4x4 issue

[3racer]

1997 silverado 1500. while trying to get up driveway today i when i put my truck into 4hi nothing happened. i checked the fuse panel and the 4wd fuse was bad. i replaced the fuse and it blew again. i up graded to a 30amp fuse and when i put the selector into 4hi it never engaged. still stuck in 2wd. any suggestions? by the way, the 30 amp fuse never blew. it is still intact. thanks!

[johnny2.0]

You can cause much bigger problems when you "upgrade" fuses. Do you have push button or selector lever?

[3racer]

selector lever. the original fuse was a 25 amp, the only spare fuse i had was the 30 amp. so do you think i caused some pretty serious damage to my 4wd? when the 4x4 acuator quits will they blow the fuse? Isnt the 4wd acuator the only electric related part with my front differential?

[777stickman]

Generally speaking, the 4wd fuse supplies power to the front axle actuator. The 25 amp fuse blown indicates a direct short to ground. The 30 amp may have melted some wires or connectors to the point of eliminating the short. Inspect the wiring and connector at the front axle for damage.

[3racer]

thanks 777stickman for the reply, iwill check it out as soon as this weather breaks. p.s. love the earnhardt touch!!

[johnny2.0]

Originally Posted by 777stickman

Generally speaking, the 4wd fuse supplies power to the front axle actuator. The 25 amp fuse blown indicates a direct short to ground. The 30 amp may have melted some wires or connectors to the point of eliminating the short. Inspect the wiring and connector at the front axle for damage.

Yeah. What he said.