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Old 02-21-2011, 10:29 AM
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77GP 77GP is offline
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Default 4x4 help

I have a 90 Chevy truck and cant seem to get the 4 wheel drive to function. It has the shifter down on the floor to engage it. Sometimes it will sound like its grinding a gear when I try to put it in gear but not always. When I do put it in gear I get nothing. What should I start looking at first, is there such a thing as an easy fix sometimes on these without mega money involved? I am not 4 wheel drive literate. One other thing is that when I got it, I thought the lights lit up on the shifter showing if it was in 4 low or high, I dont see that now.

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Old 02-21-2011, 10:30 AM
mike nixon mike nixon is offline
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Chances are the Plunger on the front axle is junk. Pretty typical on those.

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Old 02-21-2011, 10:35 AM
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Is that expensive?

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Old 02-21-2011, 10:36 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike nixon View Post
Chances are the Plunger on the front axle is junk. Pretty typical on those.
Agreed.
This thread might help- http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...light=actuator

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Last edited by 67drake; 02-21-2011 at 11:20 AM.
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Old 02-21-2011, 10:40 AM
mike nixon mike nixon is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 77GP View Post
Is that expensive?
Last one I bought was around 100.00

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so many pontiacs, so little time..................


moderator is a glorified word for an unappreciated prick..................


"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the
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"There is no such thing as a good tax."

"We contend that for a nation to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle."

- Winston Churchill
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Old 02-21-2011, 11:25 AM
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I read alot on those threads posted. Are you guys talking about the actuator being same as plunger you mentioned?
Everthing points to the actuator, GM one on ebay 60 bucks
But I realize it could be other things. I didn't even know there was fuse or that temp had a part in it. Learned alot today

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Old 02-21-2011, 11:43 AM
mike nixon mike nixon is offline
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Yes the Actuator. If it's a GM unit on erape be sure it's the revised [ updated] version.

I've had better luck with the Dorman units than the GM ones in the past.

Mike

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"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the
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"There is no such thing as a good tax."

"We contend that for a nation to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle."

- Winston Churchill
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Old 02-21-2011, 11:47 AM
mike nixon mike nixon is offline
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My cost thru Carquest is around 80.00 for a OE replacement, upgrade is around 110.00 and requires an adapter harness.

If you're gonna keep it update the unit.

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"There is no such thing as a good tax."

"We contend that for a nation to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle."

- Winston Churchill
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Old 02-21-2011, 11:59 AM
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Thanks Mike, I would rather do Carquest parts anyways.

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Old 02-21-2011, 12:07 PM
mike nixon mike nixon is offline
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57-2001 is the oe style

Upgrade replacement depends on axle code stamping. Most use a 600 601 actuator. Harness is a 600 600.

IIRC it adapts round pins to rectangular.

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"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the
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"There is no such thing as a good tax."

"We contend that for a nation to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle."

- Winston Churchill
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Old 02-21-2011, 01:45 PM
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Its probably the actuator on the front axle. Make sure there's POWER going to it. There's also a switch that turns it on at the transfer case. Check the connection at the axle. Summit may even sell the actuator since everybody had problems with them including me and everybody else. I think the light would come on when actuator engaged.

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Old 02-21-2011, 03:28 PM
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Well I did go out and check the fuse, looks good. Put it down in 4Low and drove it just a second, I could tell something was going on by the way it drove and I could hear the front whining a little. With this rain today, I will have to wait to further investigate. Does that narrow anything down?

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Old 02-21-2011, 06:52 PM
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i had the same problem it was the a actuator i bought mine at car quest they had it in the doorman section. it was around 65.00 bucks you need to use it about once a month other wise it sticks.

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Old 02-22-2011, 12:15 AM
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also make sure theres no mechanical linkage to the transfer case, if there is sometimes it can get worn at the bushings and need to be adjusted as if its off a little it won't engage the gears they will grind or pop out when torque is applied . . what series truck and transfer case .

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Old 02-24-2011, 10:41 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 77GP View Post
Well I did go out and check the fuse, looks good. Put it down in 4Low and drove it just a second, I could tell something was going on by the way it drove and I could hear the front whining a little. With this rain today, I will have to wait to further investigate. Does that narrow anything down?
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forum/g...blems-4x4.html

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‘63 LeMans- ‘69 400 w/ original transaxle. 2.69 gears.
‘55 Catalina
‘62 Mercury Meteor-all original, bought new by my grandfather
71' GTO -original 400/4-speed/3.23 posi
13.95 @ 102.1 on street tires @ 4055lbs.-now my sons ride
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Old 02-24-2011, 01:50 PM
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Well I went out and checked the actuator as described in Drakes post, pulled it out, turned key on and put it 4L, actuator did come and and go back in when I disengaged it. What would be next thing to check? Thanks again

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Old 02-24-2011, 04:07 PM
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transfer case ..

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