What does the actuator engage inside the front diff?
My truck is a 97 k2500 6.5 and transfer case and actuator are working. What does the actuator engage inside the front diff? Is there a magnetic part? Is something stripped maybe? I am trying to get an idea of how much labor and parts it will be to fix the 4 wheel drive? Thanks
What to do if your actuator is not working?
The actuator might be failing and not extending fully. Try jacking up the front end, reach through the actuator fitting hole, depress the actuating “button” with a long screwdriver and turn the driver’s side wheel. You should be able to feel if the axle is engaging. If it doesn’t engage, the problem is inside the front differential.
How does the thermal actuator work on a 4WD truck?
But the Posi-Lok system stays locked even when the ignition is off. The thermal actuator came first, when you engage 4WD there is a soft piece of plastic, maybe even wax that has to heat up before the actuator engages. The electric version came out in 98 or so and engages immediately.
How does the stock actuator work on a diesel?
The stock actuator is thermal: it’s like a light bulb, but it’s filled with yellow oil which expands when heated, pushing out a piston that drives a fork that slides a collar that joins 2 parts of the R axleshaft. Click this & read the captions: Click to expand…
How does an actuator work on a Silverado 4WD?
The way this actuator works, is it is a sealed chamber that gets heated by voltage. When it heats, the pin in the end swells and pushes a shift fork in the front differential. The shift fork engages a spline on the passenger side of the differential, and boom! you have 4WD.
Why does my GMC front axle shift actuator not engage?
A VERY telling symptom that this particular part is your problem is if your 4WD engages when the weather is warm but either does not engage or takes a lot longer to engage when the weather is colder. On most vehicles you push a button for 4WD and an indicator light blinks until the actuator engages.
Where is the 4 wheel drive actuator located?
The 4 wheel Drive Actuator actually installs quite easily. Locate it on the front axle. Unplug it. Use a large adjustable or correct size wrench and remove the actuator. Reverse to install a new one. When you press the button in your vehicle an electrical current passes through the actuator. The actuator is filled with a gas.
Why is my 4WD still not engaging after changing actuator?
If you put it in 4 low do you feel the gear reduction in the back tires? if so it’s the front actuator. If it doesn’t then it’s likely the solenoid on the transfer case. Mine has a similar issue, and I have narrowed it down to one of the two sensors on the transfer case that detect shift position.