Hello, I'm new to the forums and just bought a 97 Jimmy 4d 4WD a few days ago. I have already stumbled upon the step by step thread to find the problem with push button transfer case. In the mean time and or if the problem ends up costing more than the truck did, is there a way to manualy lock it into 4H range ?
manually locking transfer case in 4H
- Thread starter River_Tam
- Start date
Molson02536
New member
If it's a bad TCCM or Encoder motor, nope. Nothing you can do unless you replace the which ever one has gone bad. The Salvage yard is your best bet or Ebay to buy the part you need.
To manually place it in to 4HI, remove the encoder motor and
On the mechanics of the shifting, there should be four positions on the shift lever - 2HI, 4HI, N, 4LO. I am referring to the shaft on the transfer-case that is exposed when you pull the motor/encoder off. One extreme is 4LO, the center is N, and the other side is HI. You can use a wrench to move the selector shaft.
Anyway, this problem is most often caused by a faulty position sensor in the encoder motor. The magnet in the sensor fails to fully activate the hall effect sensor for the appropriate shifter position as requested by the TCCM.
If it's just the front actuator, you can try to lock the actuator cable to keep the front axle engaged. You can access the actuator through the hole behind the passenger side headlight.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a187/swartlkk/2000 Bravada/C0387_diag1of2.gif
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a187/swartlkk/2000 Bravada/C0387_diag2of2.gif
as I type this I have not actualy seen the transfer case yet, if it is the control module, would moving the shaft to 4H with a wrench keep it there or does this leave the transfer case exposed so the fluid would leak out ?
Molson02536
New member
No leaks, the shaft has a seal to it and with the shafted moved to the 4HI. It will stay there till you shift it back. Here is a link to your transfer-case and it should help you.
http://www.compnine.com/index.php?u...delid=6872&capuid=1&majorgroup=04&grouptype=B and Number 94 is the Transfer-case actuator (Encoder motor)
Good luck and keep us posted. Food for thought, you do know you can't drive in 4wd on dry pavements and at highway speeds.
no i didn't, what did you get the awd transfer case out of (if it comes to that) I did replace the switch on my dash which was visably broken...but as my luck goes that didn't fix the problem....all 4 buttons light up once when i 1st turn on the key then 2wd stays lit up, if i push either 4wd mode i hear what sounds like a cellunoid click from behind the dash but then it stays in 2wd
Molson02536
New member
I replaced my transfer-case with an AWD transfer-case from a Astro Van 1991-1997. The transfer-case your looking for is a The Borg Warner BW4472 is a chain drive all wheel drive (AWD). The only thing is, you have to service the transfer-case every 20,000 miles.
This will ensure that the clutch packs are not going drive and the fluid is also ways clean.
so if i go the route of manualy switching it (transfer case) with a wrench, i would also need to manualy lock front axle if I am understanding this correctly. if i go the cable lock route on the front axle when i have the transfer case in 2wd would i be ok at highway speeds on dry pavement ? (basicly when the front axle is locked if the transfer case is in 2wd am i hurting anything other than mpg?)
Molson02536
New member
You got it, i had my front axle engaged for over a year before i replaced the 4wd switch that went bad and vacuum was always there for the actuator even in 2wd.
It was cold in the winter and i got to busy in the summer to replace it so it stayed that way till transmission fluid made it's way through out me vacuum lines. Then i had no choice but to replace the 4wd switch and i didn't find any difference in fuel mileage.
Good luck and keep us posted.
well some progress and an all new issue. fuse#19 was bad, replaced that and I now have a 4WD. heres the new issue, I can freely switch from 4Hi to 4Lo and back and it is doing it not just lights on the dash, but it wont go back to to 2Hi. from 4Hi if i hit 2Hi the 2Hi light blinks for a few seconds and it stays in 4Hi, from 4Lo if I hit 2Hi it blinks for a few seconds and goes to 4Hi. anyone else had this problem ? could this be my front axle acuater being stuck or is that a completely seperate issue from the transfer case (does the dash switch moniter both or just the transfer case ?)
what am i gonna hurt if i drive around in 4Hi on dry pavement ? tire wear and gas milage i know will both suffer, will it break hard parts ?
***update....it still wont just drop back into 2hi like it should but apearently with enough constant switching and goosing it in reverse in 4lo and eventualy it will go back to 2hi. repeated this proscess a few times, it changes at 1st button push from 2hi to 4hi or 4 lo and will go from 4lo to 4hi or 4hi to 4lo on one button push but to get back into 2hi i have to look like a jack ass in my driveway for 5 minutes but it will eventuyaly do it
what am i gonna hurt if i drive around in 4Hi on dry pavement ? tire wear and gas milage i know will both suffer, will it break hard parts ?
***update....it still wont just drop back into 2hi like it should but apearently with enough constant switching and goosing it in reverse in 4lo and eventualy it will go back to 2hi. repeated this proscess a few times, it changes at 1st button push from 2hi to 4hi or 4 lo and will go from 4lo to 4hi or 4hi to 4lo on one button push but to get back into 2hi i have to look like a jack ass in my driveway for 5 minutes but it will eventuyaly do it
Last edited: