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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

'88 Chevy K2500

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Tweeter

09-10-2006 15:42:58




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My truck either slips out of 4wd or the 4wd is a crappy setup. I desperately needed 4wd twice now and it didnt work. The first time it never engaged and the second time 4wd was engaged and turned off as soon as it was needed. This truck is an '88 and the 4wd is electronic with no locking of the hubs. Is there something that can be fixed or is the 4wd on this truck comparable to the AUTO 4x4 feature on new style trucks?

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bradk

09-10-2006 19:35:39




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 Re: '88 Chevy K2500 in reply to Tweeter, 09-10-2006 15:42:58  
Go down to your GM dealer and tell the parts guys you want the updated 4WD kit.It consists of a motor driven actuator,and a harness kit.Don"t forget to istall the spacer before screwing in new actuator in front diff.
4WD is on instantly with the kit.I"ve installed a bunch of these and are pretty easy. ~brad



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ld5030

09-10-2006 18:14:33




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 Re: '88 Chevy K2500 in reply to Tweeter, 09-10-2006 15:42:58  
Had the same thing you describe happen on my '88 years back. As I recall the dealer said it was a switch or some sort of electrical connection underneath that would get corroded. They didn't have one in stock at the time so the mechanic cleaned up the contacts/connection and it was good for the remainder of the time I owned the truck. Just sold it last week after having it for nearly 16 years. jim

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515ryanh

09-10-2006 15:59:47




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 Re: '88 Chevy K2500 in reply to Tweeter, 09-10-2006 15:42:58  
There is electronic unit that is on the front axle that locks up the the front axle when you engage the transfer case in 4wd. these are pretty common to need replaced i"ve replaced a couple on some truck i"ve had.



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Tweeter

09-10-2006 17:58:18




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 Re: '88 Chevy K2500 in reply to 515ryanh, 09-10-2006 15:59:47  
Is there a name for this unit?



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Allan In NE

09-10-2006 18:13:48




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 Re: '88 Chevy K2500 in reply to Tweeter, 09-10-2006 17:58:18  
Tweeter,

Sounds like the actuator on the front axle.

Allan



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Jon Hagen

09-10-2006 20:01:05




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 Re: '88 Chevy K2500 in reply to Allan In NE, 09-10-2006 18:13:48  
Tweeter,your pickup if original has that wonderfull thermal actuator to lock the front axle that takes 30 seconds or more to engage. It is mounted on the front axle and consists of a little hyd cylinder like thing with a 12V heating element and some sort of fluid inside. When you pull the transfer case lever into 4 wd it also sends power to the heating element in the actuator,and in 30 seconds to a minute it heats the fluid to the boiling point,which creates pressure that extends the actuator piston and locks in the front axle. That time delay is plenty long enough to get you really really stuck in mud or snow. It also means that if you switch the truck off for a minute,the actuator will unlock the front axle and your back in 2wd for another minute or so. Makes an absolute pig out of an otherwise good 4wd system. There is light at the end of the tunnel though, GM realized how bad this thermal actuator system was and made a electric motor driven actuator that locks in instantly and will not unlock untill you put the transfer case in 2wd,even if you turn the truck off for an extended time.
This is a bolt in retrofit for a half ton or light duty 3/4 ton. It can be fitted to a HD 3/4 or 1 ton,but requires a little grinding on the axle housing to make the larger actuator fit. I did the conversion on my 92 chev K35 one ton last winter and wish I had done it years ago for the above mentioned reasons. The conversion consists of the motorized actuator and the wiring harness conversion that is specific to your year model. Installation is just to screw in the new actuator,plug in the harness adapter and hook up 1 new wire at the transfer case.

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