LIght is not in the circut for the actuator to prevent it from engaging. Its on a seperate strand from the diff out. If it is blown you can still operate 4x4 just have to guess as to when its locked.

There are 2 lights under the cover one is lit when the lights are on the other only when in 4x4 and both have no effect on it.

When you did move the fork how much pressure did it have on it? it is spring loaded a bit and should not be the simplest thing to push nor the hardest either. BTW long fingers....


The light not lighting though I would check bulb just to see. Because once the actuator pushes the fork regardless of anything else it should light the light. Its tied to a switch that gets hit by the links/fork when engaged.