Locked In 4l

[ohnmyohngoldcard]

I'm new to this forum today because of my search to fix my problem...and so far I think that I've received a lot of help just reading everyone's comments, sounds like a great resource here.

 

Last night, I put my truck in 4Hi going through some muddy woods roads. I dropped the right front tire in a hole, and easily backed out of it. After that, I put it in 4L just because it was really greasy and needed to control sliding from side to side. When I went to put the truck back into 4Hi, the lights flashed and then I got the Service 4WD message. I've had this happen to me last year when it was wet and then turned cold. An hour or so later, after the temperature warmed up, it went away. So I didn't worry about it, just thought that it was protecting the truck from engaging because it was frozen.

 

I tried everything from coasting in neutral, to backing up to try to get it to disengage the 4L. I left it parked last night, and tried it again this morning, in hopes that just sitting awhile would reset it.

 

After reviewing the threads here, I will first check the wiring harness to make sure that I didn't pull something out when I slipped in the hole...although I don't know why it would go into 4L after I was in the hole if it would have some wires out then.

 

If all is well in the harness, I will replace the switch. I no longer have the Service 4WD light, but it just won't let me switch out of 4L.

 

My question is this - how do I get it out of 4L in the meantime? Thoughts? Or will I just have to try these suggestions?

 

Thanks

[onac255]

Welcome Janice!

 

Sucks to hear about your problem.

 

What model year truck are you talking about? If you have an Autotrac than it is more than likely the harness or the actuator/sensor.

 

As far as getting it out of 4low...I don't know what to suggest about that.

[ohnmyohngoldcard]

UPDATE: My truck is a 2000 GMC 1500 Sierra; not sure about Autotrac - but I'm guessing yes as it does have Auto 4WD as an option...so assume that's what you mean. I like to drive my truck...but mechanically knowing all of the parts...not so good at :-)

 

Checked the wiring harness, and all seems fine there. Tapped on the motor (?) that engages the 4WD (that's probably the actuator, isn't it?) - didn't seem to do anything at the time. Then when parking the truck, tried pressing the 2WD button again, and it worked!

 

So, obviously I have a problem, even though part of my problem is fixed. Not sure if it was the switch on the dash, or if it's a sensor elsewhere. I've read on here that there seems to be relative success with changing the sensor without having to change the full unit at $1000. Thoughts?

[onac255]

Yeah definitely change out the actuator/sensor.

[VMax2007]

Welcome! And please post some pics......include the truck if you'd like. J/K

[carneyman]

Welcome! And please post some pics......include the truck if you'd like. J/K

 

And some people wonder why women never stick around here.

[VMax2007]

Welcome! And please post some pics......include the truck if you'd like. J/K

 

And some people wonder why women never stick around here.

 

 

Yeah, cuz what I posted was SO horrible and insulting huh?

[carneyman]

Welcome! And please post some pics......include the truck if you'd like. J/K

 

And some people wonder why women never stick around here.

 

 

Yeah, cuz what I posted was SO horrible and insulting huh?

 

 

Nope, but it all stems from there.

 

Here we are, hijacking more threads, when we have perfectly good ones to take over...

 

Bump.

[ohnmyohngoldcard]

Welcome! And please post some pics......include the truck if you'd like. J/K

 

And some people wonder why women never stick around here.

 

 

Yeah, cuz what I posted was SO horrible and insulting huh?

 

 

Nope, but it all stems from there.

 

Here we are, hijacking more threads, when we have perfectly good ones to take over...

 

Bump.

 

 

 

Thanks for the advice boys (on the actuator/sensor replacement)

 

pictures will come later - of the truck of course