96 Suburban 4WD electronic shifting problem

My 96 K1500 will not go into 4W High. The 4WD High light keeps blinking. Originally my problem was it would not shift into 4-wheel drive at all. I replaced the 25-amp fuse, front drive actuator and transfer case switch and now it does shift into 4W Lo (light on and front axle engaged), but not 4W Hi. The front axle actuator was upgraded to the new solenoid style (pn26060073) and appropriate wiring harness.

When I select 4W High (from 2W High), I hear a noise from the transfer case encoder motor but the front axle actuator never gets powered to engage. I know the transfer case switch is good as it was replaced and activates during 4W LO selection. Also, I verified the 4WD High selection switch on the dash is good (measured at the TCCM). I checked for error codes and there are no DTC codes stored in the TCCM. I am now focusing my troubleshooting on the transfer case encoder. I have wiring schematics and but they don't indicate what signals levels or "states" I should have out of the transfer case encoder for a 4W High selection. My diagrams show Encoder Channels A, B, C and P.

Can someone tell me what happens inside the transfer case during a 4W High selection and what the transfer case encoder signals should be at that time? Is the encoder assembly servicable without removing the transfer case? Any ideas would be appreciated.

Reply to
danp
Loading thread data ...

Here is a take on a manual shift GM T case , your NV243 works the same except it has a encoder motor to shift it

Shifting into the 4HI range causes the following conditions to occur.

  1. The front axle indicator lamp does not come on until the front axle engages.

  1. The torque flows from the input gear to the mainshaft the same as in the two-wheel position.

  2. The shift linkage moves the mode synchronizer sleeve into engagement with the clutch teeth of the drive sprocket. This locks the drive sprocket to the mainshaft through the synchronizer sleeve. The torque is transmitted through the drive sprocket and the drive chain to the driven sprocket and the output shaft. The torque then flows through the front propeller shaft to the front axle.

  1. The shift mechanism in the transfer case closes the transfer case switch.

  2. The current is then applied to the front axle thermal actuator and the front axle switch. In the K30 vehicles, the power is also supplied by the transfer case relay to the transfer case synchronizer. The thermal actuator contains a heating element, a gas charge, and a piston.

  1. When the current is applied, the heating element heats the gas. The gas expands, pushing the piston out after a delay of a few seconds. The piston actuates the shift fork in the front axle. This connects the right axle output shaft to the front axle differential. The torque is then available at the front wheels. The front axle shift mechanism, when fully engaged, closes a switch, causing the front axle indicator lamp to come ON.

  2. If the shift lever is moved back to the 2 WHEEL position, the operations in the preceding steps are reversed. The current to the thermal actuator is turned OFF. The gas cools and the piston retracts allowing the shift fork in the front axle in order to return to the two-wheel drive position.

----------------- TheSnoMan.com

Reply to
SnoMan

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.