I have a 2000 limited w/ multi mode tcase. Haven’t driven my 4runner for a couple months and was messing around in a parking lot while waiting for my wife and shifted it into 4wd while in park, then the 4wd dash lights started flashing and when I tried to disengage it wouldn’t stop flashing. Tried driving back and forth and same result. I’ve been trying to diagnose it in my garage for the past couple hours, I put the truck on jack stands to confirm it’s stuck in 4wd. The front drive shaft spins but the front wheels don’t spin, doesn’t matter if shifter is in 2hi/4hi/4lo all same result. I have a trip in a couple weeks with my buddies really hoping to get this fixed soon. Fluid is all new and looked decent when I changed it.

Found a couple posts pointing to a sensor/actuator in the front diff, tried removing it and cleaning it with some contact cleaner. No luck. Going to do a few tests that the FSM mentions, I’ll post what I find.

If the 4wd indicator lights are flashing, it is not engaged, just trying to engage. Sounds like its suffering from non-use.

Until the 4wd system engages/disengages smoothly, you should only attempt engaging/disengaging while moving forward somewhere in the 10-20 mph range, turns help too.

You may have done this already, yet I'd back it out, turn wheels slowly (windows down so you can hear well) and feel if the steering gets stiff and/or sounds from underneath - like binding. Drive forward making slight turns left/right, it should engage/disengage.

You mentioned fluids looked good, this includes center diff? Mine needed a couple center diff fluid changes before it finally smoothed out going in/out of 4wd.

Luck.

Yea I’ve tried turning/driving forward/reverse etc. Drove the truck home about 10 miles. The only time I heard anything was when I first put the tcase in 4hi. But I don’t think the front diff ever engaged, never got the tight steering. I’ll try driving around again tonight, my buddy mentioned figure 8’s which I haven’t tried.
I did all 3 gear oil changes when I first got the truck, I think the only one that looked like it needed it was the rear diff. Wouldn’t be surprised if it was from non use. Thank you

If you haven't checked the FSM for tips yet, info here might help:

96-02 Toyota 4Runner Factory Service Repair Manual

Specifically, the troubleshooting section

I have the one for my truck, going to do some testing with my ohm reader tonight.

Not an expert here, but have you tried taking it onto a loose surface such as mud or dirt, and running through hi/lo and just driving it around, maybe even some small bounces during the drive? You know, give it a little workout in case it is simply a bind?

I'm no expert but I also have a 2000 limited w/ multi mode tcase and mine used to do this all the time. Not sure if this will work for you but to get mine to smoothly engage/disengage I have to have the rig fully stoped and to repeat this process. Foot on the brake shift the trans to neutral followed by pressing the all wheel drive on the tcase. Should engage super smooth, and you're good to go. If I wanted 4lo I'd have to shift the trans to neutral, press the awd, trans back to park, then trans to neutral, and then finally tcase to 4lo. Seems to work with zero issues if you do this, otherwise it'll flash with no sight in end. I know this is not necessarily the best way, but seems to really work and my 4wd is solid. Hope this helps.

Dumb question. Is it stuck in 4wd hi (pulled shifter) or the "AWD" (pushed button). I have a 99 ltd (i think they are the similar) and on occasion I have pushed the button on the shifter AND pulled the lever back to 4wd, then when I shift back up to 2wd the light stays on. Make sure your shift button isn't depressed. Also agree with trying to find a field or loose terrain and give it a good cycle through all the modes. My parents live down a long dirt road and often will shift through the different modes heading to/from their house just to make sure everything still works.

The transfer case shifter itself isn’t stuck, I can freely shift from 2hi/4hi/4lo. But when I had the truck on jack stands I could see the front drive shaft spinning no matter which mode the shifter was on. Basically it won’t disengage the transfer case. Awd button isn’t depressed when I’m trying to get the truck back into 2hi.

I tried shifting around a bunch between the transmission and the transfer case with no luck but I’ll give that a shot see what happens.

I’ll give it a try but I figure putting the truck on jack stands sort of does the same thing. Maybe I’ll try going over some speed bumps.

Shifting the lever to 4HL on the '99/'00 Limited is still an 'electrical' operation - it just engages a switch in the transfer case that then tells the 4WD ECU to move the motor on the transfer case. It sounds like the actuator is stuck, possibly in between positions (so the 4WD ECU won't engage the front diff).

Hopefully you can just jump it directly and get it moving, then make sure you exercise it regularly! (the manual says once a month)

-Charlie

That’s exactly what I think is happening, I’m going to try and jump the actuator tonight see what happens. Thanks Charlie.

After testing the ohms/function of the actuator on the transfercase the next step was to test the vacuum solenoids for the front diff, I then realized the small vacuum hose was disconnected. I’m glad it was that simple but I wasted quite a bit of time trying to figure it out.

Thanks for everyone’s help!