98 blazer - no drive (long)

[rallycamaro]

Hi all, new here and in need of some big-time help. Background: 98 blazer, 140k miles, 233 transfer case, backed out of the garage yesterday, put transmission into park to shift into 4Hi (10" of snow overnight), put transmission back into reverse and nothing, nada, put back into park and hit 2Hi to disengage 4WD and all transfer case lights went out, tried drive, 3, 2, 1 and R and none worked, put into park and grinding sound like a saw winding down ensued. Have disconnected battery to try to reset TCCM, no go, looked at encoder motor but see nothing out of the ordinary. Could this be a result of only vacuum switches and actuators? Don't think so but not sure. Bulbs on push-buttons flash on bulb check but go out after that. Nothing lights up, no clicks like trying to engage, nothing and have no drive. Is TC toast? Encoder out of phase or stuck between gears? Help.

TIA

[old_master]

Odd that a 233 would do that because there is no "neutral" in the transfer case but, it sounds like encoder motor trouble. Check the connector at the TCCM for corrosion on the pins and sockets. If that's OK, possibly the encoder motor or the connector at the encoder motor.

[rallycamaro]

Thanks, will do. Is it possible to manually move the transfer case into 2Hi so I can at least move the vehicle?

[old_master]

You can remove the encoder motor and manually shift the transfer case, not a lot of room, but it can be done.