4X4 issues

[JFerg65]

Have a 96 suburban 2500 with 145,000 and change. The 4 wheel can only be engaged with the engine off. If you try to engage with the motor running in either neutral or drive, you get a wonderful gear grinding that just about makes your teeth fall out. So.... I'm hoping this is an easy fix if there is such a thing. My light on the transfer case indicator is also not working. This has been this way since I have owned the truck, (since about may of 07), finally getting around to looking into this.

Thanks for any help or ideas on this one.

[bigeasy]

With the manual floor shifter
Usually you let the vehicle roll 2 or 3 mph.
Shift to netural (remain rolling) then grab the shifter and pull it into 4X mode.

[Robyn]

Is this an electric shift (little knob on dash) or floor lever type?

Robyn

[chevrolet1]

is it a np 208? if so i know the grinding noise you speak of,it,the grinding,made my ex,give up camping as it happened way down in baja,ya,it's an awesome sound.mine would'nt stay in 4-hi would jump out,and would only stay in 4-lo,not a problem except,4-lo is/was too low.a shop manual has the procedure to adjust quite easy,make sure fluid level is correct,as far as light goes,it's just a wire to switch,dash light could be burnt,once again should be simple, i only say that because these are things i fixed,and only wish i understood a small percetage of that info on new truck,hope this helps.chev1

[Robyn]

The 96 most likely does not have a 208.
94 was the last year I believe for that box.
My 95 has the Borgwarner unit in it with a manual shift (DaHooooley)
The Burbs I believe went to an electric shift setup but they may have still used or had available a manual shift unit.

We need the nomenclature off the tag on the Box.
Who made it and the model number.

Robyn

[diesel65]

The last year for the NP208 should be 91 when GM stopped production of the old K5 Blazer and Suburbans. The front drive shaft is on the wrong side for the 88 and up K pickups and the 92 and up Blazer/JimmyTahoe/Yukon and Suburbans due to the IFS.

[bigeasy]

Wonder why people post up a thread, then do not follow up on replies?
Looks like they came either way.

[bl78ljb]

My '98 Sub with all the options has the floor shift (don't know how someone managed that). The button is much more common. Another question is this a manual or automatic (don't even recall off hand if the stick was offered in the Sub??).

[JFerg65]

Thanks for all the feedback.

For the guy giving me crap for not responding.... sorry but I do have to work and my employer isn't real supportive of us surfing the net on their dime. It's not like I haven't been back in a week to check for feedback.... It's barely been 24 hours.

Back to the feedback. It is an automatic transmission with the manual shift on the floor. I'll have to pull the data from the truck. I'll give the shift attempt while driving 2-3mph in the morning.

I really do appreciate the help on this one