Transfer case issues Silverado 2000

Niklas.L · February 21, 2015

Having som trouble with my transfer case. Even though I'm in 2Hi the car is like a 4x4 to drive in tight places and parking lots. The front tires brake loose and skids. Making the front end hop along. Checked yesterday to see if the front wheels where engaged in 2Hi. When I tested this only the back tires spun. When I change from 2Hi to 4Lo and 4Hi I hear a sound of something engaging/disengaging in the transfer case. Also know that both 4Hi and 4Lo works. This has now put such strain on my front end that when driving in roundabouts, live in Sweden, the cv axle is starting to make noise. Anyone who has had this problem or anyone who knows how to troubleshoot/fix it?

The car is a 2000 Silverado 5.3 Z71.

Thanks!

Niklas

Niklas.L · February 23, 2015

No one has any tips on how to solve the problem?

sahls01gmc · February 23, 2015

First off, welcome to the Forum!

Have you had it scanned for codes? How many miles on the truck? Have you replaced anything related to the 4WD? Dash switch, front diff actuator, transfer case motor?

Niklas.L · February 23, 2015

First off, welcome to the Forum!

Have you had it scanned for codes? How many miles on the truck? Have you replaced anything related to the 4WD? Dash switch, front diff actuator, transfer case motor?

Thanks!

Haven't scanned it for codes. The truck has around 190k miles on it and haven't replaced anything drivetrain related. How do I check the front diff actuator?

Thanks for your reply!

sahls01gmc · February 23, 2015

You can "listen" for the actuator on the front diff. Have someone push the buttons on the dash while you're under the truck.

The 3 items I mentioned are the 3 most common "problems" on our generation of trucks. Most symptoms are fixed with those 3 being replaced. But don't just throw parts at it, it gets expensive...

Niklas.L · February 23, 2015

You can "listen" for the actuator on the front diff. Have someone push the buttons on the dash while you're under the truck.

The 3 items I mentioned are the 3 most common "problems" on our generation of trucks. Most symptoms are fixed with those 3 being replaced. But don't just throw parts at it, it gets expensive...

I hear something engaging/disengaging when I push the 4Lo/4Hi button so the actuator, motor and push buttons should work. Can you see if the front diff is engaged/disengaged?

pickupman87 · February 24, 2015

I hear something engaging/disengaging when I push the 4Lo/4Hi button so the actuator, motor and push buttons should work. Can you see if the front diff is engaged/disengaged?

Mine does/did the same thing right now. CV Axle's look fine. I'm thinking mine has something to do with my failing front wheel bearings.

Mine coinsided with the abs going off when I'd turn real sharp and the truck would lurch like it's in 4x4. I confirmed it's not in 4x4 (rears still slip in the snow etc).

This makes absolutly no sense, but when I pulled the ABS fuse (interim solution before I address the wheel bearings), my truck doesn't lurch when I make sharp turns like it did before. I'm thinking mine was coincident as I don't know what the 2 things would have to do with each other, but I'm not complaining.

Niklas.L · February 24, 2015

Mine does/did the same thing right now. CV Axle's look fine. I'm thinking mine has something to do with my failing front wheel bearings.

Mine coinsided with the abs going off when I'd turn real sharp and the truck would lurch like it's in 4x4. I confirmed it's not in 4x4 (rears still slip in the snow etc).

This makes absolutly no sense, but when I pulled the ABS fuse (interim solution before I address the wheel bearings), my truck doesn't lurch when I make sharp turns like it did before. I'm thinking mine was coincident as I don't know what the 2 things would have to do with each other, but I'm not complaining.

My ABS doesn't work at the moment since I broke one of the ABS sensors when I was cleaning it. So it shouldn't be the ABS I think, but will definitely pull the ABS fuse to see if it helps.

sahls01gmc · February 24, 2015

Mine does/did the same thing right now. CV Axle's look fine. I'm thinking mine has something to do with my failing front wheel bearings.

Mine coinsided with the abs going off when I'd turn real sharp and the truck would lurch like it's in 4x4. I confirmed it's not in 4x4 (rears still slip in the snow etc).

This makes absolutly no sense, but when I pulled the ABS fuse (interim solution before I address the wheel bearings), my truck doesn't lurch when I make sharp turns like it did before. I'm thinking mine was coincident as I don't know what the 2 things would have to do with each other, but I'm not complaining.

The excess play in your wheel bearings is causing your ABS to go off when you turn a sharp corner. This happened to mine. New bearings......no problems since then!

CapitalTruck · February 25, 2015

I would put the car on a lift or jackstands. Start the car and put into gear. All of this being done very carefully. While doing this, have a helper look under the truck (LOOK under the truck, NOT crawl under truck) to see if the front driveshaft is turning. Or, in a pinch, put your cellphone camera on the ground while it is recording a movie. Make sure it is aimed at the front driveshaft, closest to the front differential. Drive forward. After driving forward look at the video and see if A, the front driveshaft is turning. If it is (while you're in 2wd) you got some issues. Or, just disconnect the driveshaft from the front differential (not very hard, just undo the bolt and u brackets), do a little test drive, and see what's what. Also, welcome from the other side of the world.

Niklas.L · February 25, 2015

I would put the car on a lift or jackstands. Start the car and put into gear. All of this being done very carefully. While doing this, have a helper look under the truck (LOOK under the truck, NOT crawl under truck) to see if the front driveshaft is turning. Or, in a pinch, put your cellphone camera on the ground while it is recording a movie. Make sure it is aimed at the front driveshaft, closest to the front differential. Drive forward. After driving forward look at the video and see if A, the front driveshaft is turning. If it is (while you're in 2wd) you got some issues. Or, just disconnect the driveshaft from the front differential (not very hard, just undo the bolt and u brackets), do a little test drive, and see what's what. Also, welcome from the other side of the world.

Will check this out later today and thanks for the welcome!