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95 K1500 4wd Actuator


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First off, this is my first post and probably won't be the last. It seems like forums for any vehicle tend to turn into a lifesaver for me when it comes to issues with the cars that I've had and this one won't be any different.

 

I recently bought a 1995 Chevy half-ton 4x4 to get me through the unpredictable weather and back roads of Nebraska. I only paid $3600 and it only has 115,000 miles with the 350 under the hood. It seemed like a pretty good deal to me and I certainly don't regret buying it.

 

Of course it was going to have a few problems with it being 14 years old. The biggest issue right now is that I've determined the 4wd actuator has seen better days and it's time to get a new one. Do any of you have a recommendation for what I should replace it with? Is there an actuator out there that is of better quality and will last longer or would I just be better off going and getting the 4X4 Posi-Lok? I want something that is going to last a while and be reliable. From what I've read so far, the posi-lok is pretty reliable but if there's an actuator that is just as reliable and easier to install, why take the time and effort to install the posi-lok right? Do any of you have any advice or recommendations?

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I`m not familiar with the posi-lok system but i asume is it a manual type setup and can`t see much problem with it. But for example my truck is 11 years old and have never needed to replace the actuator, it always works, and i also have the pushbutton 4wd and never had a problem. My truck has been pretty amazing though... just keeps on going. for now, "knock on wood"

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I'm brand new to this forum as well, my 1st post. The 4WD actuator in my '92 launched a few weeks ago in one of the worst Wisconsin snowstorms we've had recently. I replaced the actuator in about 1/2 hour. I would believe the bad one was the original, so 17 yrs. and 165k miles is not too unreliable. The part cost about $90 at the local parts store and it was an easy replacement.

I would say clearing the snow and jacking up the front end took most of the time. You really just disconnect the wiring connection and screw in the new actuator. I jacked up the front end pretty high so no oil would leak out. Just put a little sealer on the new actuators threads. My 4WD works great again.

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First off, this is my first post and probably won't be the last. It seems like forums for any vehicle tend to turn into a lifesaver for me when it comes to issues with the cars that I've had and this one won't be any different.

 

I recently bought a 1995 Chevy half-ton 4x4 to get me through the unpredictable weather and back roads of Nebraska. I only paid $3600 and it only has 115,000 miles with the 350 under the hood. It seemed like a pretty good deal to me and I certainly don't regret buying it.

 

Of course it was going to have a few problems with it being 14 years old. The biggest issue right now is that I've determined the 4wd actuator has seen better days and it's time to get a new one. Do any of you have a recommendation for what I should replace it with? Is there an actuator out there that is of better quality and will last longer or would I just be better off going and getting the 4X4 Posi-Lok? I want something that is going to last a while and be reliable. From what I've read so far, the posi-lok is pretty reliable but if there's an actuator that is just as reliable and easier to install, why take the time and effort to install the posi-lok right? Do any of you have any advice or recommendations?

 

The old thermal design used to wear out quickly and was replaced with a new electric one (you need the actuator and an additional harness). I just replaced the one on my 1994 a few weeks ago. It only took me about 1 1/2 hours, and most of that was spent routing the harness up and over the transmission. Replacing the actuator itself took about 10 minutes. There is also 1 splice you have to make (I made mine in the cab to keep it protected). Make sure you get the electric one. There are still some aftermarket companies selling the thermal one and it will wear out again, plus the electric one engages almost instantly.

 

Here is Dmaxer's GREAT tutorial:

Actuator Upgrade

 

ADDED IN EDIT:

Here are the best prices I found when I did mine:

Actuator ($63 shipped)

Harness ($42 shipped)

There is also one on ebay right now with a $0.99 starting bid (says it includes a used actuator, I assume the electric one but I'm not sure):

ebay link

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  • 6 months later...
First off, this is my first post and probably won't be the last. It seems like forums for any vehicle tend to turn into a lifesaver for me when it comes to issues with the cars that I've had and this one won't be any different.

 

I recently bought a 1995 Chevy half-ton 4x4 to get me through the unpredictable weather and back roads of Nebraska. I only paid $3600 and it only has 115,000 miles with the 350 under the hood. It seemed like a pretty good deal to me and I certainly don't regret buying it.

 

Of course it was going to have a few problems with it being 14 years old. The biggest issue right now is that I've determined the 4wd actuator has seen better days and it's time to get a new one. Do any of you have a recommendation for what I should replace it with? Is there an actuator out there that is of better quality and will last longer or would I just be better off going and getting the 4X4 Posi-Lok? I want something that is going to last a while and be reliable. From what I've read so far, the posi-lok is pretty reliable but if there's an actuator that is just as reliable and easier to install, why take the time and effort to install the posi-lok right? Do any of you have any advice or recommendations?

 

The old thermal design used to wear out quickly and was replaced with a new electric one (you need the actuator and an additional harness). I just replaced the one on my 1994 a few weeks ago. It only took me about 1 1/2 hours, and most of that was spent routing the harness up and over the transmission. Replacing the actuator itself took about 10 minutes. There is also 1 splice you have to make (I made mine in the cab to keep it protected). Make sure you get the electric one. There are still some aftermarket companies selling the thermal one and it will wear out again, plus the electric one engages almost instantly.

 

Here is Dmaxer's GREAT tutorial:

Actuator Upgrade

 

ADDED IN EDIT:

Here are the best prices I found when I did mine:

Actuator ($63 shipped)

Harness ($42 shipped)

There is also one on ebay right now with a $0.99 starting bid (says it includes a used actuator, I assume the electric one but I'm not sure):

ebay link

 

 

 

Could/Would the 1997 GMC Sierra 4x4, single cab, regular bed, push button 4x4, 5.0 vortec have this problem also? I am having problems with the 4x4 push button blinking and it will go into low range but no 4x4, what could this be?

 

Thanks,

Nathan

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yea, sometimes mine seems like it has a issue going in and out of 4wd hi

 

like when i press 4wd hi the light never stays on, it blinks but never stays on but it is still in 4wd hi.

 

when it is 2wd and 4wd lo the light stays on the whole time....

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I vote for the posi lock. Had one in my 89 and loved it. Will be putting one in the 97 before winter. Not a big deal to put in, super simple, and therefore super reliable. Plus, you can use 2wd lo range. Nice for backing trailers up hills. And for us pushbutton NP243 guys, we can save a lot of wear on the encoding motor by using the posilock to switch in and out of 4wd in poor road conditions.

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I vote for the posi lock. Had one in my 89 and loved it. Will be putting one in the 97 before winter. Not a big deal to put in, super simple, and therefore super reliable. Plus, you can use 2wd lo range. Nice for backing trailers up hills. And for us pushbutton NP243 guys, we can save a lot of wear on the encoding motor by using the posilock to switch in and out of 4wd in poor road conditions.

 

yea but do you know why the light blinks but doesnt stay on but is still in 4wd hi?

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  • 2 weeks later...
First off, this is my first post and probably won't be the last. It seems like forums for any vehicle tend to turn into a lifesaver for me when it comes to issues with the cars that I've had and this one won't be any different.

 

I recently bought a 1995 Chevy half-ton 4x4 to get me through the unpredictable weather and back roads of Nebraska. I only paid $3600 and it only has 115,000 miles with the 350 under the hood. It seemed like a pretty good deal to me and I certainly don't regret buying it.

 

Of course it was going to have a few problems with it being 14 years old. The biggest issue right now is that I've determined the 4wd actuator has seen better days and it's time to get a new one. Do any of you have a recommendation for what I should replace it with? Is there an actuator out there that is of better quality and will last longer or would I just be better off going and getting the 4X4 Posi-Lok? I want something that is going to last a while and be reliable. From what I've read so far, the posi-lok is pretty reliable but if there's an actuator that is just as reliable and easier to install, why take the time and effort to install the posi-lok right? Do any of you have any advice or recommendations?

 

The old thermal design used to wear out quickly and was replaced with a new electric one (you need the actuator and an additional harness). I just replaced the one on my 1994 a few weeks ago. It only took me about 1 1/2 hours, and most of that was spent routing the harness up and over the transmission. Replacing the actuator itself took about 10 minutes. There is also 1 splice you have to make (I made mine in the cab to keep it protected). Make sure you get the electric one. There are still some aftermarket companies selling the thermal one and it will wear out again, plus the electric one engages almost instantly.

 

Here is Dmaxer's GREAT tutorial:

Actuator Upgrade

 

ADDED IN EDIT:

Here are the best prices I found when I did mine:

Actuator ($63 shipped)

Harness ($42 shipped)

There is also one on ebay right now with a $0.99 starting bid (says it includes a used actuator, I assume the electric one but I'm not sure):

ebay link

 

 

 

I am sure everyone will think I am a idiot but I still have a few questions about this upgrade and the tutorial shown. What is the spacer for?, I called my GM Dealer and gave him my VIN and he told me to get the same actuator but told me to get harness gm#12376317 instead of the one shown here. It looks exactly the same and I think they are both called a "K" harness is this wrong?. Even though mine is push button instead of a manual floor shifter, will it make a diffrence?. Will I still only need the brown wire on the other end, even though it is push button instead of the floor shifter?.

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I replaced the actuator on her Tahoe last fall. I think it was about $100 from Napa. Plug and play, no harness.

If that's the case then you got the old "thermal" style. The new electric one needs additional power to the actuator (which is why you need the new harness with the additional brown wire).

 

supertech1979:

I'm not sure about the harness for your push-button style (mine was a floor shifter). I would go with what the dealer told you. As for the spacer, I think I pushed that into the opening in the housing before I threaded the new actuator in, but I can't remember for sure.

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