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Front actuator failing or something else?

SnowDrift

SnowDrift

Ultra Conservative. ULTRA!
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This is a cross post from the other place, as well. I don't know why I didn't think to just come to the 6.5 guys here first instead of the drivetrain section over there. Anyhow, I searched and read 5 pages searching "actuator" on the other site and there was a lot of good information, but no one mentioned a fuse that keeps blowing. Would this be an indication of an actuator failure, too?

It was working yesterday and then suddenly quit. Tonight, I pulled the actuator out and tried to manually power it up using a battery charger on each of the two terminals (one neg, and one positive). This didn't seem to do anything in regards to moving the actuator. Has anyone seen a short inside of it that would cause repeated fuses to blow?

I know these can fail occasionally, but I've never dealt with one failing in the 14 or 15 years I've been driving this body style of truck, so I'm ignorant of it.


I also realize there is a drivetrain section here, too, but it's not visited as much as this 6.5 section and I really am looking for answers from the fellers from here.
 
If it dose not work by 'jumping' it like you are, I would guess it is bad..
 
Is this the original thermal one? Mine was already upgraded to the electric actuator when I got it, so I don't know how long it takes for those to engage, but I thought it wasn't quite "instant."

To rule out a short elsewhere in the wiring why don't you put a fuse of the same amperage on the hot lead of your battery charger and see if it is the actuator that is blowing them.

Sounds like it is time to upgrade; I think I got a replacement electric unit locally for just over $100 ($105 or $140 stick in my mind) 2 years ago - might be able to do better on the interwebby if time is not critical.

BTW, what are you doing driving the 6.5 in this weather?....Based on how it looks, I figured you kept it garaged in this slop we've had for weeks now....:)
 
SnowDrift said:
This is a cross post from the other place, as well. I don't know why I didn't think to just come to the 6.5 guys here first instead of the drivetrain section over there. Anyhow, I searched and read 5 pages searching "actuator" on the other site and there was a lot of good information, but no one mentioned a fuse that keeps blowing. Would this be an indication of an actuator failure, too?

It was working yesterday and then suddenly quit. Tonight, I pulled the actuator out and tried to manually power it up using a battery charger on each of the two terminals (one neg, and one positive). This didn't seem to do anything in regards to moving the actuator. Has anyone seen a short inside of it that would cause repeated fuses to blow?

I know these can fail occasionally, but I've never dealt with one failing in the 14 or 15 years I've been driving this body style of truck, so I'm ignorant of it.


I also realize there is a drivetrain section here, too, but it's not visited as much as this 6.5 section and I really am looking for answers from the fellers from here.
Click to expand...


I would assume cause it is very similar to my truck that the transfer case has a manual linkage, or is there some of these with the push button. If it is the push button style I used to have a Jimmy with that style which would blow the fuse (only after driving it for awhile) when trying to engage 4x4 and it turned out to be the switch and found out after it was quite common.
 
Update

Just to update.

I put in a new fuse and had my wife watch the new actuator while I engaged the 4wd lever. I plugged it in, but didn't install it. I let it sit on the floor. She said it worked, so I installed it and went for a test run in the barnyard. It engaged very quickly - quicker than the OEM part, which wasn't really all that slow to begin with.

The part I used was from an internet website that I recently purchased a door handle from for my '93 Grand Prix. The description of the parts is the reason I made the purchase from here. They give a full description of the part, along with symptoms of problem areas and what you may be experiencing. It also gives a description of the updates they do on their parts to correct the problem you may be seeing. I was impressed with their customer service after placing a phone call and also sent an email with questions. On the actuator, my email was simply a question of where it was made.

The Dorman part number on this USA made actuator is 600-100. The description says they have done something with the thermal actuator's internal gas that causes it to expand at a faster rate than OEM.
 
I was looking to upgrade my 1994 K3500 DRW, found out you cant change to the linear on mine, maybe the wrong one in yours? Sounds like you're fixed now. Take care.
 
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