Good afternoon. I recently purchased a 2004 chevy Silverado 1500 z71 with the 5.3 and sadly the cursed 4x4 buttons. These buttons blink when pressed and will not engage. I’ve switched out the buttons for a new panel and the problem persists. My next idea is the actuator. I can hear a faint noise like a small motor trying to work or engage but stops after a few seconds. I’ll attempt to post a video with it. Thank you in advance!

 

Are you pressing the 4x4 buttons while in park or in drive? I am also an owner of the same year and model truck. Im not sure if this helps, but I was always taught to "lock in" the 4x4 by putting the truck in neutral, proceed with selecting one of the buttons, then finish by putting truck in reverse before proceeding to Drive.

 

Yes I was in neutral. I ended up replacing the encoder motor of the transfer case. Come to find out it corroded from the inside out”between the motor snd the gasket itself. After replacing it works fine no problem.

QUOTE=Goldie Devries;461027]Are you pressing the 4x4 buttons while in park or in drive? I am also an owner of the same year and model truck. Im not sure if this helps, but I was always taught to "lock in" the 4x4 by putting the truck in neutral, proceed with selecting one of the buttons, then finish by putting truck in reverse before proceeding to Drive.[/QUOTE]

 

Sounds to me like the transfer case motor. I just replaced the second one on my 2004 Suburban. Not to hard to swap. Plenty of videos. Fortunately the first one had a lifetime warranty, so just some labor.

 

Yeah it was, all swapped out and running grest now through our Northern maine snowstorms!

QUOTE=Fraserjim;461088]Sounds to me like the transfer case motor. I just replaced the second one on my 2004 Suburban. Not to hard to swap. Plenty of videos. Fortunately the first one had a lifetime warranty, so just some labor.[/QUOTE]