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4 wheel drive not engaging?

Tiny
JSTOCKFI
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 142,000 MILES
Manual 4 wheel drive lever not engaging no 4x4 light on dash
Monday, December 7th, 2009 AT 7:58 AM

32 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Have you checked the linkage to the transfer case?
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Monday, December 7th, 2009 AT 8:13 AM
Tiny
JSTOCKFI
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Not as of yet hapened this morning. Is that all their is just linkage or is their a solinoid or wireing
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Monday, December 7th, 2009 AT 9:26 AM
Tiny
JSTOCKFI
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Found problem. Silonoid on front diff not working
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Monday, December 7th, 2009 AT 3:49 PM
Tiny
BCHAUDHARY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 175,000 MILES
My truck when running in 2 wheel drive runs great. As soon as it is put into 4 wheel drive it dosent want to go any where. It vibrates really bad. I had the transfer case and front differential checked out and I was told they are fine. I really dont know what to do next.

Thanks
basit
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 10:36 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
OK so give me some info if you would. What do the 4x4 light do when you switch to 4x. Do they come on stay off or blink or? Get back to me with what you can and we will go from there.
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 10:36 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BCHAUDHARY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The 4x4 light comes on when engaged in 4 wheel drive and goes off when disengaged. The truck runs about 10 mph in 4 wheel and then it starts to grind and shake if driven more than 10mph. The gear ratio have been checked for front and rear diff they are 3.73.
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 10:36 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Ok so if I understand correctly it only happens in 4x4 and not 2wd and the noise sounds like it is coming from the front? Just want to clarify thanks.
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 10:36 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TGWATTS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 250,000 MILES
Four wheel drive wont engage
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 10:36 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Check to make sure there is power to the actuator on the transfer case. If there is, remove the actuator and check it for operation. If there is no power, check the relay and the switch.
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 10:36 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MILESHARRELL1117
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 175,000 MILES
I have a 2001 Chevy Silverado and last night I went to put it in 4x4 and it switched over then stopped working. Also once it quit working the selector lights went out so now I'm stuck in 2wd but its not showing if I'm in 2wd or 4x4 I'm scared to drive it due to the fact I dont know if I'm in 2wd or 4x4 help.

Nice site :-)
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 10:36 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
It may be the encoder motor on the t case, those go bad quite often. If you are careful you can clean them out by disassembling them and putting back to gather otherwise they are around $100
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 10:36 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KEITH 1
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140,000 MILES
My 4wd severice light comes on and will not go in 4wd at all. I have replaced the buttons on the dash. Still did not work. Where is the vacuum actuator?
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 10:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SCOTTY DEE
  • MECHANIC
  • 592 POSTS
The first thing to do is scan the transfer case control module for trouble codes, there will be a code stored. Transfer case position sensors and encoders have had some issues on many others just like yours. Let me know the codes and I can give you a starting point for diagnosis.
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 10:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BDEMARK00
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 6.0L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 190,000 MILES
I bought the truck in the spring and just tried out the 4x4 for the first time. I put it in 4lo and it went in. Then when I tried to take it out the dash lights ( on the 4x4 switch panel ) went out. Found blown atc fuse. Replaced actuator and encoder motor and no luck. Traced wires and found no breaks in them. My mechanic says I need a transfer case and 2 other garages that I know say I don't it's something else. Any info would be great help thank you
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 10:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
Hello,

I had this problem with my truck same year and model the switch was bad which I replaced it started working it might work for you as well. The instructions to change the switch are in the diagram below. Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find.
Image (Click to make bigger)
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 10:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LOSTASUSUAL
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I got a switch for $84.00 it took care of the problem
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 10:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
69SHOOTER69
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
Im having 4wd problems. The message center service 4wd has been on for months and 4wd is not working at all. I bought a new dash switch and that did not work. I just bought a new 4wd front acuator and installed that. I can hear it trying to engage but the 4WD still will not work. Any tips on getting it working?
Thanks for the help
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 10:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Check under the hood in the relay block. I believe there is a relay for the 4wd. Check that and let me know what you find. If you can hear it trying to work, it must not be getting enough power. Have you checked to make sure it is getting 12 volts?
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 10:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
69SHOOTER69
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I tested it and voltage is good. A guy I know says it could be the transfer case gone bad. Hoping its not that.I also saw on the internet to check the fuses under the hood and I checked them but they where all good. Another said to disconnect the battery for 10min and I tried that and no luck eather. Any other ideas?
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 10:38 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Remove the actuator and make sure it is working properly.
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 AT 10:38 AM (Merged)

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