1996 4X4 issue

[EmmaD]

I was wondering if there is some way you can test the 4X4 to see if it is working without lifting the truck and putting it in drive and turning the switch. When i am driving and turn the switch on to 4 high or 4 low I get no light or noise to say it went on. When I start the truck i see all the lights light up on the dash so I know the light is working.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Dumb question- but is the switch hooked up? Try popping the bezel off and checking. One of my buddies had the same thing going on, and when the bezel was removed one time, they forgot to hook it back up...

 

[EmmaD]

Hmmm dont know but I will check tomorrow. There has got to be another way to test it but since this is my first 4x4 i dont know what to look for in a ride..lol
If it was in fact turned on the light should show on the dash right? I get nothing

 

[kschewe]

try and read the error code with a obd2 reader. I had a similar problem on my 99. took to dealership. gem module was F&*^ked up. Bought a used one for 100 and good as new. check fuses for gem module also. they are all over.

one way to test if it is working is to drive sharp circles turns on pavement. if it is in 4x4 u will know lol.

 

[EmmaD]

yeah i have no check engine light on the truck or any fault codes to read. I was just driving yesterday I wanted to put it in the 4x4 and when i turned the switch I got no indication of it coming on. Should a light be on my dash if it is on?

 

[corkey]

hmm, let me try i have a 1996 as well,
the first click of the switch puts you in 4wd ,but in fact it is probably a control trac 4wd so, it will only engage the 4wd when the speed sensors or abs sensors tell the GEM that there is wheel slippage.
also to go into 4 low you have to stop , and than put the trans in nuetral, than shift to 4 low at which point you will hear the front end lock in with a kind of clunk, not real loud, but audible at least,

another question i have is, ,,
Is the ABS light on ??
cause if it is the 4wd will not function at all, won't do anything as that shuts down the system, but the lights should still come on .
maybe also look in the fuse box and see if the fuse for the 4wd is in there or if it is blown, that could be causing the issue too ,

 

[EmmaD]

I have no other issues now since I replaced the egr pressure feedback sensor. I show no other faults or engine lights and that is including abs dummy lights.

When I get home I will check the 4 low. i will check it from a stand still since I was always trying to turn it on as I was driving. wow i am learning so mych about this truck from this forum it's great. thank you all for you help I could not have fixed my other issues without ya.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Corkey is right- on my '95 with Control Trac, (will say on the tailgate, and have 4x4 auto on the switch, second position- 2WD - 4WD auto - 4wd low) when I was engaged in 4x4 auto, it didn't tell me anything driving wise until it engaged, that's what was nice. Mine (unless it was odd) wouldn't bind during turns, or do anything else that would "tell" me that it was in 4wd, which was the point of Control Trac. When I was on snow, I would feel it engage. If the fuse is good, you might need to find a dirt road or grassy field and floor it... Then you'll know...

I do think there was a light, but I'm not positive. I do know that when I put in my '01 cluster, it did still illuminate the idiot light for the 4x4 on that cluster...

 

[kschewe]

i never had any warning or check engine lights on either. but error codes are still generated and stored in the computer.
seriously though if you are in 4x4 on pavement and drive circles, any 4x4 will be doing what they call bunny hops and you will hear the tires chirping.

 

[budwich]

from my limited experience (my 4wd light flashes after a while when in auto for reasons probably associated with the speed sensor difference), I found that switching to LO makes an audible "clunck" as "things" move into place. But what I found for a "test" was try "climbing" a "movable object" in 4lo. For instance when I "climb" my ramps for an oil change, the ramps "squirt" out from the front wheels, if I try this in "normal" or "4w auto", but the vehicle "climbs" them fine in 4w lo. These are steel ramps on cement... but you could use a piece of 4X4 or other things that slightly slip if pushed by the front wheels as opposed to "climbed".

Further, it is likely that you have an electrically issue with the 4X2/4X4 solenoids (which should make "noise").... check for voltage going to them and appropriate grounds.

 

[Joe Dirt]

seriously though if you are in 4x4 on pavement and drive circles, any 4x4 will be doing what they call bunny hops and you will hear the tires chirping.

My Control Trac system did not bunny hop or chirp on pavement and engaged perfectly when slipping...

 

[kschewe]

ok cool. I thought they were all the same. on my 99 one day i must of hit the 4x4 switch by accident. When I was driving at the mall it took me a while to figure out why my tires were grabbing so much during turns and chirping. Try it on 4x4 high