The four wheel drive on my 1996 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Z71 doesn't seem to be working. I can shift the floor shifter to 4H or 4L and no indicator light comes on and it is only in 2wd. What could be the issue?

first time used 4WD on this car?????
what transfer case is there,? key fact #1 not told
JF1A<<< my guess this.
NOT TOLD YOU WHAT THE TIRES ARE ROLLING ON
PAVEMENT, DIRT, OFF-ROAD.. ICE, SNOW OR WHAT.
THE CAR IS NOT AWD
THE CAR IS NOT FULL TIME 4WD
IT IS PART TIME 4WD.
THE USERS MANUAL TOLD YOU THIS


Four?wheeldrive models-Toyota rec-
ommends not using four?wheel drive on
dry hard?surfaced roads, because four?
wheel driving wil l cause unnecessary
noise and wear,and poor fuel econo-
my.

WHAT HAPPENS IS DAMAGE TO THE TRANSER CASE MAIN CHAIN OR FAR FAR WORSE.
or
google
"what part time 4 wheel drive means."
it means there is no center Differential to have AWD

SAME GUIDE SAID

Four?wheel DriveSystemWarning
Buzzer(four?wheel drive models)
This buzzer reminds you that the transfer
mode is not selected correctly.
If the buzzer sounds when you shift the
transfer from "2 WD" to "4H", "4L" to "4H",
"4H"to "4L",or"4L"to "2WD"mode,follow the instructions in"Four?wheel drive
system"on page 239 in Section 1?7.

TO EXIT 4WD, IF SELECTED INCORRECTLY ON DRY PAVEMENT.
GET 1 TIRE OF THE TRUCK ON LOSE DIRT ,GRAVEL ,GRASS. AND SHIFT TO 2WD.
AND STAY OUT OF 4WD UNTIL LEARN HOW PART TIME WORKS.,

4WD IS FOR
DIRT
FOR ICED OVER WHAT EVER.
FOR PACKED SNOW OR DRIFTS.

NOT FOR DRY PAVEMENT AT ALL. OR EVEN WET

Turn on the vehicle.
Hold the brake petal down.
Shift into neutral.
Pull the 4WD lever and shift into 2WD High.

Go under the vehicle and check the four wheel drive linkage.

two problems with these trucks the push buttons there self and the encoder on the transfer case.

maybe its just the indicator thats not lighting up

If it is automatic transmission you must stop vehicle put it in neutral or "n" then put shifter that is indicates 2h 4h and 4L pull down to 4h if you are driving on highway or pull down then over and up to 4L if you are not going to be driving faster than 30mph.
If manual put in neutral also and do the same process as automatic there will be a light on dash board indicating that it is in 4wd also put transmission back to drive on automatic or shift to first gear on manual

There should be a lever shifter on the floor board with 2h- 4h-4L on the knob. Pull or push the lever to 4H then get out and go to the front axle. In the middle of the front tires there should be a locking front hub assembly, turn the selector to lock, do this on both wheels, your truck should now be in 4 wheel drive. To put it in 4L you need to havt the transmission in nuetral before you shift the lever. Once done playing make sure you unlock your front axel(hubs) and place the lever in 2H.

check to see if the front drive shaft is turning if it is there is a electronic solenoid that engages the front diff its located in center of the diff make sure its pluged in

btwn 2H and 4H can be done while driving up to 55 mph.
btwn 4L and 4H must stop put into Neutral in automatic trans. - do not stop at N on 4WD shifter. One solid motion.

I had the same problem with my 98 z71, I put the floor shifter in neutral, and let the truck roll backwards a little bit, BE CAREFUL, with the floor shifter in neutral the truck will roll, regardless if the shifter on the steering column is in Park, use caution, make sure there is no one around your truck and you are inside of it and out of the path of doors and tires,