I know there are many threads on this topic, I just can't find any on these symptoms. My friends 4WD on his 1997 Limited 4Runner with push button 4WD is not working. When the 4WD button is pressed nothing happens. No click and no indicator light no matter if the vehicle is moving or stationary in drive, neutral, or park, absolutely nothing happens when the button is pressed. When the lever is moved into low range it clearly feels like low range is engage but there is still no indicator light. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!!!

To start things off, it feels like it's in low range because manual shifting it actually reduces the gearing, even though it's still in 3WD. (spinning front driveshaft but not enging the ADD which would make it 4WD)

To get the 4WD light to come on, it requires input from the button completing a circuit AND the ADD to be in the 4WD position, if the button makes a noticeable click mechanically, and sinks in a little over 1mm then your button is probabaly fine.

First check the fuse in the fuse block inside of your vehicle conveniently located on the drivers side.

Second, If you have an electrical tester go and check for power from your engine fuse block to your 2WD wire while in 2WD and your 4WD wire when you try to put it in 4LO. If you don't know the difference between the two, just test both wires in both scenarios.

If you don't get power in either scenarios, it could be your relay (located near the glove box) a bad switch on your shifter, or maybe even a bad fuse in the engine block (I can't remember which one it draws off) If it's this problem then I'll go look into mine again to give you exact details or you can look up another post.

If you do get power in either scenarios, there is a decent chance it's bad vacuum lines to the ADD actuator. If you go under the rig in the front and have your buddy switch it back and forth, you should hear clicking if that's the case. If not, you may have a fried ADD actuator... But that's super rare from what I've heard.

Extra testing would be to put it in 4LO, run a hot wire to touch on and off to the 4WD wire of the actuator, and listen for the actuator clicking back and forth. This can also potentially turn your 4WD light on so have you and your buddy working together to check this one.

I've probably missed a couple points as I am exhausted, (please fill in anything I missed guys) but hopefully this helps and puts you on the right track.

Sent from my FRD-L04 using Tapatalk

alright so heres what i have discovered, The actuator on the transfer case has continuity and so does the one on the front diff. Also i can still shift it into 4 lo when i am in 2wd but some times i feel it geard down while im in 2wd and sometimes it doesnt and as far as i know the vaccum lines are good. The fuse is good but i can not find the relay. The 97 t4r LTD i have is different than other 3rd gens. My 4wd light is not the same as others i dont have the light in the middle of the dash its at the bottom right i dont know if that changes the location of the relay plz let me know

Did you ever fix this? I'm having the exact issue.

Sent from my ZTE A2017U using Tapatalk

I'll add to this, since I just diagnosed this issue recently and couldn't find anything about it here on the forum.

Symptoms were the same, no 4WD light when the push-button 4wd was pressed (with 4wd also physically not engaging).

While looking through the wiring diagrams, I noticed that some of the ABS system wiring was also tied in with some of the 4wd system wiring (my assumption is that this is not the case on the non push-button, J-shift 4wd system since there are basically no electronics).
I had recently pulled the ABS fuse under the hood to be sure the ABS was 100% for sure disabled (I bought the truck with an unknown ABS light lit on the dash), this ended up being my issue. I re-installed the fuse, and life was good again.

As always, check the easy basics in your system first- 4wd fuse under the dash, make sure vacuum is getting to the 2 switching-solenoids under the hood, switch the solenoid lines to make sure the actuator engages.
Then, take a look at the large 60amp fuse under the hood for the ABS system and replace it if it's missing or blown.

I hate the new vehicles, so I bought a 97 runner in good condition. The one problem I have had with it is the stupid 4 wheel drive push button. I have not been able to get it to work consistently. Well I accidentally left the button on and went for a long drive, like 4 hours. Well the next day trying to turn around in a small gas station, it came on! First time in years that it worked. So I drove in 4 wheel drive for a few weeks. Then I decided was a good time to try and get in and out of 4 wheel. Engaging, and then turning it off. (That was yesterday). And it responded, with the green 4wheel drive light coming on and front diff engaging and dis engaging. I did it like 7 to 10 times. So at this point I thought I could drive around in 2WD for a bit. Well I tried to switch into 4WD this morning, and it would not go. So I left the button on, and made sharp turns, shifting into neutral and reverse periodically, and it wouldn't go. I will keep working it.

But I say all this to ask, is there some kind of maintenance or lubricant that make the switching process easier or something like that? Everything seems to work, but doesn't like doing it. I am not sure how to approach this issue and get it to work consistently.

Owner's manual states to engage 4WD on a monthly basis and drive 10-15 mi in 4Wd. That is the maintenance routine.
Sounds as PO didn't do this, keep engaging disengaging it should get better.
How it went on last one I bought took about a week of on off on off to get it working instantaneously and consistently.

If you don't use it you lose it. Try to engage it at least once a month and drive 20km or so if you can. Just be careful not to do it on hard surfaces or it will bind significantly on turns. Front diff/transfer case fluid condition is important too IMO.

feel same about elocker, i turn it on and off at least one time a month sometimes cycle it several times....because when I need it ....I need it.

That is only thing I could find in the manual, that I have to drive it every month for like 15 miles or so. I was surprised by that. Essentially I was looking at your suggestions, I just wanted to see if there was any other tricks out there.

Ya I didn't like messing with the button because i didn't like driving in 4wd on dry roads, never thought that would be the cause of the issue untill I read the manual.

I was hoping there was another trick or approach to the situation. But your confirmation helped to just leave it at that. At this point it is good news. It came on when I started the truck the next morning as since leaving the button on helped solve my problems I just left it on. It doesn't like switching the most when it's cold, as the next morning I had another issue with it not wanting to go. So I decided when I park it, I will make sure I leave it in 4wd. And then once she warms up I will be spending a lot of time playing with my button!! Lol

Today went well, and it is in 4wd right now. If I leave it in 4wd when parked, and then wait till it is warmed up to start switching in and out, everything goes as it is supposed too. It looks like I am on a path to a successful winter in 4wd, as I will keep working it.

Thanks for the help!

That is only thing I could find in the manual, that I have to drive it every month for like 15 miles or so. I was surprised by that. Essentially I was looking at your suggestions, I just wanted to see if there was any other tricks out there.

Ya I didn't like messing with the button because i didn't like driving in 4wd on dry roads, never thought that would be the cause of the issue untill I read the manual.

I was hoping there was another trick or approach to the situation. But your confirmation helped to just leave it at that. At this point it is good news. It came on when I started the truck the next morning as since leaving the button on helped solve my problems I just left it on. It doesn't like switching the most when it's cold, as the next morning I had another issue with it not wanting to go. So I decided when I park it, I will make sure I leave it in 4wd. And then once she warms up I will be spending a lot of time playing with my button!! Lol

Today went well, and it is in 4wd right now. If I leave it in 4wd when parked, and then wait till it is warmed up to start switching in and out, everything goes as it is supposed too. It looks like I am on a path to a successful winter in 4wd, as I will keep working it.

Thanks for the help everyone!

"I was hoping there was another trick or approach to the situation."

I mentioned on off on off that was in one mile or 5 miles doing it probably 10-15 times on a straight road 30-35 mph bumping gas to unload drivetrain. If you have the locker do the same.

Once it operates as it should follow the monthly routine.

Right now, you need to exercise the shifting mechanism - you can do it on dry roads if you can get it back out of 4WD fairly quickly. Park in 2WD unless you know it will be icy/frozen when you start driving again.

The 5-15miles or whatever is to lube the bearings in the front diff and transfer case as much as it is for the electronic actuator (the j-shift has the same recommendation - though the ADD actuator on the front diff is the same between the two).

-Charlie

Hi, I'm new here so I don't know all the rules and etiquette yet but I'm having a similar issue.

I have A 96 Limited 3.4 no locker with the push button transfer case that recently stopped working with no light on the dash, leading up to this it was engaging with a grind and going out of 4wd with an aggressive pop. all I have done so far is check my fuses and ill check for continuity tomorrow when the ground is a little dryer.

I'd love some insight on where to start and if anyone knows how feasible a possible swap to the J case would be so I can ditch that stupid button, that would be super helpful.

Thanks!