4x4 troubles

Yeah, clean it real well with electrical contact cleaner, then put some dielectric grease in it.

If it was unplugged, I would guess that there was an issue with the front drive-line or something and someone unplugged it on purpose.

MrGiggles said:

Yeah, clean it real well with electrical contact cleaner, then put some dielectric grease in it.



If it was unplugged, I would guess that there was an issue with the front drive-line or something and someone unplugged it on purpose.

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Will wd -40 work

Was this the plug on the transfer case or on the front axle?
The actuator on the axle I believe is a thermal linear actuator so it may be delayed heating up to engage into 4x4.
Does the truck still able to move when you put in 4x4 or do you have to wait?

TAHOE99 said:

Was this the plug on the transfer case or on the front axle?

The actuator on the axle I believe is a thermal linear actuator so it may be delayed heating up to engage into 4x4.

Does the truck still able to move when you put in 4x4 or do you have to wait?

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The plug was on the t case and yes I am able to move in 4wd

At first before I plugged the t case in the 2 hi light would not come on now it does when you go to put it in 4 hi or4lo the Orange light blinks for 10 minutes then it kicks in

john lx172 said:

Will wd -40 work

Click to expand...

No, WD40 is not a good electrical connection cleaner.

The thermal actuators were ditched in 95. 96 and up uses an electric motor for the actuator.

I would pull the actuator on the front axle and engage 4x4. If it doesn't extend immediately, consider replacing (or testing) the switch on top of the transfer case.

MrGiggles said:

No, WD40 is not a good electrical connection cleaner.



The thermal actuators were ditched in 95. 96 and up uses an electric motor for the actuator.



I would pull the actuator on the front axle and engage 4x4. If it doesn't extend immediately, consider replacing (or testing) the switch on top of the transfer case.

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What about compressed air

MrGiggles said:

The thermal actuators were ditched in 95. 96 and up uses an electric motor for the actuator.

.

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My buddy's '96 uses a heated one. Many of the newer replacements are electric, but factory was still a thermal heated oil that pushed out the piston.

john lx172 said:

At first before I plugged the t case in the 2 hi light would not come on now it does when you go to put it in 4 hi or4lo the Orange light blinks for 10 minutes then it kicks in

Click to expand...

Is this the "autotrak" transfer case? They started phasing them in use in 98.
My 99 will blink for a bit and sometimes the lights never come on, but it is in the desired mode.
The newer push button transfer cases used an "encoder motor" on the side of the TC to engage the 4x4. I am wondering if that is your issue. I would check the axle actuator as MrGiggles stated, but I am betting it's in the TC.

The switch on the dash will also give these symptoms aswell , there is plenty of info online if you google it , upon how to test them , FYI , it is false economy to fit used items , new ones are cheap enough on Amazon and eBay , the dash switches are a common fault on these .

TAHOE99 said:

My buddy's '96 uses a heated one. Many of the newer replacements are electric, but factory was still a thermal heated oil that pushed out the piston.











Is this the "autotrak" transfer case? They started phasing them in use in 98.

My 99 will blink for a bit and sometimes the lights never come on, but it is in the desired mode.

The newer push button transfer cases used an "encoder motor" on the side of the TC to engage the 4x4. I am wondering if that is your issue. I would check the axle actuator as MrGiggles stated, but I am betting it's in the TC.

Click to expand...

My 98 has an encoder motor that has been replaced before. Today I am going to go under the truck and clean the plug really good and try to put it in 4x4 I well let you know how it goes

I traded my 1996 Tahoe straight up for a 1996 Chevy 1500 with same drive line. On the Tahoe, I pushed the button for 4 high on the dash, an immediate clunk was heard, and instant 4WD. On my 1500, it would delay for about 20 seconds, then engage softly. Last summer, the actuator failed to engage altogether at the boat launch. How embarrassing... Anyways, I tested the actuator, which I think is just a 12v solenoid. It was bad, so I bought a new one from O'Reilly, and changed it out in the parking lot. It still delays the same amount of time before softly kicking into 4WD. It does seem a bit sluggish to unlock back into 2WD, too.

So I went to Walmart and got some of that air in a can stuff and cleaned the plug and the connection now I hear a clunk and 4wd got her fixed and planed to go through a mud hole and try her out