Pellet heads!! What's up today?

I've been chasing a ghost in the truck the past few weeks. Intermittently I'd see 'service 4WD' on the info display. It did that a couple times this summer but I never thought anything of it. The other day the selector switch lit up like a Christmas tree and it went into 4WD on its own at about 50 MPH. That was interesting. After that, I had no lights on the selector switch except the backlight. Today I dug into it.

After trying to decipher what info Google spit out that was good versus bunk, I started working my way through the problems. Turns out there was a ground wire on the frame that had a bad connection. I crimped a new end on the wire, cleaned the mounting point, put it back together and everything appears to be back to normal. I took a load of cardboard to the recycling center and hit the grocery store (about 20 miles round trip), and so far no more service 4WD message, and I can kick it in and out of 4WD. Cool.

With 157,000 on the clock, who knows if this is the real fix or if I just got lucky. I'm good with luck in this case. Now it's time for

 

What vehicle?

 

Since they said we are supposed to have plowable white stuff on Tuesday, I took the wheel assembly off my ancient Craftsman (white stuff)blower, took it into the local VIP and had them re-seat the tire. I called before I went and talked to a knowledgeable guy that said they did that all the time. An idiot was at the counter (about my age - mid 50's) and he said they would have to put a tueb in it. Oh, and I would have to go to the parts section, which is O'reilly's, by the tube, then bring it to them to put it in. Fortunately knowledgeable guy was there and told Idiot that re-seating the tire was no big deal. meanwhile Idiot kept calling me "Dear" (I hate that from a guy I just met - or from any guy as a matter of fact). Oh, then Idiot called me later and when I answered the phone asked "Is this Mrs. Bogieb?" Umm, no, no such person . In fact, the only Mr. Bogieb that I personally know is my father. "Oh, sorry DEAR!"

Good thing he kept his nose to the computer screen and Knowledgeable guy checked me out. I would have come unglued about 0.5 seconds after he handed me the tire and called me DEAR again .

Got the wheel assembly put back on the blower and sprayed another layer of silicone on the blades and chute (and the 2 snow shovels). Maybe since I am ready, I won't need it.

 

2005 Silverado 1500.

 

Had an issue w/ my '02 Traiblazer about a month ago. I check that the 4wd system works occasionally, mainly in Sept.-Oct for upcoming winter. Turned the selector to 4AWD and light just kept flashing (supposed to become solid after system is engaged correctly). Long story made short, finally traced it to a worn out front differential actuator. $50 later, all is well.
Guess I should expect stuff like this wearing out after 14 yrs (winters)/235K+ miles.

 

I had a Bravada years back that went all goofy on me (stuck in 4WD), but that one didn't have a switch as it was auto AWD. That one ended up needing a transfer case control motor. I was glad that my truck didn't need one as that part isn't cheap.

This type of stuff makes me miss transfer case shift levers and manual locking hubs. Not that getting out in a snowdrift and locking the hubs was any fun, but.....

 

Yeah, I checked that on mine too (called an "encoder motor" on mine). Original was actually OK, so of course, after checking that, fuses, the dash switch, etc, etc, the LAST thing I checked was the diff actuator. Nice thing was that it was also a "user changeable" unit, so after removing the RF tire, it was a 15 minute job to replace.

 

Warn locking hubs...sure were simple... but I do like not getting out of the truck to go 4WD.

 

You're suppose to lock them before going looking for trouble, just saying

 

For some reason that was forgotten about during most late night excursions that involved 4WD and two tracks or cornfields. I don't know why....

 

Very nice Jay - Congrats to you and Joey!

 

Thumbs up to the fisherman's!

 

Who's the old guy in the background?

 

Some of the good stuff !

 

X2

 

Weather forecast for tomorrow changed a bit. They added '40-50 MPH wind gusts' to the equation, and the ice forecast went from between a tenth and quarter inch to between a quarter and half inch.

Time to bring in firewood, stock up on beer and TP, fill water jugs and test fire the generator.