Steering, Suspension & Drivetrain Questions about your steering, suspension, axles, and/or transfer case? Post up here.

1998 blazer wont disengage from 4wd

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 02-06-2013, 02:20 PM
aaronjohn20's Avatar
Beginning Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 22
aaronjohn20 is an unknown quantity at this point
Default 1998 blazer wont disengage from 4wd

Ok, I ve got a 1998 chevy blazer 4dr 4x4 ls. It will go into 4hi and 4lo with no problems. When I try and go back to 2wd it'll just make the clicking noise and stay in 4wd. I do have a front fifferential leak but I made sure that the gear oil level is correct so I don't believe that is the problem. Also, if I let the blazer sit for an hr or 2 and turn the key to run and hit the 2wd button it WILL go into 2wd until I have to use the 4wd again then its back to the same problem. Would anyone have any idea as to what the problem is? If you need any more info just ask. And thank you everyone in advance
 
  #2  
Old 02-06-2013, 04:06 PM
Twip's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Bellflower, Cali
Posts: 877
Twip will become famous soon enough
Default

are you sure that its just not your front diff hanging up?

what i am saying is that the transfer case could be doing what it needs to, as in going back to 2wd, but the front axle is staying locked in. that would be an issue with the cable and actuator that are under the battery tray. you could have a bunch of crud and gunk in the cable putting it into a bind and not letting the axle unlock.
 
  #3  
Old 02-06-2013, 07:31 PM
mjt's Avatar
mjt
mjt is offline
Starting Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 108
mjt is on a distinguished road
Default

I would say your TCM is being reset when the vehicle is turned off. Does it really need to be off for 2 hrs. Pulling the fuse to the 4WD resets the TCM. You can also try that instead of waiting 2 hrs. Check the TCM behind the passengers side kickpanel. The blazers tipically leak rainwater directly on that module and connections become corroded. Its a shot in the dark. What does the button do when you push it. Typically it blinks as it transitions from 4WD to 2WD or visa versa. Those lights get feedback from the TCM as to what position the motor encoder is in. There is also a vacuum side to this mess which controls that front differential cable. I dont know how the two talk to each other. There is a vacuum switch on the firewall of the engine compartment. I dont know what tells that switch what to do. Maybe that signal also comes from the TCM. Check the corrosion on those TCM connections - easy to do. If corroded get a small tub of dielectric grease from NAPA and lube it up. I had to cover my module it was getting that wet. Water runs down the harness directly into the connector. I searched several junkyards and almost ever module I found showed signs of getting wet.
 
  #4  
Old 02-06-2013, 07:55 PM
aa21830's Avatar
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Illinois
Posts: 293
aa21830 is on a distinguished road
Default

Check to see if the actuator under the battery tray is receiving constant vacuum (i.e. t-case vacuum switch stuck open).
 
  #5  
Old 02-06-2013, 08:08 PM
aaronjohn20's Avatar
Beginning Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 22
aaronjohn20 is an unknown quantity at this point
Default

I will check into the module corrosion. Also when I push the 2wd button it does blink and you can here clicking like its wanting to go into 2wd but it doesn't and stays in 4wd. Yes, it litterally needs to be off for a couple hrs for me to be able to get it back into 2wd. Unhooking the battery and/or pulling the 4wd fuse does not help at all. Ill also check into the cable binding up or possibly needing lubed up. I'm also gonna run the codes on the 4wd system also. I didn't even know that you could do that until I found the link earlier today. Also, when is the actuator under the battery tray suppossed to have vaccuum?
 

Last edited by aaronjohn20; 02-06-2013 at 08:10 PM.
  #6  
Old 02-06-2013, 09:13 PM
Twip's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Bellflower, Cali
Posts: 877
Twip will become famous soon enough
Default

when you are in 4wd. otherwise it shouldnt have any vacuum.
 
  #7  
Old 02-06-2013, 09:36 PM
aaronjohn20's Avatar
Beginning Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 22
aaronjohn20 is an unknown quantity at this point
Default

Ok. What about when I push the 2wd button? Should it lose vaccuum when I push the button or when it actually goes into 2wd
 
  #8  
Old 02-07-2013, 02:14 PM
Twip's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Bellflower, Cali
Posts: 877
Twip will become famous soon enough
Default

Originally Posted by aaronjohn20
Ok. What about when I push the 2wd button? Should it lose vaccuum when I push the button or when it actually goes into 2wd
yeah, when you press the 2wd button it should lose vacuum. when all the vacuum is gone and its at regular atmosphere then the front axle has a chance to unlock. sometimes it takes it a little bit to actually unlock. just drive it and you might hear a thump or something to indicate that the transfer case has unlocked and usually by the time that happens, the front end already did. you can check it by parking it on flat ground, car in park, engine running, and jacking up the front passenger wheel. spin the wheel by hand, if it turns, then its unlocked, if it doesnt turn, then its still engaged.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
dbleobarbie
Steering, Suspension & Drivetrain
3
06-01-2015 03:42 AM
Carls01blazer
2nd Generation S-series (1995-2005) Tech
6
12-19-2013 10:13 PM
AndrewO1991
1st Generation S-series (1983-1994) Tech
8
10-12-2012 10:00 PM
The89Blazer
2nd Generation S-series (1995-2005) Tech
9
01-13-2011 12:07 PM
gfritzges
2nd Generation S-series (1995-2005) Tech
5
02-26-2009 10:30 AM



Quick Reply: 1998 blazer wont disengage from 4wd



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:20 PM.