well i have a 96 blazer 4x4 andthe 4x4 isnot working. i thought it was a a vacuum switch but after pulling the actuater cable with vice grips it still does not engage the 4x4. my t-case locks the axle when i press the button so i know it works.

so what else could be my problem?

any help would be appreciated

Seriously bro i had to same problem, I just messed with it for awhile and out of the blue it started to work. Try driving under 10 mph and try to engage the 4HI

Does the cable move? If it does then it has probably broken the clip that holds the cable onto the axle sleeve....

If the cable doesn't move, it is probably siezed inside the sheath....that means you will need a new cable.

ORIGINAL: fred96

. my t-case locks the axle when i press the button so i know it works.



The transfer case locks the axle? Do you mean that it locks the front driveshaft?

yes the cable moves about a qaurter to half inch or so and if i pull it as far as it goes it makes like a metal to metal contact sound like its engaging but its not.

and to chevylover yes i meant the front driveshaft sorry about that.

quote:

ORIGINAL: TheBrettster

Seriously bro i had to same problem, I just messed with it for awhile and out of the blue it started to work. Try driving under 10 mph and try to engage the 4HI



so all you did was mess around with it and eventually it just started working again? thats cool

ive been messing with it for a couple days now maybe mine will start working to haha.


combining consecutive posts

Yea, i had the same thing your describing. You hear the click under the dash and hear the transfer case click but the light keeps flickering. So i just went up the street at about 5 mph and all of assuden the 4x4 hi engaged then i took my car threw a river :).

[quote]ORIGINAL: fred96

yes the cable moves about a qaurter to half inch or so and if i pull it as far as it goes it makes like a metal to metal contact sound like its engaging but its not.


/quote]

So you pull the cable and hear the contact.....is this with the truck running, in gear and with all 4 wheels off the ground?

Your description indicates that the transfer case is operating properly.

When the transfer case locks in 4X4 it trips the vacuum switch which supplies vacuum to the actuator and pulls the cable, then as the wheels are turning the front axles lock, unless there is a problem with a stretched or disconnected cable at the front axle.

when i hear the contact this is with the motor off and the car in park

If the cable is engaging the lock ring inside the differential, and it still does not work then you will need to check the internals of the front diff to see if the gear mechanism that engages the passenger side axle shaft is working...

ORIGINAL: fred96

when i hear the contact this is with the motor off and the car in park

Do you get the contact "click" with the engine running and you push the button to engage the 4X4?
I'm still trying to figure out if you are getting vacuum to the cable actuator under the battery.

ORIGINAL: Chevy Lover

ORIGINAL: fred96

when i hear the contact this is with the motor off and the car in park

Do you get the contact "click" with the engine running and you push the button to engage the 4X4?
I'm still trying to figure out if you are getting vacuum to the cable actuator under the battery.



im using vice grips to engage the cablemanually myself

bump

i really could use some more help i still havent been able to diagnose it yet

bump

fred, I don't know how you can diagnose it if it doesn't have a 4 wheels off the ground.
I would have it sitting on jackstands, engine running, 4X4 engaged and see if the vacuum actuator is pulling the engagement cable, or at least pull the cable as you have done, but with the engine running, trans in drive and transfer case engaged.

ORIGINAL: Chevy Lover

fred, I don't know how you can diagnose it if it doesn't have a 4 wheels off the ground.
I would have it sitting on jackstands, engine running, 4X4 engaged and see if the vacuum actuator is pulling the engagement cable, or at least pull the cable as you have done, but with the engine running, trans in drive and transfer case engaged.


i have pulled the cable as far as it would go clamp it down with vice grips then attempt to climb a dirt hill and only the back tire spun none of the front tires were pulling or spining

had same problem with my 99 blazer it turned out to be the gear in the front axle that was all ground up bougt new gear shift fork and spacer kitseems to work ok now but was a pain to do

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Jack up front end place jack stands underneath. Dissconnect 3 bolt housing, dissconnect shift cable,now MANUALLY pull out on fork shaft. If you spin one tire and other doesn't move shift collar not engaging. Most likely cause is bad thrust washer behind axel gear. Washer kit $10 from dealer. To repair you must remove shaft tube. Hope this helps.