Blazer crew, I need help. 4x4 problem

Well last night on the way home from buddies I decided to punch it on an icey road....little to my knowledge HOW icey it really was
 
I fish tailed side ways into the next lane(deserted road) and smaked the snow bank really hard and got about half way up it when I turned off and back in my lane.
 
stupid? incredibly........ broke my bumper and its really loose now.
 
bigger problem came today when I tried to go into 4hi, its was weird like it blinked a few times and then the light was on........but no 4 wheel drive!!!!! and it wont let me back into 2hi it blinks and clicks a few times, but thats it.
 
The light says im in 4hi but on an icey street i can easily tell it isnt.
 
if just getting it scanned is what I have to do it costs me almost $100 in canada.
 
I dont think its a fuse cuz the lights still on........actuator....i cant even spell it....heck if i know what it is....how much can I expect to pay for this repair, anyone have a guessstimate? or what to try........
 
I feel bad for the pain I've put her through
 
thx for any help people

I forgot to mention I DID try to search.....no answers

Could be your transfer case switch. Or a relay even.

is this a common problem? im totally lost here.......are actuators dealer parts only?

how can i narrow it down? whats a t-case switch? and whats the relay for? sorry......im not too technically inclined with this stuff.
 
I should also mention I've hit alot of stuff with this truck this winter.......I might have knocked something loose...or......broke something......

Check all your vacuum lines to see if they are all still connected, depending on how hard you hit and at what angles it is possible that things got banged around. Also check the connectors for the encoder motor on the transfer case (box like object with wires) near the front output shaft. That is also where the vacuum switch for the 4x4 acuator (3 vacum lines attached). There is depending on model year a vacuum ball to increase vacuum for 4x4 and with the hard hit may have been cracked...but a vacuum leak might cause a rough idle condition...and you don't mention that. I would also look at the possibility that you have broken something inside the front differential that won't let it engage in 4HI....

well I'll go and check all the fuses and the vaccum lines if I can find them.........where is the fuse box under the hood?
 
and those vaccum lines are on the passenger side behind the tire right....?

alright, so the fuse box under the hood wasent so hard to find. I found 1 blown 10 amp fuse. The location paper thingy didnt say anything that made me think a fuse was for 4x4. I think the 1 that was blown just said 'trr' or something close to that.
 
So I replaced it with another 10 amp, checked the rest, didnt notice any others blown. Then I popped open the fuse panel in the cab, there was one that said '4x4' but it was good, or seemed to be, i switched 2 10 amps around just to see if it helped, and it didnt.
 
Now when I push 2hi or 4lo(in neutral) it blinks real quick but stays in 4hi, and the 4hi stays illuminated. I tried 2hi in neutral, nothing....
before it would blink 3 or 4 times and click a few.....now it clicks once.
 
I also got on my back in about 4" of fresh snow to try and find those vaccum lines but I had no idea what I was looking for.....most of it is coverd by the skid plate. can anyone help me out....a diagram would be great. The only line that stuck out to me was the brake line. I saw an accordian type thing....are they close to that?

bump

Do you have access to a heated shop? There could just be a bunch of snow underneath... Try and melt things out, or something....
 
When you were underneath, did you see a buttload of snow?

no i didnt see snow.......my dad said the same thing too.......no heated shop
 
I would like to check those vacuum lines.....but I dont really know what to look for...
 
and I got an estimate from a body shop for a new front bumper and its over $500 including paint
 
does anyone know what the actuators and relays are worth? My dad is guessing its electrical......but i dunno...i prolly broke something

Here is a photo of what the encoder motor looks like and where to look for it...




Thumbnail Image



Thumbnail Image

If you don't have one already, I highly suggest picking up a Haynes manual, they come in handy sometimes for looking at things like this...
 
I can't remember if mine has it or not, but on the front of the truck, when you open the hood, on top the rad/fan shroud, there's a few stickers, I think there should be a vacuum diagram somewhere... if it hasn't been rubbed off, lol

thanks guys...ill check for the stickers

buuuuuuuuuuuuump! still no worky 4x4

Are all the vacuum hoses in good shape and connected?

My 4x4 went out of mine, a couple of weeks ago.  It was a vacuum line that came loose.......it plugged into the back side of the intake manifold.  Easy fix(lucky for me!).

I dont know what im looking for  this is the 1st time I've ever dealt with a 4x4 problem.
 
We really need a 4x4 section.......would especially help 'noobs' like me, since alot of ppl come on here never previously owning something with 4 wheel drive.

Lol, I know that feeling, basically, from what I've seen reading around here in random posts, check round the passenger side of the truck, under the battery, for a bunch of little rubber hoses, and make sure none have come unplugged... It could be the snow pushed some out... I'll try and snap a pic for ya while I'm out there today, if I can find it, lol

Here is a picture of the front differential vacuum actuator diaphram:




Thumbnail Image




Thumbnail Image

alright.....I'll try and look under the battery......I hope it dosent have to come out....its a little chilly today.
 
The diagrams that 20blazer posted are located in the same place?

Should be fairly close...
 
Drive up on blocks, it'll be eaiser to see underneath...

no blocks.......but I'll use the curb

lol, well, if you can find a Neon that looks like it hasn't been moved in awhile...

LOL! my cousin!!!!!
 
he has a 00 neon and I think he's a little jealous of my Jimmy

lol!

He won't notice the tire tracks... *smiles innocently*