2000 Blazer 4wd Question...

OK...Start of a long story. I just picked up this blazer and it was snowing hard on the drive home so i put it in 4hi and started driving home...all of a sudden the service 4wd light came on and it started making a bad noise...get home check it out and the T-Case was fried because the dealer didn't have any fluid in it...Thanks!!! anyways I swapped out the Tcase and made sure to fill it up and now when I push on the 4wd shift button it just blinks and nothing happens...stays blinking. I tried to listen to see what was happening. I think i can hear the tcase shifting. In the truck you can here the relay switch from the tccm by the passenger kick panel. So i'm pretty sure that is working. What i'm not so sure about is my vacuum stuff. So there was this plastic ball type thing that was just jammed in a corner and when i pulled it out i busted off the little vacuum hose that was going to it. What the heck is that ball (black about the size of a softball)? Is it important or can i just cap off that vacuum leak? It has been snowing and I live in an apartment so i don't have a place to park the truck and crawl under it at the moment. wondering if you guys have had any similar experiences with just the blinking lights when pushing 4hi...it has the auto transfer case if any of you were wondering and it's a 5 speed manual 2 door. I hope this is enough info if not just post and I will respond.

More info needed?
What transfer case?
Auto button on push button panel or just 2W and 4W?
Tell us more on the dealer not putting fluid in it.
Did it have any leaks?
If it was the case dealer not filling it up with fluid after working on 4W he should fix it for you on his dime.
What was the dealer doing to it when it was there?

Is it vacuum controlled? if so check the hose

It has the np236 Transfer case with the 4 button switch auto, 2hi, 4hi, 4lo...NP8 option code for the transfer case. Anyone know what that black ball is that is connected to the vacuum hoses? I'll see if I can't get a picture of it later...

2percent...Only the front differential is vacuum operated the Transfer case has an electric shift motor on it sometimes called an encoder motor. Like i said the front differential was engaging and the shifter was shifting like 2 weeks ago so i'm confused why the lights are just blinking now.

It has the np236 Transfer case with the 4 button switch auto, 2hi, 4hi, 4lo...NP8 option code for the transfer case. Anyone know what that black ball is that is connected to the vacuum hoses? I'll see if I can't get a picture of it later...

The black plastic ball is the vacuum reserve tank.
If you are losing vacuum there you may be losing vacuum to front axel actuator.
Fix the plastic ball and vacuum lines or jumper vacuum line for a test.

It has the np236 Transfer case with the 4 button switch auto, 2hi, 4hi, 4lo...NP8 option code for the transfer case. Anyone know what that black ball is that is connected to the vacuum hoses? I'll see if I can't get a picture of it later...

Transfer case codes can be checked with a transfer case scanner on the 236.
Check for and post back codes.

Also need more info on the dealer no fluid check deal????