There could possibly be broken parts or they simply need to be cleaned. These are basically the 2 ways you can diagnose the problem. If they are not broken then there could be some grit that is binding up causing them not to turn all the way.
did you get out of your vehicle and physically lock the hubs on the front wheels? there automatic locking hubs.
yes you just wont have power stearing if you do
When u find out why then let me know cause my 97 does the same thing.
Make sure you lock the hubs if your vehicle has locking hubs. However, it sounds like a fuse, check your fuses. Kev.
yu gotta program it
The most common cause is a vacuum leak in one of the hoses that lock the hubs, if that checks out OK then the solenoid may be bad. Good luck.
it wont it will have to be drained
I believe you will still have to shift the truck into 4wd inside the cab after locking the hubs on the wheels...I can't remember what year my Dad's F-150 was but he had to lock the hubs on the wheels first then shift the manual shifter inside the truck into 4wd to engage the 4wd feature. If there isn't a manual shift inside the cab, I give!
If it has lock out hubs, Then you have a bad lock out on one side are the other. If it does not, Then the Actuator on the front housing is not ingaugeing. Need to check that with a test light. If it has power going to it , Then replace 4x4 Actuator. If no power then check 4x4 fuse in fuse box.
A 1996 Tahoe should not have auto hubs, it should have a shift motor on the transfer case that engages it there and another vacuum operated one on the axle shaft on the passenger side. They are notorious for the shift motor on the transfer case going bad, it is a push button 4wd system and should set a code that tells you what is wrong.
Do you have automatic locking hubs on the front axles?
The easy answer is that you can take it apart and do a quick fix to get you by but it will need replacement no matter what. A new one is about a hundred dollars. If all is quiet then the relay for the window motor is bad or even the fuse could be bad.