92 k1500 4x4 not working

[stenny]

so i put it in 4wd and front diff doesn't lock so 4wd doesn't work. i changed actuator because i had one i bench tested, i bench tested old one and it works so it must be a electrical issue or 4wd electrical. i have a np241c i just am not very good with wiring i checked to see and there is no power going to actuator. so what powers it? i know i could wire a switch to actuator but i would rather do that as a last option. please help thank you

 

[1500z71]

Check simple stuff. Like a fuse, or any grounds.

 

[RichLo]

I would switch to the mechanical cable driven actuator that LMC sells. Thats a common problem and upgrading the the cable one give the piece of mind that it won't fail when its -40 and in a blizzard.

 

[stenny]

i might just wire a switch its just 12v on one wire and ground on other

 

[stenny]

i would rather fix it the right way then to mickey mouse it

 

[RichLo]

I was just saying that those electrical actuators are a common fail point in these trucks and you can keep throwing parts and money at it and keep a commonly failing system in there or you could put a mechanical actuator in and know that it won't fail at the worst possible time. Think of it as manual lockout hubs that you can control from inside the cab.

 

[stenny]

ok so i think its the sensor that on the transfer case that gives the actuator that is in the front diff the signal to engage. where is that on the transfer case? i know there are 2 sensors but i just don't want to take out the wrong one

 

[livelifewideopen]

The sensor that is further back is your VSS. the sensor that is further forward is the one that sends the signal to the front axle. I would like to +1 on the mechanical system swap. its a simple install, and I went through 3 thermal actuators in as many years before I did the swap to mechanical.

 

[stenny]

I was thinking about it but autozone has lifetime warranty on the parts i am swapping. And i am going to be doing a cummins swap in the next couple months i have my cummins already and ibam rebuilding it right now so i will have a 4 cylinder cummins turbo diesel and i am swapoing to stick shift, and i am changing transfer case and putting in a nv4500. So i just need to have it fixed until i do swap

 

[livelifewideopen]

Gotcha. I read that you need to SAS to fit a cummins in there because of how tall they are. Would you be able to verify that? idk if its the same with a 4bt instead of a 12 valve.