I've tried searching with no luck. My 2003 Sonoma will not shift out of 4 wheel drive.

My switch is a 3 button and when I push 2HI I hear a couple clicks but it stays in 4HI. I can put in 4LO also, just not 2HI.
The front wheels are locked in. I can hear the actuator/solenoid behind passenger kick panel clicking. I do not see any signs of trans fluid in the vacuum lines. It just will not switch to 2WD.

My thoughts are...the switch is operating and lights up light it should, the actuator clicking is a sign it works, The front wheels lock into 4WD so the vacuum switch is working like it should (or is it???), and I hear a noise down by the trans when I push 4LO

I know I can remove the shift motor to manually put it in 2WD. I am leaning towards that motor being bad but I must not try operating it when unbolted from trans or it will destroy it. So is there a way to test it while hooked up?

I just realized I haven't tested to see if it actually shifts into 4LO. The switch says so but I didn't move the truck to see. I will do that in a bit.

Thoughts?

 

One thing to be aware of is that the truck won't shift out of 4wd if there is pressure on the drivetrain, such as turning when in 4wd. Often you need to coast or be moving with no throttle applied so that any tension can be relieved and the gears un-mesh.

If that's not the issue, then I'd suspect an issue with the selection actuator, or something inside the transfer case binding and preventing it from moving to 2wd.