2002 Suburban K1500 auto/electronic transfer

On vacation in outer banks, nc.
No power to front wheels.

No "service 4wd" idiot light.

Front axel actuator is working, with front raised:Front wheel will spin in 2hi and front drive shaft does not turn. In 4hi front wheel will not rotate and front drive shaft rocks when wheel is rocked.

Transfer shifts into all ranges, light flashes then goes solid, rear diff jumps when transfer completes shift, definately can tell when it is in low by the way the transmission shifts. Also will shift into nuetral, transmission in Park- vehiclw will roll.

With rear raised and transfer in 4hi or 4lo, rear tires spin in the air but front have no power does not pull it off the jack. With front tires on sand and rear on pavement and in 4hi, rear tires spun of pavement- front just rolled out of sand didn't spin.

Thought maybe the front were locking with vehicle raised but not fully, and maybe power from transfer was overpowering them. Threw a new actuator at it($120), no change.

Wondering if the transfer motor is changing the gear range but not sending the signal to shift power to the front? That motor is $181 and a little more envolved with limited tools at a rental house.

Any ideas, suggestions, greatly appreciated,
Don

 

Defintaley in the transfer case.

 

remover the encoder motor on the tcase and turn the splined drive with a wrench...if it engages 4x4 now the encoder motor is weak.

 

Talked with a guy at a 4x4 specialty shop. He said if the switches are acting normal, the transfer is changing ranges properly and the axel is locking in, then the electronics are good that it is the clutches inside the transfer that have quit working.

 

does the tcase fluid smell burnt; if the clutch pack is slipping?

 

Had to put a re-manufactured TC in my 99 Tahoe. Expensive but worth it.

 

i dont know.

 

I replaced the transfer case because it had issues itself. It didn't clear the similar noise however. While the drive shaft was out I noticed a small amount of rotational as well as in and out play in the yoke where the drive shaft attaches to the rear differential. I was told that there should be NO play at all. When the cover was removed there were pieces of the pinion bearing lying in the bottom of the housing. Spider gears were chewed up etc. I put an Auburn Limited-slip unit in as well as all new gears. Had it set up properly. Truck runs and sounds great now.

 

2007 tahoe: encoder sensor replaced still malfunctions.Need help!