Test my 4WD?

[khigh]

I just got my 2000 Z71 this year and haven't had the time or opportunity to do anything with the 4WD. I still don't have time to do anything, but what little winter weather we do have is often pretty severe and due in the next 2-6 weeks.

Is there a quickie test I can do to make sure everything's working properly that doesn't involve getting it stuck or putting it on a lift?

Also, on the subject, when I press the 2WD button, a light comes on and seems to stay on, but when I look later, it's off - no lights are lit on any mode. Is that normal?

Thanks for looking.

 

[ccapehartusarmyINF.(ret)]

technically yer not supposed to but you can put it in 4hi the next time yer out an about and you should hear somethin goin on just make sure yer not someplace were yer doing alotta turns make sure its a nice long straight section gravel would be preffered
and i believe you need to be stopped and in park or neutral to go into 4 lo
on gravel when u shift into 4 hi you can punch in a little from a stop if the rear tires dont break lose 4wd is engaged if the rear tires break lose then yer still in 2wd dont get rambunctious and put yer foot the floor in 4 hi
ive seen dudes break axles doin shit like that

---------- Post added at 10:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:01 PM ----------

or u cant just wait till theres snow on the road then youll definatly know

 

[SunlitComet]

What light comes on? The light next to the mode switch?

 

[Gzes]

Tie to a tree and try to tow it. You will feel the front wheels spinning. But you can feel the 4th when you put it in just hit reverse then drive so it locks in

 

[laredo1307]

Next time your out just put it in 4HI when your rolling at 5mph. Then turn try to do some full turns to the left and right. You should feel the truck lurching the more you turn the wheel. Then come to a stop, put in nuetral, press 4LO (you should here a clunk when it engages), and repeat the turning process.

As far as the light mine likes to turn off too. Sometimes I give it a little tap and it comes back on. I think it's just something intermittent. Everything still functions properly.

 

[arctic388]

my switch would blink off and i had to buy a used switch off ebay to replace it. once replaced it didn't go off again.

do you have a field somewhere you can spin in some? or a gravel road ? it doesn't have to be much just to make sure its working.

 

[2000tahoeZ71]

If you remove the 4wd switch, you will notice there are two connectors. One is a three pin, and one is an 8 pin. My switch did the same thing (the orange LED mode indicator not coming on/intermittent). I have replaced the illumination bulbs with LEDs on about 5 of these switches. All had the same problem. In order to do the LEDs, I had to desolder the board from both of the connectors (the three pin and the 8 pin). After I had resoldered and reassembled, all the lights worked properly. I believe it was just a cold solder joint. I believe it is the 8 pin connector to blame but I would resolder all 11 to be sure.