4X4 INOP

Dan-95Tahoe · April 22, 2003

Just found you guys. Iv'e been looking for a forum for gm trucks. Can anyone help me out? I've got a 95 Tahoe, and the front wheels will not engage. When you pull the lever to 4X4 the light comes on immediately(took a few seconds when it worked) but no front wheels. Is there something wrong in the transfer case or in the front diff that will cause this?

Thanks

Dan

Big Boy · April 22, 2003

Could be any of the above or like in my case there was a loose vaccuume hose that locked the hubs.

Shaners · April 22, 2003

It could be a bad actuator at the front wheels...

The thing that has me stumped though, is that the 4x4 light comes on.

This is a good question, and I'm sure you will get some more replies.

Welcome to the forum!!!

timk49 · April 23, 2003

I used to own a 95 Silverado 4x4 . The front wheels lost power on a drive up a sandy dry creek bed and I immediately got stuck. I checked the fuse in the left side of the dash and it was burnt. I replaced it and it popped again as soon as i shifted into four wheel drive. It was a bad front actuator. dealer replaced it and had no further problems.

Dan-95Tahoe · April 28, 2003

Thanks for the replies, I'm going to start with the actuator and go from there.

Thanks Again

Dan

jth7186 · April 28, 2003

Dan, it sounds like you need to check the solenoid that engages the 4wd system. If I remember correctly, under the truck, approximately passenger side a little behind front axle is where the solenoid is located.

About that time in GM's life they switched from electric solenoids to gas operated. The electric ones were prone to failure (often). It is a cheap part, maybe $40 or so (ok, maybe $60), and pretty easy to replace if you can find it. It looks like a syringe with a wire coming out of it (the rest of the part is hidden from view).

Hopefully that is what your problem is -- and that may be what people are calling the actuator.

Good luck.

P.S. -- I had the same thing happen to me. Get bogged in 2wd in good Alabama clay, shifted into 4wd and got the gear reduction but no front wheel action. Ticked me off until I figured out it was only the solenoid!

Larry · April 28, 2003

About that time in GM's life they switched from electric solenoids to gas operated.

Actually it was the other way around. GM went from the gas thermo actuators to full electric in 1996. The electric actuators are better than the thermals but still quite failure prone.

Your best bet is to buy the aftermarket a cable actuated front axle disconnect from Posi-Lok and you will never have to worry about it again. The nice thing about the posi-lok kit is it works like manual-locking hubs but operated by a t-handle inside the cab. With this kit you can take advantage of 2wd low range by not engaging the front axle but shifting the transfer case into low range. This can be a useful feature when backing up trailers and stuff.

Many people get confused with the electric axle disconnect and electronically shifted transfer cases. Two different monkeys…neither of them are worth the darn.

jth7186 · April 29, 2003

Actually it was the other way around. GM went from the gas thermo actuators to full electric in 1996. The electric actuators are better than the thermals but still quite failure prone.

I stand corrected. Thank you. :werd: