Help! Purchasing 95 K1500, 4wd Question.

Baron7700 · September 15, 2010

Hello all!

First post of many hopefully, im a pretty common forum guy. Ok here is the quick run down, I currently have an 09 Cobalt SS i bought in august of 09, i did cash for clunkers, as I got rid of my dying backup 4x4 ford explorer. Anyway i got through that winter fine with the balt and various other vehicles, but this winter I want a truck again!

I found a really good deal on a 95 K1500 ext cab. Good color, motor only has 80k on it, tranny about 150, some simple rust on the rock panel of ext cab, but its just thro the paint and not on the inner wall. Its got some nice headers exhaust etc etc etc, like any truck selling for an incredible price, it does need some basic things but its whatever I like workin on my own stuff anyway. Okay so thats the back story, here is my real question.

The truck is for sale by another individual, who after two meetings and several back and forths seems like a pretty straight forward guy. After test driving the truck, everything is exactly as said, and in nicer condition than I initially expected. HOWEVER, the 4x4 does not engage, which is the sole reason for me buying the vehicle, so I have not done it yet (we continue to exchange emails in an effort to figure this out). We both think its the actuator, and I dont know if he is going to take the time to put a new one in since he sellin it at basically a lost.

here is a run down of the 4x4 by feel. In 4hi, it feels like nothing has engaged. In a gravel area I chirped the tires and only the back ones spun, and there was no binding doing full turn circling, and the lights on the floor shifter do not go on, so obviously I dont feel like it is engagin. When I put it into 4LOW, the motor definatly kicks down, and the feel of being in low is there, with the higher rpms lower speed etc etc etc etc. So 4LOW feels like it kicks down, BUT still no binding from what I can tell etc, so i dont think 4LOW is engaging.

I want the truck, but wont buy it unless I know its an easy fix and not the Tcase. After some investigation i learned the stock ones where thermal activated, and many switched over the electronic ones with the new harness. However since 4 low didnt engage im confused. It still kicked down into range, but i still wasnt sure if 4wd was activated, and we had no real sure fire way of knowing besides seeing if it would bind when turning, but not all 4wd have that obvious symptom so im unsure.

Anyway, what I guess im trying to get it is, does this sound like this is anything more serious than just a set of new actuators? If this is the case, I will just buy the truck and do it myself, or even posi-lok or something, but dont want to get it and found out I just bought a truck that needs a few G's worth of Tcase work. (truck is only 1000).

P.S. On the bottom of the plastic bezel of the 4wd shift link, there was a red switch. I asked the guy what it was and he has no idea either, maybe this is an electric override in case they wanted 2wd low function, and was just off? I never thought while I was there to flip it and than try the 4 wheel drive.

so what you think, is it the Tcase, or something simple like the actuators? If its simple I get it and do it myself, if not, I obviously want to stay away from it. I do not believe the truck to have been beat on, as it was the current owners brother in laws, who could not afford it, and now current owner has a naggin wife about his multiple vehicle projects.

Thanks in advance!

Baron7700 · September 15, 2010

Anyone?

grampadirt · September 16, 2010

I lost my front wheel drive while camping in the desert a couple of years ago.Got to checking the fuse box and found a fuse for it...replaced and it popped as soon as I put it the 4hi,damn.So I reverted to doing doughnuts in the dirt to still have some fun.With some help from the guys here at GMT I figured the next thing to do was replace the actuator.I went with the GM OEM unit,easy job and the 4wd has worked fine since.There are less expensive actuators on ebay but I like to buy OEM when I can.Since you can ''chirp'' the rear tires I'd guess youe t-case is fine.

sk · September 16, 2010

Here's an old thread talking about replacing the old thermal actuator with the new electric one. It has links to pics, part numbers, and prices (one of them went to an old ebay auction that has ended):

Actuator Upgrade