4WD Switch?

[Snowfish Blue]

Hey all,

I have a 2006 Yukon XL 1500 SLT. After a very short drive today (under 2 miles) I realized that the 4WD panel wasn't lit up on 2. I've hit the 4hi accidentally on occasion, but that wasn't lit either. What was lit was the Red N. So the truck drives fine. It's been driving fine for months. No weird noises, no grinding, no trouble throwing it into reverse, drive, park. Just it's showing as Neutral. I love this truck and am hoping to not have to to do anything terribly complicated with it. Am I looking at a simple selector switch replacement?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Martinjmpr]

What happens when you push the buttons. Does it continue to show N?

 

[Snowfish Blue]

Ah, sorry. When I pushed for 2wd or 4hi, the yellow light on those buttons flashed for 15 seconds or so, then stopped, remained unlit, with the N staying red. (also no weird noises)

 

[Martinjmpr]

Ah, sorry. When I pushed for 2wd or 4hi, the yellow light on those buttons flashed for 15 seconds or so, then stopped, remained unlit, with the N staying red. (also no weird noises)

What about 4 low? I'm just trying to figure out if the transfer case is actually shifting (and remember that the transmission has to be in neutral when shifting to or from 4 low.)

 

[Snowfish Blue]

I just went out to try it, because I don't recall trying 4lo. Guess what? All lights normal, started up showing it in 2wd, and switches between all drives like a charm.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I just went out to try it, because I don't recall trying 4lo. Guess what? All lights normal, started up showing it in 2wd, and switches between all drives like a charm.

Give me your address so I can send you a bill.

Glad it worked for you. My previous vehicle was a Toyota 4runner with the electric 4wd control. On those if the control stopped working it was like a $2500 fix to replace the actuator motor.

 

[smcnair]

Your switch is going out. Go ahead and order a new one. Takes about five minutes to change out.

You could take it apart and re solder the connections but I would just order one. They cost about $35.

 

[Snowfish Blue]

Yeah that's what I was hoping for. Looking at Napa and seems they are around 100 bucks in my neck of the woods. I'll keep price checking*

Question: What happens if the truck is driving fine in 2, and I pop out the switch, will it stay in 2wd safely until I find the part to replace it?

OR!

Could I disconnect the electrical connection to the transfer case so if the switch wigs out, it won't send a signal to anything? Is it even accessible for the common home-garage repairman?

Bottom line I just want to be able to drive it for a couple days without fear it's gonna throw itself into neutral or something odd.

*Edit: Rockauto has one for $50.

 

[SLCHOE]

It's not the switch.

It's 99% the encoder motor position sensor.

 

[SLCHOE]

Yeah that's what I was hoping for. Looking at Napa and seems they are around 100 bucks in my neck of the woods. I'll keep price checking*

Question: What happens if the truck is driving fine in 2, and I pop out the switch, will it stay in 2wd safely until I find the part to replace it?

OR!

Could I disconnect the electrical connection to the transfer case so if the switch wigs out, it won't send a signal to anything? Is it even accessible for the common home-garage repairman?

Bottom line I just want to be able to drive it for a couple days without fear it's gonna throw itself into neutral or something odd.

*Edit: Rockauto has one for $50.

It will fail back to 2wd. If the 4WD is not responding, you are stuck in 2WD.

 

[mattt]

My 04 Tahoe has started up with this problem. Sometimes, the 4x switch shows 2HI as it should, other times it shows in neutral ( red light ) and runs like a dog, and other times it shows 4 LOW and runs like a beaten injured dog. When in 4 LOW the shifting of the transmission is so screwed up, but I've learned how to deal with driving it when it's stuck in that mode.

I do not believe it is going into 4wd at all. I see the problem could be the dash switch assy, or it could be the encoder motor position sensor.

My question.....how can I tell which of those two is causing the problem?

 

[destroyer1362]

My 04 Tahoe has started up with this problem. Sometimes, the 4x switch shows 2HI as it should, other times it shows in neutral ( red light ) and runs like a dog, and other times it shows 4 LOW and runs like a beaten injured dog. When in 4 LOW the shifting of the transmission is so screwed up, but I've learned how to deal with driving it when it's stuck in that mode.

I do not believe it is going into 4wd at all. I see the problem could be the dash switch assy, or it could be the encoder motor position sensor.

My question.....how can I tell which of those two is causing the problem?

You could grab a scan tool, I have a Autophix OM123, its cheap ($35) and it works. It will be able to show you what the encoder is seeing 4wd/2wd/hi/lo etc.. If you press 4hi, and the encoder info shows 4hi then you can rule that part out..

 

[mattt]

I have an Actron CP9145 OBD2, OBD1 code reader. Would you happen to know if this has the ability to read the encoders output?

 

[destroyer1362]

I have an Actron CP9145 OBD2, OBD1 code reader. Would you happen to know if this has the ability to read the encoders output?

I don't believe so, it looks like you can read some data but not 4x4 info..

Heres a vid to the data you should see if you can view 4x4 data. Skip to around 7:20

 

[speedmachine]

It's not the switch.

It's 99% the encoder motor position sensor.

Yep, I had the same problem along with "SERVICE 4WD" message on the dash. This was the cause, took about 2 hours to change. $50 or so for the part from Rockauto.

 

[ATIII]

Mine was doing the same things. Changed the switch and it seemed to correct it temporarily. End of story is the encoder motor was jacked and $1100.00 and a winter under its belt it's fixed.


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[SLCHOE]

Mine was doing the same things. Changed the switch and it seemed to correct it temporarily. End of story is the encoder motor was jacked and $1100.00 and a winter under its belt it's fixed.


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The encoder motor position sensor is a $40 part inside of the $500+ encoder motor. The motor itself either works or it doesn't in the majority of cases. The $40 sensor is what is the problem 9 times out of 10.

Pull the encoder motor down and open it up. Replace the sensor and save yourself $1060 next time. Literally a 60 minute job on your back in the driveway. I can do them on the lift in 25 minutes.

 

[ATIII]

The encoder motor position sensor is a $40 part inside of the $500+ encoder motor. The motor itself either works or it doesn't in the majority of cases. The $40 sensor is what is the problem. Pull the encoder motor down and open it up. Replace the sensor and save yourself $1060 next time.

It ended up being more damage inside the T Case as well. Bent Forks I believe.


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[SLCHOE]

Fork?

 

[SLCHOE]

ATIII who makes those nerf bars/steps on your rig? I like them.