1995 4x4 Problem

beebow · November 2, 2008

1995 Z71 5.7 TBI - For the first time after 118,000 miles my truck let me down yesterday. I got stuck in sand because my four wheel drive didn't engage. I have the shift on the fly with the lever on the floor. I tried 4-wheel high and 4-wheel low. The indicator on the floor shows only 2 wheel engagement with the lever engaged in each position. The front wheels were not under power or spinning in the sand as the back spun. Any ideas would be appreciated.

kuhl_530 · November 2, 2008

I have the same truck, but fortunately I have not run across that issue yet. My first guess would be your transfer case solonoid. It's a thermally operated switch (or so i've heard), which would explain why mine takes forever to shift in the winter. That's really the only thing i can think of that wouldn't be a mechanical malfuntion, but I'm sure if that was the case then the truck wouldn't be moving at all. Hope that helps!

97SierraGMC · November 2, 2008

its not in the transfer case...

try the actuator on the front diff..

pull the plug going into it and test it with a test light.. if you have power going in to it then you have a bad actuator..

now if it is the actuator you can either get a Thermal one which takes alot longer to activate or a electric one found on the 97-98 with push button 4x4.. either will work the electric one being the better of the two... the thermal one being the cheaper though..

beebow · November 2, 2008

Thanks guys. I was able to get it into 4-low today and then it wouldn't switch out and was grinding when I pulled the lever. I had to shut it off and try a few times to get it back to the two wheel setting. The indicator on the floor never changed from two to four wheel drive so I am assuming that it is electronic and not lever actuated.

kuhl_530 · November 3, 2008

its not in the transfer case...

try the actuator on the front diff..

pull the plug going into it and test it with a test light.. if you have power going in to it then you have a bad actuator..

now if it is the actuator you can either get a Thermal one which takes alot longer to activate or a electric one found on the 97-98 with push button 4x4.. either will work the electric one being the better of the two... the thermal one being the cheaper though..

I'm sorry, you are correct. The acuator is located at the diff not the transfer case, but that's what i was referencing to. Thanks for the catch.

grampadirt · November 3, 2008

I had the same problem,I replaced the actuator in about 10 minutes and all was back to normal...funny thing,mine went when I was in the desert for Mem. Day.So I couldn't do any serious off-roading I figured the only way to have fun was to start doing doughnuts...alot of 'em.My wife and granddaughter were lovin' it...

good luck,g'dirt