I was thinking of taking the 4X4 switch out and opening it up and replacing the 4x4 LED with a blue one. The 4x2 and 4x4 are the same amber color. after plowing or launching ):h I found I have forgotten to take it out on dry roads or worse the highway because it just didn't stand out as to it being engaged.

Any interest on doing this too? I wish I knew the LED voltage p/n etc from the factory so I could put in a blue substitute with out experimenting too much.

Wow... Am I the only one to leave it engaged by accident?

nah. I do it too on occasion. The blue LED is a good idea.

My 4x4 light doesn't come on, either by design or it's out. I have to check the push button for the light, I wish there was a way to get it to show 4x4 when engaged. Mike Z

It's by design. Only the 4x4 shift on the floor model lights it on the dash. I have to check the little button amber LED on the side as well.. that's the problem. That's it I'm dissecting the buttons to see what LED it is!

Max Power had a thread on how to make your light come on. It might be easier than pulling apart switched

I hooked up the instrument cluster 4x4 light. Works great! I haven't forgot once.

How did you do that Max?

Here it is...I remember this from way back... I took me a while to find it.. like 15 minutes! I think it's cool but I'm still going in the switch to see if I can do the LED. I hate to mess with a cluster. Can you say Chicken ?

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?p=815784#post815784

For the 01 and 02’s. Don’t miss page 3 & 4
http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48892

For some of the later models
http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50901

I hooked up the instrument cluster 4x4 light. Works great! I haven't forgot once.

I looked at the post, can you verify or mod this drawing before I do it? The diode is put in in series? why no tap in with a diode just in line to the light on the cluster? I'm sure you had your reasons. I just not sure why you didn't do like the second drawing.

Thanks for checking this me!

I've never left it in 4x4 and forgotten, but yesterday morning, I thought that something was binding, turns out it got into 4hi somehow. No idea how. Has anyone had a problem with their truck "putting itself" into 4hi?

I looked at the post, can you verify or mod this drawing before I do it? The diode is put in in series? why no tap in with a diode just in line to the light on the cluster? I'm sure you had your reasons. I just not sure why you didn't do like the second drawing.

Thanks for checking this me!
My memory is fuzzy. I don't recall why I did it the way I did it. I know I was in a hurry so perhaps what you show will work better. Try it and let us know!

OK I'm ready.. but I really don't want to blow up my instrument cluster!

You won't. Just be careful!

I'm Done and it is know almost 1:00 AM!

OK this is what I found.

On the four pin connector (bottom of 4x4 switch) bottom wire goes to 12v with 4-Hi engaged, the one just above goes to 12v in 4-low so just buy tapping into each one and soldering to the stripe side of a 1N4001 diode and then tie them together and solder to the dash cluster at your location on your old post it will light the little 4 axial light for both 4 hi and low. I took it one step farther and put in a connector and tie wrapped to to the instrument cluster harness so it can be unplugged. I also hot melted the lead and tied around one of the black plastic stand off on the PCB cover so I don't forget it is there and rip it out.:rolleyes:

MaxPower....Please tell me that you didn't add a 7505 to step the voltage down! I ask because the dash 4x4 light will glow as bright with only 5V.. I found this because I first tested the light by adding a ground then 5 to be safe.I hope I'm not overloading the Dash light. It may be why the 4x4 light glows with the dimmer switch down. Just to be safe I'm going to pick a 7505 to step the voltage down to 5V.

As for the actual stock LED in the switch itself. The factory circuit is putting out 2V and it is a mini LED. I think now knowing this a blue LED can be easily be swapped in for the 4-hi amber one so It is more noticeable with a lot less work. The hardest part is popping the switch open with all six locking tabs, you need two or three small screw drivers at once!


While I was at all this tonight, I also hooked up my retractable under hood light that I have putting off forever... I found a good spot on the firewall.

Good night! Zzzzzzz

Please tell me you used two diodes???

On the voltage... while you could use a 7505... you can get away with two resistors to make a voltage divider....to get the 12V down to 5....

O yes 2, 1 diode per switch output then tied together. I guess that wasn't very clear..like I said it was 1 AM.. :(
I though of a voltage divider as well with two equal Resisters to cut in half but one resister has to go to ground and I'm not sure if the grounds of the 4x4 circuit in the cluster are tied together with a ground in the 4x4 switch.. They should be but it just easier to cut one one wire running to the dash and splice in the voltage regulator. I think they are cheep. It's been a long time since I bought one..

No I didn't use a 7505.

No I didn't use a 7505.

Next time I swing by Radio Shack I'll pick up a blue diode if they have them for the switch and I'll get a 7505 and let you know if it fixes the dimmer issue of the glow.

Thanks for your guts to be the first one to do this, I never would have done this. Now I'm glad I did.:ro)

Acutually I never even notice the dim glow. The only time I notived it is when I first did the mod.

Thanks for your guts to be the first one to do this
Your welcome for my guts. ):h

What do you mean by help with the dimmer??? I believe that all of the dash indicators are not suppose to dim with the dash lights.... Just imagine if you had the dimmer set all the way down during the day you might not notice a warning indicator....

It will glow very very dim when the dimmer is down all the way due to feedback. It's so dim I wouldn't even worry about it.

Here are a few pics One of the connector with colors for identification that I had to tap into and the removable cable to the Instrument Cluster. And last the finished dash. :ro)

I was thinking of taking the 4X4 switch out and opening it up and replacing the 4x4 LED with a blue one. The 4x2 and 4x4 are the same amber color. after plowing or launching ):h I found I have forgotten to take it out on dry roads or worse the highway because it just didn't stand out as to it being engaged.

Any interest on doing this too? I wish I knew the LED voltage p/n etc from the factory so I could put in a blue substitute with out experimenting too much.

Gm WANTS us to burn out our transfer cases, so they can make money.
That's the plain and simple of it.
Otherwise there would be a indicator in the dash by the speedo, to remind you when it is engaged.
Trust me it is in THEIR interest that they designed them this way, and it shows their contempt towards the customer.
There is NO other reason.

Then why do they bother putting an indicator on the dash for the floor shift? I really doubt that was gm's intentions.

I think they just don't realize that us, as users, have a issue with the lights in the switch not doing its second job as to notify us the we left it on after it is needed. Its first job work perfect as designed.. notifying us that it is engaged.
Unlike a blue hi-beam light in the dash, it only job is what are looking for, to notify you that it has been left on.

Then why do they bother putting an indicator on the dash for the floor shift? I really doubt that was gm's intentions.

I have the button in dash, and that's it for a "lit" indicator.
Going straight down the highway after coming out of sand (for instance), it is easy to miss it. My truck handles fairly the same when going straight in 4x4. It wasn't until I made a turn 5 miles down the highway that I noticed the FWD engaged, and it wasn't that pencil sized indicator light on the switch. My gearbox in my '03 let me know, but this one is pretty quiet.

Plus with your hands on the wheel, you can't always see the buttons clearly. There is no reason GM couldn't have set it up to "indicate" the FWD in the Instrument Panel. IMO

Plus with your hands on the wheel, you can't always see the buttons clearly. There is no reason GM couldn't have set it up to "indicate" the FWD in the Instrument Panel. IMO

I agree but I really doubt it was intentional so that your will damage your transfer case and have to buy parts from them.

The floor shift even though it feels manual, it only activates a actuator and the light on the cluster tells you the activator is engaged, thus serving the same purpose as the little LED next to the 4 /\ button (telling you it completed engagement) It just happens that the manual indicator is in the cluster and it is easy to spot with you hands on the wheel.

Like I said before.. GM most likely doesn't realize we don't see the at little light and forget it's on. Can someone tell the right people at GM????

As to why one guys worked is a mystery.