What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

2002 silverado 4x4 problems, help please!

C

crazycanadianb

Registered Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2009
Posts
6
Reaction score
0
Location
Havelock, ON, Canada
Hi guys. So I just got this 2002 chevy silverado 1500, it has the 4.8L, 4L60e trans and it is the floor shift 4wd not push button. When I bought it off the fellow he told me the 4x4 didn't work and that it was just the actuator in the front diff and would get one for me from his buddy. I thought no big deal, well I got the actuator and put it in, still no 4wd.

I started looking into it further. The 4wd light is on in the dash. Not the service 4wd light but the one that says its engaged. And the abs light is on(don't know if its related).

The transfer case shifts into 4hi and 4lo, the front drive shaft is spinning so all is good there.

Tried unplugging the actuator to see if it was grounded out inside thus putting on the 4wd light, but nope its still on

Pulled the actuator out, leaving it plugged in, shifting from 2wd to 4wd it does not engage the actuator.

I took a screwdriver and stuck it in where the actuator goes, the front diff easily engages by pushing on it, locking the front wheels in.

Another thing was I pulled the abs fuse because I heard something about the abs messing up screws with the 4wd. And when I pulled the fuse the 4wd light went out in the dash. I don't know if this tells me something is wrong there or they're just on the same circuit? The actuator was still not engaging though.

So my question is, does anybody know whats going on here?

Could it just be as simple as the actuator I got is bad as well(it is used)?

Could it be the switch in the transfer case not telling the actuator to engage? Is there a way to test this? or to jump power to the actuator to tell if it is any good?

Any help would be appreciated here, I am running out of ideas. Thank you for any replies and sorry for the long post!
 
Any idea which actuator you have?

The early ones were heated cylinders that boiled a liquid and pushed out a piston. Those you could check out just by hooking 12V to them and see if the piston pushes out.

I have not worked on one of the newer ones, but I think they may be stepper motors.

Someone here will know for sure, but I will check around in the meantime.
 
Checked Rockauto, and it looks like you have the stepper motor. On some vehicles, there is a switch in the actuator that turns the 4WD light on when its engaged. If yours has one, and the light is one without it being engaged, I would be suspicious of the actuator.

I remember something about the ABS and the 4WD being interlinked, but I don't remember what it was.

I want to say that the 4WD disabled the ABS, but not sure.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Fordum, you are correct in saying the actuator has a switch that activates the 4wd light. But I tried unplugging the actuator and the light stayed on so my issue goes deeper then that.

Could it be as simple as a bad ground or broken wire?

And thanks for the link 76zimmer, although it doesn't really help my issue there's lots of good info there
 
I have the EXACT same problem with my 2002 Silverado. Also have the ABS light on as well….did everything you said. It’s likely not the actuator or the switch … I went down that route as well. Same as you.. mine engages fine when you hit the 4x4 button… you can hear the tcase shift from the 2H to 4L , etc. I have NO service 4x4 light ever come on. But the 4x4 doesn’t actually engage… learned the hard way when I got stuck in 2 wheel drive and needed it.

There is a control unit of some sort that mounts on the case … I thought that could be my issue…. But someone told me if the tcase is locking down into low range… that’s not the issue….it’s sending the right signal. So I returned the part before I never installed it. I think it has something to do with the ABS light being on… maybe a safety thing. But I stop trying to figure it out because I really don’t need the 4x4 in the Silverado… my K5 takes care of the 4x4 needs. Let us know what you find out.
 
K5_Fla I read the thread you posted. And you said your actuator for the front diff was working. Well mine isn't extending out. Yours sounds like a different problem to me... Also yours is push button, mine floor shift. Does it have the auto 4wd?
 
I would guess that the clutch pack is worn out in your transfercase? If you put all four tires in the air and put it in 4x4, then put in in gear see if the front wheels do spin. If they do the clutches could be worn and just slip once it has the weight of the vehicle on it.

Back to my problem, anyone have any ideas??? I havent had time to look into it more, I was going to follow all the wires and look for broken ones then test for power everywhere. My buddy has a 2000 sierra I was going to try and get him to come over and swap some parts around
 
they could be... but I would think it has something to do with the ABS. Never could get a clear answer if ABS light messes with 4x4.
 
Still no luck with my 4wd issue. Haven't had much time to look any further into it, but I did figure out my actuator works fine. My buddy came over with his truck and I plugged it into his. It moves in and out well, I didn't think it was the problem but just wanted to double check.

Anyone got any ideas here?
 
Hmm, okay. I have no way myself of checking the abs codes. But I can, jump the wires at the wheel speed sensors to see if the abs light goes out and if it does I can try the 4wd. Its worth a shot anyway. Thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom