i am trying to figure out if the 4wd works properly or not. what is the easiest way to tell. the light is not on but it could be the bulb. the shifter will go from 2h to 4hi to N to 4lo easy. when in 4lo it barely goes so that is goodm, but in 4 high it seems like 2 wheel drive not 4. any help appreciated. thanks

 

The way I have done it before is put it on a gravel parking lot or road and take a buddy with you. Get in the truck and put it in 4hi and have your buddy watch your tires and take off pretty fast and see if the rear tires spin or all 4 spin or none of them spin. If all 4 spin or none of them spin then it is more than likely working. Also I will tell you that 4hi it will drive like it is in 2h and not go slower. 4hi the transfer case is still in the high range just like 2h. When you put it in 4lo it puts the transfer case in a very low range and barley goes.

 

in 4lo it should rev up like crazy... in 4hi or 4lo you will feel binding trying to turn with the wheel cranked all the way to the left or right. thats how i found out my buddies chevy worked.

 

Here is a copy and paste from a similar question that I posted up.

You wont really feel to much. When you engage you may feel a clunk or so. And maybe a light will come on. Once engaged if you do a tight turn on a paved road in 4wd you will feel the front bind up. Don't do it to much once you feel the bind. If you put it in 4 low you will feel the tremendous torque when you get on the gas. But going straight wont tell you if the front axle is powering the truck. Again if you turn you will be able to tell.

One quick way I was testing 4wd on some test vehicles is I would find a dirt road, mostly alleys behind the buildings. I would do a small burnout type of thing in the dirt in 2wd and make the rear or front tires spin just a little. Then try in 4wd, sometime the front and rear will spin and some will just go with to much traction to spin. If only the 2wd wheels spin you know something is up. Remember the front will be an Open diff. So only 1 front may

 

what about having somone underneath to check and see if the driveshaft to the front axle is turning??

 

Front shaft will turn in 2WD also since there are no locking hubs.

 

Yup correct. 94-96

 

i have tried turning the wheel while in 4wd and it still feels like is it is in 2wd. what do i need to start checking and looking at to get the 4wd to engage??

 

Should be some basic factory instructions on the driver's viser. Can you move the shift through its full range...from 2WD to 4WH to N to 4L? Check the linkage and the fluid in the transfer case. The service manual in the FAQ section has diagrams and details on both.

 

ok i will check that. it shifts through the entire range just fine. i checked the linkage and it seems fine. have not checked the fluid yet. i did raise the front end to check the right fron tire for an air leak and i notice that both front tire were pretty hard to roll. truck as in neutral with the brake off. don't know if this has something to do with brakes or the 4wd but i would think the tires should spin freely since the back do.