[Zaderhof]

This is my first post so forgive me if I broke any rules! I have a year 2000 3rd gen runner (automatic), when I use the small 4wd selector on the left, the 4wd icon blinks repeatedly until I get the codes cleared. The vehicle will not go into four low either, unless there is something I missed. The rig has been in and out of the shop for two years now and not a single place I've taken it has fixed the problem. The codes read a vacuum leak aswell as a misfire, one stop has said it's the ''4wd solenoid'' another said that the transfer case needs replacing. The runner has been tuned multiple times but the miss fires are only getting worse. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[BrandonF]

I've never had any serious problems with my 4wd but when mine stopped working, it ended up just being a blown fuse.

It's located behind the small removable panel to the bottom left of the steering wheel, along with a few other fuses.

[jgue467]

Originally Posted by Zaderhof

...have a year 2000 3rd gen runner (automatic), when I use the small 4wd selector on the left, the 4wd icon blinks repeatedly until I get the codes cleared. The vehicle will not go into four low either...

Have you followed the 4WD instructions above the driver sunvisor? Have you tried what the manual says to do when 4wd won't engage? If so, what happened?

So when you depress the 4wd button on left hand side of Hi-Lo lever the 4 yellow/orange dash lites flash until WHAT codes are cleared? The 2 may not be related...

How do you know it won't go into Low? Hi-Lo level just physically won't budge or what (grinding)?

[Zaderhof]

I have had it in shops four times now so I hope to God the mechanics followed the basic manual instructions. But when I depress the button the 4wd light continues to flash endlessly no matter what I do. I put the rig on an ice parking lot yesterday and today. I placed the vehicle in neutral, I moved the 4wd selector down, right and into 4lo. Only the rear tired spun on the ice the front tires stayed motionless. I fiddled with this for and hour yesterday and again today. I have been told this is all do to a vacuum leak which is also contributing to the misfires. When I accidentally tried selecting 4lo with the vehicle in drive, I heard grinding and the selector vibrated violently. Any more ideas? Also can anyone tell me where I can get a '' 4wd solenoid'' this apparently is the key to solving my issues so says the most recent toyota shop in town.

[Zaderhof]

Originally Posted by jgue467

Have you followed the 4WD instructions above the driver sunvisor? Have you tried what the manual says to do when 4wd won't engage? If so, what happened?

So when you depress the 4wd button on left hand side of Hi-Lo lever the 4 yellow/orange dash lites flash until WHAT codes are cleared? The 2 may not be related...

How do you know it won't go into Low? Hi-Lo level just physically won't budge or what (grinding)?

I have had it in shops four times now so I hope to God the mechanics followed the basic manual instructions. But when I depress the button the 4wd light continues to flash endlessly no matter what I do. I put the rig on an ice parking lot yesterday and today. I placed the vehicle in neutral, I moved the 4wd selector down, right and into 4lo. Only the rear tired spun on the ice the front tires stayed motionless. I fiddled with this for and hour yesterday and again today. I have been told this is all do to a vacuum leak which is also contributing to the misfires. When I accidentally tried selecting 4lo with the vehicle in drive, I heard grinding and the selector vibrated violently. Any more ideas? Also can anyone tell me where I can get a '' 4wd solenoid'' this apparently is the key to solving my issues so says the most recent toyota shop in town.

[Zaderhof]

Originally Posted by BrandonF

I've never had any serious problems with my 4wd but when mine stopped working, it ended up just being a blown fuse.

It's located behind the small removable panel to the bottom left of the steering wheel, along with a few other fuses.

I did check the fuses they were all ok.

[THatfield]

Ok. Deep breath here. Your Limited model has Toyota's Multi-Mode transfer case, which allows H2, All-Time 4WD, Traditional H4 (H4L on your knob) and L4 (L4L on your knob). I am looking at the diagnostic from my Toyota 4Runner Factory Service Manual.

1. You can not engage Multi-Mode 4x4 when tires are spinning on ice or snow. It needs forward/reverse motion to engage, and no speed means the speed sensors won't let it. so trying to get it to engage on an ice covered parking lot won't do the trick.

Now, troubleshooting. This is from the book.

1. Start engine, and push the (4WD) button, as if to engage H4. Watch the dash display.

IF the display does not light up even though the switch has been pushed, move vehicle back and forth. IF switching is not completed after three seconds, the display will flash.

You have told us that the display flashes repeatedly. So after trying the above instructions, let's move on.

1. Start engine.
2. Shift into H4L or L4L. Do not push the 4WD button, just shift into either mode.
3. Check to see if dash display illuminates to indicate 4WD is engaged (all 4 wheels lit) and center differential is locked (orange center light). Vehicle may need moved forward or backward.

HINT: Perform inspection with vehicle on, and Automatic Shift Lever in the "N" position prior to moving the vehicle

If switching is not completed within 3 seconds, the lights will flash.

At this point, the manual calls for a series of electrical tests to rule out electrical problems.

However

If I were you, I would simply push the 4WD button, and go for a good drive. Various speeds, road types, etc. Just to get the vehicle moving and see if the system eventually kicks in. Many times the Multi-Mode in these trucks goes dormant without use. So driving with the button pushed in, and the lights flashing has led to eventually the actuator kicking in after 30 miles or so.

However

That may not work best for you. Here are a few threads that might also help out.

4wd not engaging

This is lengthy, but very informative and will help you out in troubleshooting.
4WD won't disengage on 99 4Runner LTD - YotaTech Forums

Good Luck!

[krenaud33]

Mine acted up for a while a couple winters ago. When it warmed up I unplugged the wires going to the solenoid and sprayed some electrical cleaner on the connections. Fortunately I haven't had any more issues.

[jgue467]

OP-when i first got my 3rd gem runner a few years ago, it too would not engage 4wd. What i did was while driving it about 25mph just before coming to a right turn i would depress the 4wd button, then make that right turn and during the turn it would engage.

I would then do the reverse (make a left turn) to disengage. After a year or so of doing this every week or two, the 4wd system started to engage/disengage while only traveling forward (20-30mph or so). So try that. Luck!

[Qyota]

Front diff and transfer case are both vacuum actuated or assisted. If you have weak or no vacuum, you don't get engagement. Fix that problem first, then move to other things if it's still not working.

Vacuum for these starts at the intake plenum, goes through a check valve, then splits to two VSV (vacuum switching valves) that help actuate the two motors. Vacuum lines run from those valves to the front diff and to the transfer case. This is true at least for '99 and '00 limited models, not sure about others.

[TheDurk]

Originally Posted by Qyota

Front diff and transfer case are both vacuum actuated or assisted. If you have weak or no vacuum, you don't get engagement. Fix that problem first, then move to other things if it's still not working.

Vacuum for these starts at the intake plenum, goes through a check valve, then splits to two VSV (vacuum switching valves) that help actuate the two motors. Vacuum lines run from those valves to the front diff and to the transfer case. This is true at least for '99 and '00 limited models, not sure about others.

This part in BOLD is incorrect. TC (on push-button TC's) is electric actuated in all years. J-shift's are manually actuated at the TC. Front diff is vacuum-operated on all 4wd models up through 2000, and then both TC and front diff are electric in '01 and '02. So a vacuum leak, which can be caused by the "4wd solenoid" (Vacuum switching valve or VSV in Toyota-speak), will definitely impede engagement of front diff. The two VSV's are both for the front diff, one is engaged in 2wd and the other in 4wd. Here is my how-to to troubleshoot that part of the system:

VSV’s/ADD
Don't guess at it, troubleshoot! Start at the twin VSV's (Vacuum Switching Valves) on the driver fender wall. There are two long vacuum hoses that come up from the diff, one goes to each VSV. Check to see that one of the two hose nipples on the VSV’s has vacuum (engine running, 4WD NOT engaged. If no vacuum either side, check the check valve going to the intake manifold and look for loose hoses or a hole in the reservoir. If there is vacuum going to one hose, then put it in 4WD. See if the vacuum switches to the other hose. If it does, and no 4WD, problem is the diff actuator or the line to the diff. If it does not, then just switch the hoses and you should go into 4WD. This confirms diff is okay. (Mark the hoses first so you know which belongs where!)

OK, switch them back. Then use a test light to see if electrical signal from the TC also switches sides of the VSV. If it does not, problem is the TC, the switch on the TC, or the TC actuator, or its wiring back to the button (last two for non-J shift only). If it does, but the vacuum does not, the problem is the VSV itself.

I start troubleshooting at the VSV's because you can figure out where the trouble is without having to climb under the truck. [None of this applies to '01-'02 which have an electric actuator.]

[Qyota]

You are correct (of course)! I mistook what must be a breather tube for a vacuum line when looking at my dead t-case.

[Zaderhof]

Would you mind showing me where the solenoid is located and where I can by one?

[Zaderhof]

I will be trying all options tomorrow morning on a paved lot. Wish me luck!

[Zaderhof]

Also very very helpful I will be looking at this aswell.