91 Silverado 4wd actuator/thermal plunger

"Steve W." wrote in message

> Dirty White Boy wrote:
> > Just how hard is this to replace? I have been dealing with the slow
> > engagement blues for a couple years, but it always eventually hooked up.
I
> > used a few times this summer for pulling trees down (okay guiding trees
> > down, not actually yanking them out of the dirt) and had no problems.
> >
> > Now, I get not lights, no front end engagement and white knuckles on the
way
> > to work. What do I need to check to make sure the actuator is bad? The
4WD
> > fuse is good. How hard is this to replace? I know GM came out with an
> > electro-mechanical actuator as and upgrade, are there any other options?
> > Manual hub conversion?
> >
> >
>
> No way to do a manual hub conversion without changing out the entire
> front end and suspension.
> The actuator is VERY easy to replace. One wire connection and the
> actuator itself just unscrews from the top side of the axle housing.
> Might take you 30 minutes if you drop the wrench 10 times and drink a
> beer after every step.
> Install a new thermal unit OR use the motor driven one, just make sure
> you get the conversion wiring and the extender that you need for it to
work.
>
> --
> Steve W.
> Near Cooperstown, New York
>
> Life is not like a box of chocolates
> it's more like a jar of jalapenos-
> what you do today could burn your ass tomorrow!

Thanks Steve. Looks like I'll have to not drink and dig out those magnetic
gloves! Wish I had a garage... Time to call a friend with one.
 >> Stay informed about: 91 Silverado 4wd actuator/thermal plunger 

"Dirty White Boy" wrote in message

>
> "Steve W." wrote in message
>
> > Dirty White Boy wrote:
> > > Just how hard is this to replace? I have been dealing with the slow
> > > engagement blues for a couple years, but it always eventually hooked
up.
> I
> > > used a few times this summer for pulling trees down (okay guiding
trees
> > > down, not actually yanking them out of the dirt) and had no problems.
> > >
> > > Now, I get not lights, no front end engagement and white knuckles on
the
> way
> > > to work. What do I need to check to make sure the actuator is bad?
The
> 4WD
> > > fuse is good. How hard is this to replace? I know GM came out with
an
> > > electro-mechanical actuator as and upgrade, are there any other
options?
> > > Manual hub conversion?
> > >
> > >
> >
> > No way to do a manual hub conversion without changing out the entire
> > front end and suspension.
> > The actuator is VERY easy to replace. One wire connection and the
> > actuator itself just unscrews from the top side of the axle housing.
> > Might take you 30 minutes if you drop the wrench 10 times and drink a
> > beer after every step.
> > Install a new thermal unit OR use the motor driven one, just make sure
> > you get the conversion wiring and the extender that you need for it to
> work.
> >
> > --
> > Steve W.
> > Near Cooperstown, New York
> >
> > Life is not like a box of chocolates
> > it's more like a jar of jalapenos-
> > what you do today could burn your ass tomorrow!
>
> Thanks Steve. Looks like I'll have to not drink and dig out those
magnetic
> gloves! Wish I had a garage... Time to call a friend with one.
>
>
After 8 calls, finally found one in town ($92 @ NAPA.) Installed in 10
minutes tops and I DID drop the wrench a few times. Keep in mind cold,
snow, ice and NO garage. Working like a champ now. Of course, I wasn't
drinking...

Thanks for the help Steve!
 >> Stay informed about: 91 Silverado 4wd actuator/thermal plunger 

Make sure the 3 vac lines that go to the switch on the tcase are in good
order and are connected. Will it go into 4LOW? If so, your encoder motor
works so it's likely a vac issue (could also be the module or the solenoid).
I think that you will have to either look under the batt tray for it or
follow the vac hose closest to the firewall and apply vac to it to see if it
locks the front end.

Good luck. I just went through all the same stuff - it's madness. The
problem ends up being that the system itself is flawed by logic issues on
the board so it never really works 100% in my experience. Look for my last
post answered by Steve - he put up a great pic online explaining locations
of vac hoses, etc.
Thanks.
Andrew.



On 12/15/07 5:55 PM, in article CXY8j.510$qv1.383@trndny01, "Dirty White
Boy" wrote:

> Just how hard is this to replace? I have been dealing with the slow
> engagement blues for a couple years, but it always eventually hooked up. I
> used a few times this summer for pulling trees down (okay guiding trees
> down, not actually yanking them out of the dirt) and had no problems.
>
> Now, I get not lights, no front end engagement and white knuckles on the way
> to work. What do I need to check to make sure the actuator is bad? The 4WD
> fuse is good. How hard is this to replace? I know GM came out with an
> electro-mechanical actuator as and upgrade, are there any other options?
> Manual hub conversion?
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: 91 Silverado 4wd actuator/thermal plunger