issues with a 4x4 actuator....help!
 

Im on my third 4x4 actuator in the last year. I just put a new one in yesterday and I went to use my 4x4 and it wouldn't engage. I'm pretty frustrated! Can anyone tell me why the 4x4 isn't working even though i'm putting new actuators in?????

does yours use the thermal capsules or a vacuum unit? possible break in the wiring that feeds the heater? If it's colder than crap outside, those thermal capsules take longer to work,too. I used to see people complain that the thermal capsules would engage nicely, right up until the guy would put the truck into the creek, and then the water would chill the capsule, disengage the axle and leave the guy stuck in the water... not a very well-thought-out design

I bet the Posi-Lok people have a manual push/pull unit for yours that replaces the actuator. My Dodge's vacuum-actuated one failed, so I got a Posi-Lok a few years ago. It takes a little getting-used-to, but, I really like it.


----added on edit---- Here's a link to the company http://www.4x4posi-lok.com/ I hate to show up with this after you've burnt the $$ on 3 previous actuators, but, the peace of mind might be worth it

I'm not sure if its a vacuum or thermal unit. I know that there's wax or something inside the actuator that gets heated or something but that's about my extent of my knowledge on the actuator lol. I'm looking to sell the truck so its an issue I would love to figure out. Any other suggestions from anyone????????????

"....gets heated...." that's a thermal actuator... You probably observed that there's a little engagement fork inside the axle-shaft housing that moves a sleeve that locks the two segments together. The thermal actuator heats, the waxy stuff inside expands, and acts like a little hydraulic ram. When you quit sending electricity, the temperature drops, the wax contracts, and the little rod retracts, pulling that sleeve off of the other shaft segment. Seems like a simple-enough idea, but, not very temp-friendly when it gets cold.

Are you talking about the electrical connectors that plug into eachother? I'm no pro with these things so I want to be sure.