1996 Chevy Blazer Fuse and 4WD Indicator Light Switch RepairIn this guide, I'll explain my recent perplexing saga of fuse blowing with my 1996 Chevy Blazer 4x4 LS and also show the illustrated solution.
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I'm hoping that anyone who has a similar problem in the future will find this guide useful and will also avoid wasting hours of time trying to figure it out (like I did) and/or spending obscene amounts of money on a mechanic.
Problem: #4 (Gauges) Fuse would blow every time I started my '96 Blazer, daytime running lights would go out, alternator would get bypassed, car ran straight off of the battery... basically, I was going nowhere...
Incorrect Solution: Here are all the things I replaced in the hopes that it would solve my fuse blowing problem...But none of them were the correct solution!...alternator, ignition switch, 4WD actuator, shorted wire, loose ground wire, tumbler, etc. (NOTE: none of these were the "correct" solution to my problem, so if your #4 fuse is blowing every time you start your 1996 Blazer, there's a sizable chance that replacing any of the afore mentioned parts won't solve your problem either.)
Solution: 4WD Indicator Light Switch (or at least that's it's the technical name GM has chosen for it). (OE# 15598481) It's related to the 4x4 system and is located on the "shift cable housing" (black cone shaped object that houses the cable that engages the 4x4 when the actuator is engaged by pressing the button on your dashboard). This Indicator Light Switch looks like an electric plug, and it is located right in the area of the front axle on the driver's side of the car. Actually, the switch is on the side of the cable housing, which is bolted (with 3 bolts, in a triangular base) to the front differential. Don't worry if that all sounds confusing, because I'm no expert in clear technical explanations. So instead, I've taken some alternative measures to help explain...
Here are some pictures that will hopefully help explain the location of said Indicator Light Switch better than any attempt I can make using 1,000 words.....
(click on photo for larger size)
The above picture is what it all looks like when you lay down under the front of the car with your head facing the rear of the vehicle and your feet sticking out from the front. When you're under the middle of the car and under the front axle, turn your head left (towards the driver's side) and this is what you should see.
(click on photo for larger size)
The above picture is what it looks like from the front, looking towards the back of the car.
(click on photo for larger size)
And finally, the above picture is of the culprit itself. The nut is rusty in the picture because that's the old (broken) one I pulled out of my truck. If you'll notice on the other pictures, the nut is a shiny, new brass color. You'll need a 7/8" box wrench to loosen the sucker, but it's not tightened too much, as the cone it's attached to is made of plastic.
Bottom Line: $20 part, 10 minutes of work, and my Blazer is now fixed!
I should also add that although that solution was what worked for my particular problem, I realize that it's not an absolute solution for everyone who has a problem with their #4 Gauge fuse blowing when they start their Blazer. There are many circuits that lead to that particular fuse. I found a listing of which systems are linked to the #4 fuse in my Owner's Manual that came with my Blazer, but that's for my 1996 Blazer. I'm not sure about the other years. Naturally, it's always best to consult a repair manual for your specific year and model and follow your best judgment when solving the problem.
Keep on Truckin',
Leo and Me
leoandme@carspace.com
(NOTE: Bradtown has a 1995 Chevy Blazer 4x4, and his #4 Gauge fuse kept blowing every time he started his truck up, too. We e-mailed each other in the hopes that our problems might have the same solution. They didn't, and in the process, we found that our two Blazers' 4x4 wiring is a bit different. Bradtown traced the area that was causing his problem to a plug near his firewall, and he's working on tracing the wiring back to the faulty component. Please check out his page [http://www.carspace.com/bradtown] for more information.)
Problem: #4 (Gauges) Fuse would blow every time I started my '96 Blazer, daytime running lights would go out, alternator would get bypassed, car ran straight off of the battery... basically, I was going nowhere...
Incorrect Solution: Here are all the things I replaced in the hopes that it would solve my fuse blowing problem...But none of them were the correct solution!...alternator, ignition switch, 4WD actuator, shorted wire, loose ground wire, tumbler, etc. (NOTE: none of these were the "correct" solution to my problem, so if your #4 fuse is blowing every time you start your 1996 Blazer, there's a sizable chance that replacing any of the afore mentioned parts won't solve your problem either.)
Solution: 4WD Indicator Light Switch (or at least that's it's the technical name GM has chosen for it). (OE# 15598481) It's related to the 4x4 system and is located on the "shift cable housing" (black cone shaped object that houses the cable that engages the 4x4 when the actuator is engaged by pressing the button on your dashboard). This Indicator Light Switch looks like an electric plug, and it is located right in the area of the front axle on the driver's side of the car. Actually, the switch is on the side of the cable housing, which is bolted (with 3 bolts, in a triangular base) to the front differential. Don't worry if that all sounds confusing, because I'm no expert in clear technical explanations. So instead, I've taken some alternative measures to help explain...
Here are some pictures that will hopefully help explain the location of said Indicator Light Switch better than any attempt I can make using 1,000 words.....
(click on photo for larger size)
The above picture is what it all looks like when you lay down under the front of the car with your head facing the rear of the vehicle and your feet sticking out from the front. When you're under the middle of the car and under the front axle, turn your head left (towards the driver's side) and this is what you should see.
(click on photo for larger size)
The above picture is what it looks like from the front, looking towards the back of the car.
(click on photo for larger size)
And finally, the above picture is of the culprit itself. The nut is rusty in the picture because that's the old (broken) one I pulled out of my truck. If you'll notice on the other pictures, the nut is a shiny, new brass color. You'll need a 7/8" box wrench to loosen the sucker, but it's not tightened too much, as the cone it's attached to is made of plastic.
Bottom Line: $20 part, 10 minutes of work, and my Blazer is now fixed!
I should also add that although that solution was what worked for my particular problem, I realize that it's not an absolute solution for everyone who has a problem with their #4 Gauge fuse blowing when they start their Blazer. There are many circuits that lead to that particular fuse. I found a listing of which systems are linked to the #4 fuse in my Owner's Manual that came with my Blazer, but that's for my 1996 Blazer. I'm not sure about the other years. Naturally, it's always best to consult a repair manual for your specific year and model and follow your best judgment when solving the problem.
Keep on Truckin',
Leo and Me
leoandme@carspace.com
(NOTE: Bradtown has a 1995 Chevy Blazer 4x4, and his #4 Gauge fuse kept blowing every time he started his truck up, too. We e-mailed each other in the hopes that our problems might have the same solution. They didn't, and in the process, we found that our two Blazers' 4x4 wiring is a bit different. Bradtown traced the area that was causing his problem to a plug near his firewall, and he's working on tracing the wiring back to the faulty component. Please check out his page [http://www.carspace.com/bradtown] for more information.)
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| Sylvia - Dec 14, 2007 2:19 pm | |||
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