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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / May 2007

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Q RE: GM 4x4 "wax motors" and when they were replaced with something  better...

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Pete C. - 30 Apr 2007 20:05 GMT
My '97 Chev K3500 has the stupid "wax motor" actuator for the center
disconnect on the front axle. While it's generally worked adequately, it
looks like it may have finally died. It wasn't working this weekend when
I needed it so I had to do a bit of winching to get unstuck.

I haven't had a chance to investigate to see if the problem is the
actuator, or perhaps the electrical to it, but since I'm having to deal
with it I'd like to fix it for good. I recall at some point a few years
after I got the truck that they switched to a better actuator that I
think is directly interchangeable. Can anyone confirm this and give me
the info on when this change took place?

As an alternate, I know that at least one company offers a retrofit kit
that replaces the electric actuator with a cable operated all mechanical
arrangement, but that would be more work to install than if I can just
get a better electrical actuator.

Thanks,

    Pete C.
C. E. White - 30 Apr 2007 20:25 GMT
> My '97 Chev K3500 has the stupid "wax motor" actuator for the center
> disconnect on the front axle. While it's generally worked
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>
> Pete C.

Doesn't the GM replacement part use a conventional motor?

Ed
Pete C. - 30 Apr 2007 21:03 GMT
> > My '97 Chev K3500 has the stupid "wax motor" actuator for the center
> > disconnect on the front axle. While it's generally worked
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>
> Ed

I don't know if they propagated the fix back through the models as
replacement parts. What I see online for pictures on the various parts
places sites looks exactly like the original crappy thermal actuator
design and there isn't anything in the part description to indicate
otherwise. Hoping someone can confirm.

Pete C.
Ray - 02 May 2007 19:49 GMT
> I don't know if they propagated the fix back through the models as
> replacement parts. What I see online for pictures on the various parts
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Pete C.

I have a 90 K1500 that uses the heater system for the front axles.
there is a redesigned part and a new part number for them.

Mine works, it just takes forever to actuate, so I've decided when it
dies next winter in -40 I'm going to replace it with an aftermarket kit.

Ray
Steve W. - 01 May 2007 15:04 GMT
> My '97 Chev K3500 has the stupid "wax motor" actuator for the center
> disconnect on the front axle. While it's generally worked adequately, it
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
>     Pete C.

SLOW OR NO ENGAGEMENT OF FRT. AXLE WHEN 4WD IS SELECTED
#76-43-01A - (09/18/1998)
REVISION: 09/17/98 DIVS INVL 1 5 7

THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO ADD INFORMATION TO THE SERVICE
PROCEDURE, ADD A NEW PART NUMBER, AND INCLUDE SCHEMATICS. PLEASE DISCARD
CORPORATE BULLETIN NUMBER 76-43-01 (SECTION 4 - DRIVE AXLE).
__________________________________________________ ____________________

SUBJECT: SLOW OR NO ENGAGEMENT OF FRONT AXLE WHEN 4WD IS SELECTED
(REPLACE FRONT AXLE ACTUATOR)

MODELS: 1988-97 CHEVROLET AND GMC K MODELS EXCLUDING 1988-93 MODELS OVER
8500# GVW

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE COLDER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS, THE
LONGER IT TAKES FOR THE FRONT AXLE TO ENGAGE WHEN 4 WHEEL DRIVE IS
SELECTED, OR THE FRONT AXLE DOES NOT ENGAGE.

CAUSE:

THE FRONT AXLE ENGAGEMENT ACTUATOR IS A THERMALLY ACTIVATED COMPONENT.
BECAUSE OF THIS CHARACTERISTIC, THE TIME REQUIRED FOR THE ACTUATOR TO
COMPLETE 4 WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGEMENT IS EXTENDED AS THE TEMPERATURE DROPS.

CORRECTION:

REPLACE THE FRONT AXLE ACTUATOR AND INCLUDE THE APPLICABLE WIRING
HARNESS KIT. REFER TO THE PARTS INFORMATION IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHICH
WIRING HARNESS KIT IS NEEDED.

1996 MODEL TRUCKS WITH A BUILD DATE ON OR AFTER JANUARY 2, 1996 ARE
CONSIDERED AS "96I". IF THE BUILD DATE OF THE TRUCK IS UNKNOWN, VERIFY
THE 3 CHARACTER "AXLE CODE" ON THE FRONT AXLE LABEL IN ORDER TO
DETERMINE WHICH WIRE HARNESS TO ORDER.

THIS NEW ACTUATOR USES A MOTOR TO ENGAGE THE FRONT AXLE AND IS NOT
AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE. ON 1988-93 MODELS WITH A GVW RATING OVER 8500#,
THE NEW ACTUATOR CANNOT BE INSTALLED AND THE THERMAL ACTUATOR WILL
REMAIN THE SERVICE PART.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. REMOVE THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER SHIELD, IF EQUIPPED.

2. IF NECESSARY, CLEAN THE AXLE HOUSING IN THE AREA AROUND THE EXISTING
ACTUATOR. DISCONNECT THE ACTUATOR'S ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AT THE FRONT
AXLE HOUSING.

3. REMOVE THE FRONT AXLE ACTUATOR BY UNTHREADING THE ACTUATOR FROM THE
AXLE HOUSING.

4. INSTALL THE SPACER FROM THE WIRING KIT INTO THE AXLE TUBE WITH THE
FLAT SIDE SEATED AGAINST THE SHIFT FORK.

5. INSTALL THE ACTUATOR MOTOR AND TIGHTEN UNTIL THE SHOULDER OF THE
ACTUATOR SEATS AGAINST THE AXLE TUBE.

IMPORTANT: IF BINDING OCCURS BEFORE THE ACTUATOR IS SEATED, REMOVE THE
ACTUATOR AND RESEAT THE SPACER BY PUSHING ON THE SPACER WITH A
SCREWDRIVER. THEN REINSTALL THE ACTUATOR.

ON K3 MODELS WITH THE CAST IRON AXLE TUBE, THERE MAY BE A CASTING BURR
WHICH MAY CONTACT THE EDGE OF THE ACTUATOR. THIS SHOULD NOT CREATE A
CONCERN AND THE ACTUATOR SHOULD SEAT AGAINST THE AXLE TUBE. IF THIS
CONTACT REMAINS A CONCERN, USE A DIE GRINDER IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE BURR.

6. CONNECT THE SERVICE HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE ACTUATOR AND CONNECT THE
2-PIN CONNECTOR TO THE MATING CONNECTOR AT THE AXLE. FOR 1994 TO CURRENT
MODELS, IN THE CASE OF A COMPLETE AXLE REPLACEMENT, REFER TO FIGURE 1.

7. ROUTE THE WIRING HARNESS ALONG THE EXISTING HARNESS ON THE RIGHT SIDE
OF THE VEHICLE. ROUTE CKT 241 (BRN) OVER THE TOP AND TO THE LEFT OF THE
TRANSMISSION. SECURE THE HARNESS USING PLASTIC TIES.

8. FOR 1995-97 INTERIM VEHICLES, LOCATE THE 4-WIRE CONNECTOR (C120) ON
THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. SPLICE THE BRN WIRE OF THE ACTUATOR
HARNESS INTO CAVITY D OF CKT 241 (BRN) ON THE ENGINE SIDE OF CONNECTOR
C120. FOLLOW THE SPLICING PROCEDURE DESCRIBED IN SECTION 8A (ELECTRICAL
DIAGNOSIS REPAIR PROCEDURES) OF THE APPLICABLE SERVICE MANUAL.

IMPORTANT: THE NEW FAST AXLE ACTUATOR REQUIRES ONLY 1 SPLICE. - FOR 1993
AND PRIOR VEHICLES, SPLICE INTO CKT 50 (BRN) BETWEEN CONNECTOR C152 AND
GT101 (FIGURES 2,3,4). - FOR 1994 VEHICLES, SPLICE INTO CKT 50 (BRN)
BETWEEN CONNECTOR C152 AND P101 (FIGURES 5,6). - FOR 1995-97 VEHICLES,
SPLICE INTO CKT 241 (BRN) BETWEEN CONNECTORS C120 AND C100 (FIGURE 7).

NOTICE: CONNECTIONS MUST BE WATER TIGHT IN ORDER TO PREVENT WATER FROM
ENTERING THE CIRCUIT AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE COMPONENTS.

9. ON K3 MODELS, INSTALL THE DELAY RELAY, INCLUDED AS PART OF THE WIRING
HARNESS KIT, AT THE ENGINE SIDE OF THE BULKHEAD, ADJACENT TO THE
EXISTING RELAY. MOUNT THE NEW RELAY WITH SELF-DRILLING FASTENER, P/N
22510339. ROUTE AND SECURE THE RELAY WIRE HARNESS BEHIND THE RIGHT
OXYGEN SENSOR HEAT SHIELD.

10. VERIFY SYSTEM OPERATION. WHEN SHIFTING THE TRANSFER CASE, YOU SHOULD
HEAR THE ACTUATOR MOTOR OPERATE.

IMPORTANT: THIS RELAY INCORPORATES A 5 SECOND DELAY FOR THE FRONT AXLE
TO ENGAGE IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE TRANSFER CASE SYNCHRONIZER TO ENERGIZE.

FOR 88-93 VEHICLES, IF THE AXLE HAS TO BE REPLACED, USE JUMPER HARNESS
P/N 15313272. CKT 1695 (BLK/WHT) FITS INTO CAVITY A OF THE FAST
ACTUATOR. THE CIRCUIT INCLUDES THE CABLE SEAL AND THE TERMINAL PIN. THIS
CIRCUIT PLUGS INTO THE 5-PIN AXLE ACTUATOR CONNECTOR.

11. DO THE FOLLOWING STEPS IN ORDER TO INSTALL JUMPER HARNESS P/N 15313272:

1. LOCATE THE AXLE ACTUATOR 5-PIN CONNECTOR ON THE SERVICE ACTUATOR
WIRING HARNESS AND REMOVE THE TPA. 2. REMOVE AND DISCARD THE CAVITY PLUG
FROM CAVITY A. 3. INSTALL CKT 1695 LEAD (BLK/WHT) FROM THE JUMPER
HARNESS THAT HAS THE CABLE SEAL AND TERMINAL INTO AXLE ACTUATOR
CONNECTOR CAVITY A. 4. REINSTALL THE TPA ON THE 5-PIN CONNECTOR. 5.
INSTALL THE SERVICE ACTUATOR HARNESS 5-PIN CONNECTOR INTO THE AXLE
ACTUATOR. 6. CONNECT JUMPER HARNESS 2X2 CONNECTOR INTO THE EXISTING
VEHICLE 4WD MATING CONNECTOR. 7. STRAP THE JUMPER HARNESS AND THE
SERVICE HARNESS TO THE TAB ON THE AXLE TUBE.

PARTS INFORMATION:

P/N DESCRIPTION QTY --- ----------- ---

26060073 ACTUATOR ASM, FRT DRIVE AXLE 1 22510339 FASTENER 1 15313272
HARNESS, JUMPER (Z SPLICE)(88-93 K1-3) 1

AXLE CODE 12376316 KIT, ACTUATOR WIRING HARNESS (88-96I K1,2) ZLS, ZLT,
ZLW ZLX, ZLY 12376317 KIT, ACTUATOR WIRING HARNESS (96I-97 K1,2) ZWA,
ZWB, ZWD ZWF, ZWG 12376318 KIT, ACTUATOR WIRING HARNESS (94-96I K3) ZLX,
ZLY, ZLZ 12376319 KIT, ACTUATOR WIRING HARNESS (96I-97 K3) ZWF, ZWG, ZWH

PARTS, EXCEPT P/N 15313272, ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO. P/N
15313272 IS EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE 9-21-98.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

SOME OWNERS WITH ACTUATORS THAT ARE OPERATING AS DESIGNED (5-30 SECONDS
ENGAGEMENT TIME) MAY CHOOSE TO UPGRADE TO THE FAST ACTUATOR AT THEIR OWN
EXPENSE. THE FAST ACTUATOR IS A NEW PRODUCT ENHANCEMENT AND SHOULD NOT
BE USED TO REPLACE ACTUATORS THAT ARE OPERATING AS DESIGNED.

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR OPERATION DESCRIPTION LABOR TIME --------- ----------- ----------

F0025 ACTUATOR, FRONT DIFFERENTIAL USE PUBLISHED LABOR LOCKING, REPLACE
OPERATION TIME

N6112 WIRING AND/OR CONNECTOR-REPAIR USE PUBLISHED LABOR OPERATION TIME

IMPORTANT: LABOR OPERATION IS CODED TO BASE VEHICLE COVERAGE IN THE
WARRANTY SYSTEM.

FIGURES: 00 ATTACHMENTS: 07

ATTACHMENT 1 - FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INDICATOR SCHEMATIC (94 TO CURRENT)
ATTACHMENT 2 - FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INDICATOR SCHEMATIC (88-93 MODELS)
ATTACHMENT 3 - FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INDICATOR SCHEMATIC (93 4L60E MODELS)
ATTACHMENT 4 - FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INDICATOR SCHEMATIC (93 4L80E MODELS)
ATTACHMENT 5 - FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INDICATOR SCHEMATIC (94 W/K3) ATTACHMENT
6 - FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INDICATOR SCHEMATIC (94 W/O K3) ATTACHMENT 7 - FOUR
WHEEL DRIVE INDICATOR SCHEMATIC (95 TO CURRENT MODELS)

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL
TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE
TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE.
PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A
CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR
VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL
MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR
INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.

COPYRIGHT 1998 GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Signature

Steve W.
Near Cooperstown, New York

Pete C. - 02 May 2007 01:58 GMT
> > My '97 Chev K3500 has the stupid "wax motor" actuator for the center
> > disconnect on the front axle. While it's generally worked adequately, it
[quoted text clipped - 212 lines]
> Steve W.
> Near Cooperstown, New York

That looks like it.

Thanks,

    Pete C.
 
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