I stop and back up. Also, it does not seem to fully engage when I go in 4WD.

This sounds like a problem with your transfer box,the selecter detent or the gear locking mechanism may be faulty.As simple as a broken spring can cause the problem you are experiencing.

When I engage the floor shifter from 2 to 4 wheel drive the gearing engages for high and low, but the front wheels don't activate.

The common reason for this is the thermal actuator on the axle has failed. The original design on these was a part with a wax inside a tube with a heating element. When you shift into 4WD the element warms up, the wax expands and it puts the front axle interlock into the lock position. Over time the units heat up in summer and they leak the wax out. After a few years enough leaks and they don't move far enough to engage the axle. To repair it you unscrew the old actuator and replace it with a new one. There are conversion kits available for them to install a motor type actuator instead of the wax version.

I replaced the actuator and am still having the same problem. I suppose it's possible I didn't tighten it down enough. Barring that is there any thing else I should look for/at?

Verify that when you select 4WD that power is going to the actuator. The wires can get corroded or break inside the insulation from flexing or right at the connectors. The Black wire should be ground and the Light Blue should be battery voltage when it is engaged. To test it you just need a test light. Connect it in place of the actuator. Fuse 24 powers the circuit. Power goes from it to the switch on the T-case. When you pull the lever that switch then sends power to the actuator. If you get nothing with it engaged connect the test light to ground and touch it to the terminal the light blue wire ends in. If it lights you likely have a bad ground sire. If not it is likely the switch. Just trace the power back.

4 wheel drive will not engage and the indicater light does not come on. 1995 chevy siverado 2500 with 7.4 and hd package. You can hear the gears engage but no 4wd

First, if you have the electric shift 4wd, check to make sure the actuator on the transfer case is getting power. If you have the shifter on the floor, check to make sure the linkage is connected and properly shifting. Next, if the transfer case is working properly (you've done the checks) check the actuator on the front axle. Make sure everything is connected and working. Even if the transfercase is working, the front axle needs to hook up or you will not have 4wd.

Transmission problem
1995 Chevy Silverado V8 Four Wheel Drive Automatic
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Hello,I own a 95 silverado and recently came to find out that my 4 wheel drive is not working,not only did the light not get lit but there wasn't any pull from the front wheels at all,I have a Haynes/Chiltons repair manual for it but it doesn't troubleshoot or explain the 4 wheel drive in it,I'd thought that it was controlled by vacume pressure but I really don't know.I've had 4 wheel drive in the past but not now.Any help?Thanks.

there is a electric actuator in the front differential that needs 12v when 4wd is activated. if it has power then the actuator is bad. they are very common for failing

Hello again,I replaced the thermal 4x4 acuator with an upgraded electrical 1 but it says to splice this brown wire from the new acuator into a brown wire on the 4 plug wire of the trans case,there is no brown wire and I believe it may be the black and grey wire,any suggestions?I need my 4x4 working again and from what I gather the factory acuators go bad frequently so thats why I upgraded,now it needs to be completed.Thanks.

runs great in 2h, but 4l and 4h won't work, it stays in 2wd.