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Any members in Boise Idaho that could look at my Avalanche?

OmenSpeed

Full Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2015
Messages
28
I just picked up my avalanche here in Boise and when I brought it back to my inlaws house the service 4wd light came on. I shut the car down per the manual and restarted and it didn't come back but drove it a couple miles and it came back. Drove it later that evening and no light, I also took it to a auto parts store and had them pull the code c0327.

The truck seems to want to stay in auto 4wd although I can put it in 2wd and it will stay there until I shut the car off, when I restart it's back in auto. I did get the red neutral light at one point when messing with it.

If one of you folks could give me an opinion and a look over I'd appreciate it! Buy you lunch, beer or something. My biggest fear is I have to drive home Sunday and home is 650 miles away.

Thanks, Dan
 
I have dealt with the service 4wd light more times than I could count. C0327 could be a fault in the encoder itself or it could be from a bad ground. The ground for the transfer case is on the frame rail under the driver side of the vehicle. There should be 2 grounds there. I unbolted mine and scrubbed them with a wire brush til all the rust was gone. I wish I was close enough to help, but this should get you started.  :wave:
 
wyotonka said:
I have dealt with the service 4wd light more times than I could count. C0327 could be a fault in the encoder itself or it could be from a bad ground. The ground for the transfer case is on the frame rail under the driver side of the vehicle. There should be 2 grounds there. I unbolted mine and scrubbed them with a wire brush til all the rust was gone. I wish I was close enough to help, but this should get you started.  :wave:

Thank you for the reply. I didn't make mention of it but I researched for hours yesterday and I wish I would have put this plea out yesterday, just didn't think about it, I was a little upset but a nights sleep has me back on track lol. I will go out right now and do that.

Did you also have the issue with the selector acting funny?
 
OmenSpeed said:
Thank you for the reply. I didn't make mention of it but I researched for hours yesterday and I wish I would have put this plea out yesterday, just didn't think about it, I was a little upset but a nights sleep has me back on track lol. I will go out right now and do that.

Did you also have the issue with the selector acting funny?
If you are in need of tools I live in Bozeman if your coming this way and I could help ya out!
 
My indicator was erratic last time issues popped up. I looked underneath and the harness was hitting the ujoint and had worn through a wire. Since the wire grounded everytime it hit the ujoint it would change the selection.
 
Dakotawilk said:
If you are in need of tools I live in Bozeman if your coming this way and I could help ya out!

Wow thanks, unfortunately we will be going through Utah.
 
wyotonka said:
My indicator was erratic last time issues popped up. I looked underneath and the harness was hitting the ujoint and had worn through a wire. Since the wire grounded everytime it hit the ujoint it would change the selection.

I'll check that.

Little update. I cleaned the two grounds underneath the drivers door. The connections weren't to bad but there was a little bit of corrosion that I took care if with my little handy dandy harbor freight tool box I keep on trips. Started the truck up and hit the 2wd button and to my surprise it switched over without having to mess with it. Shut the truck off then started it again, no service light and it stayed in 2wd mode, much better.

About an hour later we hopped in the truck to visit grampa and the truck was in auto4wd again, switched it to 2wd and took off. No service light until we were leaving gramps and I started it, back in auto4wd, boo. Shut the truck off hit 2wd and no issues when we got back.

Question. If I'm driving on the interstate and the service light comes on is it imperative that I pull over and restart? Can I just keep going?

 
Btw even though I'm out of the gates with trouble looming I really love this truck, it drives great, has most options I want, I dunno just really like it. It's going to suck driving 10 plus hours on high alert.....
 
OmenSpeed said:
I'll check that.

Little update. I cleaned the two grounds underneath the drivers door. The connections weren't to bad but there was a little bit of corrosion that I took care if with my little handy dandy harbor freight tool box I keep on trips. Started the truck up and hit the 2wd button and to my surprise it switched over without having to mess with it. Shut the truck off then started it again, no service light and it stayed in 2wd mode, much better.

About an hour later we hopped in the truck to visit grampa and the truck was in auto4wd again, switched it to 2wd and took off. No service light until we were leaving gramps and I started it, back in auto4wd, boo. Shut the truck off hit 2wd and no issues when we got back.

Question. If I'm driving on the interstate and the service light comes on is it imperative that I pull over and restart? Can I just keep going?
I ignored mine when it came on as long as the indicator still said 2wd. I would venture to say the encoder ring with that code. I did not replace my encoder ring separate because my encoder housing had a huge dent in it so I replaced the whole thing.
 
wyotonka said:
I ignored mine when it came on as long as the indicator still said 2wd. I would venture to say the encoder ring with that code. I did not replace my encoder ring separate because my encoder housing had a huge dent in it so I replaced the whole thing.

Ok, that's very helpful. That encoder housing is the 600 ish dollar part correct? I contacted a local place (via craigslist) that works on GM clusters. I left a message to see if they had experience with resoldering the selector switch.

Is there any recall for this issue, I assume not but had to ask.
 
Yea its pretty spendy, from what I have heard/read as long as your housing is ok you can just replace the encoder ring inside.
 
Took the truck out for a little junkin this morning and when if started it, it was in 4low boo. Wouldn't go into any other setting. Turned the truck off and went in reverse and forward a few feet, put it in neutral and hit the 2wd button and a loud "clang" and it went into 2wd mode. Drove it about 15 miles on the interstate and stopped shortly after, after starting out again the truck was in auto mode and that's where I left it, I think that's where it just wants to be.

Trying to contact the previous owner, not the guy I bought it from, maybe he can enlighten me.

Do these truck run right about 210 degrees during normal operation?
 
Willow LS said:
Yeah mine does.  Well more like 197 on a given day. To get the exact number, use a scanner.

Thanks. Were about to head home this morning, that gives me some piece of mind.
 
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