HELP! I’m stuck in 4wd!

Don't take this question the wrong way as an insult to your intelligence, but sometimes the simplest things are the answer. When you were trying this, I assume you were at a stop? Have you tried it while moving? it tends to engage/disengage the easiest this way.

 

Once actuators are out of sync with position of switch, manually shifting is a way to hit the reset button so to speak. If teeth on transfer case rod and transfer actuator are misaligned, I don’t think it will shift back via the switch because ecu and switch will not be getting consistent feedback from limit switches.

do you not want to shift manually to 2wd because you are worried about transfer case internals? I have manually “reset” position this way several times without consequence to transfer case/ actuator/ rod or any other part. I think bumping the rod in and out by hand is pretty safe.

 

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I’ve tried everyone’s advise.
New update- I took a continuity tester to the plugs of the actuators and the tester didn’t light. Also gained access to the 4wd ECM begins the dash. I have power going into the ECM but nothing coming out from the ECM. Also no power to the selector switch. (I’m no electrical engineer but I would think there should always be continuous current and then additional power when a signal is sent to move the actuators).
Now I’m thinking a bad ECM?
Next test will be to try and activate the actuators by using a separate battery and making contact to the pins (one at a time) on the actuator receptacle to see if they move. If this works then I will assume the ECM is in fact the problem.
Thoughts would be appreciated.

 

From what I have read on this ecu failure is exceedingly rare. Also, didn’t you say before you had operation of the front actuator motor when it was not connected to front diff? Wouldn’t that mean your ecu is doing it’s thing? Just a thought...

 

1/26. Tested continuity plugs of both actuators and no power. No power on selector switch on dash. Accessed 4wd ECU. Had power leading in and no power going out.
Used 2 lead wires and separate battery and placed them on the posts of the actuator receptacle and unlocked the front diff. I manually switched the Tcase back into 2wd. I believe it is now the ECU and picking one up an ECU from the junk yard to test it out before I order a new one.

 

Thanks for updating, it not only feeds the curiosity of those of us following, it may help someone out in the future.