Tow/Haul Mode

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jpmaniac87

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I have a 2000 LS with the 5.3L. So, the button used to work, now, all of a sudden, i can't enter the mode... In a few weeks, i plan on towin my cherokee for about a 4 hour trip and was wonderin if anyone knew where i should start to find out why this won't engage?? (it's not the light, cause when i hit the button, i notice no change in the shift points) I appreciate the help.
 

joeygill

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I have a 2000 LS with the 5.3L. So, the button used to work, now, all of a sudden, i can't enter the mode... In a few weeks, i plan on towin my cherokee for about a 4 hour trip and was wonderin if anyone knew where i should start to find out why this won't engage?? (it's not the light, cause when i hit the button, i notice no change in the shift points) I appreciate the help.

Mine did the same (01 LT). There are 2 wires that connect to the button, and the problem turned out to be that the wires got cut. Apparently this is a pretty common problem. The wires came with little slack from the factory, and thus has tendency to snap over time.

All you need to do, is to pull the lower steering column cover (2 screws and a few clips) and look for 2 thin, orange colored wires.

I hooked up the 2 wires again (with new longer wires) and it works fine now.

Alternatively, you can leave the shifter in 3rd and it is pretty much the same as tow/haul mode.
 

05Yukon

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Putting it in 3rd isnt the same as tow haul. 3rd you lose overdrive. Towhaul changes the shift points and firms them up and locks you out of overdrive till 55mph.
 

jpmaniac87

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Dude, i popped off the cover (well, not completely, the lever to move the steering column up and down was in the way, so i couldn't get it completely off) and sure enough, those two wires were popped. You are indeed a life saver. Admin, I'm not sure how common this problem is, but a sticky may be in order.
 

jpmaniac87

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O, and mine was one orange wire, with two extremely thin wires inside it
 

joeygill

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Glad I could help! I've only had my Tahoe for 2 months and I'm learning so much about it already ... just had to replace the front passenger side window regulator as well.

As for that lever in the way, just yank on it really hard, straight out (towards driver side door) and it will pop-out. I struggled with it for awhile too, and it kinda feels like you will break it.

Yes, it is single insulated orange wire, that has 2 really thin wires inside. Basically, when the 2 wires are shorted together, it toggles the tow/haul mode (on-off-on-off etc).

Good luck!!
 

Yuke2K

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+1 on the sticky!

Joey, if you would be willing to do a brief write up with a few pictures in a new thread, I'm willing to bet that the admin would sticky it. Thanks for the tip!
 

667theneighbour

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Can't have sticker on everything that's a common problem with our cars. The page would be a mile long. ;)
 

withac

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I asked this question on another thread and got pointed here. Bingo, thanks guys. When you take the bottom cover off you will need to pry it apart from the top half, it will then kinda pivot down from the back. There is a hook on each side that needs be be undone but it's easy. The wires are a joke. I don't know if the plastic insulation is hard from age or that way to start with. The orange that wraps the two smaller white wrapped wires is stiff and tough, while trimming it off I was always afraid I would slip and cut through the thin white wires. Once the orange was off the two wires are insulated in stiff white plastid, once again, I had to carefully, little by little, slice this off to expose the wires, all the while afraid I'd break or cut one. It wasn't something you could just whip through in five minutes but it is very doable, just take your time. It works fine now. Thanks for the write up. I meant to take some pics and forgot, sorry, but it really is as simple to get to as the write ups says, you really don't need the pics. If my splice job doesn't hold I think I'll buy a switch, run the wire down under the lower dash cover, and mount switch there rather than mess with trying to keep it in the steering column.
 
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