Head lights and 4wheel drive

[Lechtanski]

I tried searching for hours last night to find the info on the head lights. I recently picked up a 1996 4 door tahoe. The driver side head lamp went out. DO I really have to disassemble the front clip to change te bulbs? I had to remove the under hood storage box to get the dirivers side. The passenger side looks as it might require the battery and horn be removed... that seems insane.

On the 4 wheel drive part. When I push the 4Hi button it flashes, I feel a clunk, but I continued to struggle to get over a small snow mound. Does the light need to stop flashing to be in 4 wheel drive? In 2wheel drive it's a steady light, if I push to 4Lo the 4Hi light is solid, but the 4Lo flashes.

If you need more info let me know. Thanks

 

[992door]

For the headlights you dont have to take the whole front end off all you have to do is open the hood and look and you will see right above the headlights just like the greyish silver things in the picture but yours will most likley be black. If you unscrew them and take them out you should be able to just slide the whole headlight assembly out and just put your bulbs in then stick them back in there and put those screws back in and you will be good to go.

 

[Rollin Thunder]

you should wait for the light to stop flashing. Also to go into 4lo. you need to be in nuturel. :thumbsup:

 

[Lechtanski]

For the headlights you dont have to take the whole front end off all you have to do is open the hood and look and you will see right above the headlights just like the greyish silver things in the picture but yours will most likley be black. If you unscrew them and take them out you should be able to just slide the whole headlight assembly out and just put your bulbs in then stick them back in there and put those screws back in and you will be good to go.

Thank you, I figured there had to be an easy way. I was preparing to to rent a garage and lift just incase though <grin> Thanks again!

 

[Lechtanski]

you should wait for the light to stop flashing. Also to go into 4lo. you need to be in nuturel. :thumbsup:

I am going to guess I have an issue then. It won't stop flashing. I have tried from stop and from moving. Is there any common issues I should look at?

Thank you very much for the reply too!

 

[992door]

Thank you, I figured there had to be an easy way. I was preparing to to rent a garage and lift just incase though <grin> Thanks again!

Yea I took the grille off the first time I had to change a light bulb and right after I got it off I saw that those 2 things were the only things I had to take off :mad3:
Go ahead and rent you that garage and put a lift on it. :thumbsup:

no problem

 

[Lechtanski]

Yea I took the grille off the first time I had to change a light bulb and right after I got it off I saw that those 2 things were the only things I had to take off :mad3:
Go ahead and rent you that garage and put a lift on it. :thumbsup:

no problem

I am thinking I will still do the lift so I don't have to bend down, and I can pretend to be professional or something.

 

[992door]

no not use a lift to do it put a lift kit on you tahoe

 

[loulblades]

If your 4WD light is flashing then 4WD is not engaged. Where is the "clunk" coming from? Or is it a "click" under the dash?

Issues with the 4WD can be (I don't know if this is the proper order of probability): the actuator, the transfer case switch, the 4WD selector switch, the controller.

I have replaced everything in mine over the past couple years except the transfer case switch and it looks like I will be doing that soon.

Chevy used a thermal actuator in the early 96 Tahoes, which takes longer to engage on a cold day. If you buy a knew actuator from a dealer, you may get a wiring harness with it.

 

[bsamoul]

I believe mine flashes as well. I will check this out tomorrow. I always thought flashing was good because I felt a power change. And when I go into 4LO I hear this massive clunk that shoves it into place it seems but I know that works because there is tremendous power. I know the clunk isn't good tho.. Any ideas?

 

[loulblades]

Other than the "click" that goes on under the dash when you press the 4WD switch you may hear 2 "clunks": the transfer case servo motor and the front differential.

If the light is flashing this can be an indication that the controller has not detected the system is engaged. In the case of the thermal front diff actuator (and maybe the vacuum type) there is a separate switch in the diff that would indicate the 4WD is engaged. On the motor type actuator the switch is built into the actuator itself.

So the string of events:
1. Press the 4WD switch (the light flashes)
2. Controller operates the transfer case servo motor
3. The switch on top of the transfer case closes
4. Front diff actuator operates
5. Controller gets feedback that the system is engaged (light stops flashing)

On mine the light will flash for about 5 seconds (there is a timer on the controller) and will go back to 2WD if the controller doesn't detect the system is engaged.

A drop in power could occur if only the transfer case was engaged which would not, in itself, indicate the 4WD system was engaged.

The "clunk" is not necessarily bad.

I have not seen any that the light would flash if the system is properly engaged. I think having the light flashing while driving would be irritating (not to mention distracting).

BTW: What is up with all the spam on this sight lately?

 

[Lechtanski]

If your 4WD light is flashing then 4WD is not engaged. Where is the "clunk" coming from? Or is it a "click" under the dash?

Issues with the 4WD can be (I don't know if this is the proper order of probability): the actuator, the transfer case switch, the 4WD selector switch, the controller.

I have replaced everything in mine over the past couple years except the transfer case switch and it looks like I will be doing that soon.

Chevy used a thermal actuator in the early 96 Tahoes, which takes longer to engage on a cold day. If you buy a knew actuator from a dealer, you may get a wiring harness with it.

The clunk is coming from the drive train somewhere. It feels slightly different in the steering after it happens. I have never been able to get the light to stop flashing and there is no way it is in 4WD.

Being I know nothing about it and I am used to my jeeps (pull the level you are in 4WD without question) I will probably just have to take it in...

 

[bsamoul]

i'm probably also going to make a trip to the dealer within a month because i need this truck to go up to the snow and i'd prefer to come back with the truck the same condition it's in. i'm thinking of borrowing a couple of jackstands because i only have 2 and raise the whole car up and see if all 4 wheels spin.