2000 z71 "service 4WD" light is on

[dakota1205]

After driving my 2000 z71 5.3L, the "service 4WD" light comes on. The 2wd button is lit, it will switch to 4wd, it will not switch out of this position. I keep pushing 2wd, auto buttons, nothing, still stuck in 4wd. Turn off engine, start back up, keep pushing same button, finally pushing auto button, it will go to auto, then push 2wd, it will go there.

Other times, when service light not on, all buttons work fine, it goes in and out of four wheel drive, hereing the actuators under vehicle switching.

Any ideas on what may be going on?

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by dakota1205

After driving my 2000 z71 5.3L, the "service 4WD" light comes on. The 2wd button is lit, it will switch to 4wd, it will not switch out of this position. I keep pushing 2wd, auto buttons, nothing, still stuck in 4wd. Turn off engine, start back up, keep pushing same button, finally pushing auto button, it will go to auto, then push 2wd, it will go there.

Other times, when service light not on, all buttons work fine, it goes in and out of four wheel drive, hereing the actuators under vehicle switching.

Any ideas on what may be going on?

with the service 4wd light on intermittently this is usually the dash switch. I removed this switch then re soldered the switch pins to the circuit board. takes about 45min to do ..

if it does not correct this get failure code pulled and post here .

[4x4junkie]

could be a dirty connection on a plug under vehicle, corrosion or loose connection. but more likely the dash switch.

[MikeD266]

Had a similar problem with the 4x4 shifting on my '99 Z71 5.3 a few years ago. Pulled and re-soldered several cracks in the dash PCB. Even the button lights worked after that..

Dealer wanted $60 for an entire auto-trac module. Worth the short time/effort and, assuming that it IS the dash switch, an easy fix if you know basic soldering.

[ukrkoz]

replace transfer case switch in the dashboard. $65 internet, 5 minutes job. i have same year truck, had same issue in about 2 mths of ownership. mof, drove around with toothpick jammed between swich housing and 2wd button for about 15K miles, then swapped the switch.

[Ol'Jim]

How do you remove the 4x4 switch panel? Any special trick required, or just pry it out? My panel appears dead, no illumination of any buttons at night, no led showing the range selected. Just in time for a BIG snowstorm!!

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Ol'Jim

How do you remove the 4x4 switch panel? Any special trick required, or just pry it out? My panel appears dead, no illumination of any buttons at night, no led showing the range selected. Just in time for a BIG snowstorm!!

no led on the 4wd select switch I would check the fusess. if fuses blows again this may mean shorted wires/rodents wear or the transfercase encoder. post back what fuses blown if any .

[ukrkoz]

Originally Posted by Ol'Jim

How do you remove the 4x4 switch panel? Any special trick required, or just pry it out? My panel appears dead, no illumination of any buttons at night, no led showing the range selected. Just in time for a BIG snowstorm!!

simply pry it open. I, normally, start on the upper left corner of it, and give it a good tug. it pops, the rest follows clip by clip. you will need to have steering column lowered as far down as possible, and gear shifter shifted all the way down too. after it pops completely, takes some wiggling to slide it off the steering column. overall - maybe 1.5 minute job. be very careful with long narrow side of it, don't break it. though, it's surprisingly strong, I had mine off prolly dozen times.