Done, good thing too, first time 4 Lo beeped at me...

yeah 10miles is tough for me..as the only unpaved patch near me is about 1/4 mile!!!.....what i do is engage it daily for about a week...i know its really not enough but what can i do...had the truck for 1.6yrs now...it shifts easily

Thanks for the reminder. My actuator is less than a year old and It has been a few months since I've "exercised" it.

I would have to have a tcase in front of me, but just off the pics ive seen, I think an external shift linkage could be setup using the existing shift rails.

altho, a set of dedicated rails would likely work better.



luckily, my actuator was replaced when I bought it. I think it if ever fails, i'll attempt to fabricate some sort of mechanical linkage system.


im pretty that before me, mine had never been shifted into low range. due to this, it was stuck. I wasn't surprised really. im just glad that because of this site I knew to check it on the test drive.

No significant driving in low range is necessary or advised by the owners manual.

The 10 miles per month advised in the manual is for lubricating the front drive components. It only applies to the V6 multi-mode.

This thread is about the transfer case low range and diff lock actuators which the owners manual doesn't address, but history has shown to be important.

For V6 4wd owners, the act of going into and out of 4wd, all by itself, exercises the diff lock actuator (it finishes unlocked). All that is needed is to stop at some point and put the truck into low range.

Whether there is any possible benefit to doing a little driving while in low range or also engaging the V6 diff lock via button (instead of just using 4wd), I can't say, other than the fact that more is better (with quickly diminishing returns). Perhaps @BlackWorksInc has some input on that.

Honestly I just drive my V8 4WD a hundred to a few hundred feet or so in a straight line (important to keep it straight on pavement) at least once a month with the center differential locked to exercise it. While its an oft not used function, there is a mechanical linkage to lock-up the planetary gearset that makes up the central differential.

As for V6 4WD vehicles, it wouldn't hurt to do the same in 4Lo to exercise the ADD and Transfercase. We used to see quite a few 4WDs that were "fixed" by just tapping on the transfer case and then exercising the actuator a few times (easy diagnostic work )

Your springy May reminder.

Thanks. Used mine yesterday in the Florida Pan handle mud.

Switched over to 4hi yesterday thinking of this thread. She is still in 4Hi today. Haven't switched over to 4lo ever. Kinda scared to. I figure there is a chance I'll run into problems that my wallet can't rescue me from.

Of note: I did notice that before I switch over to 4Hi, while stopped, I'll put the tranny in "N", switch to 4Hi, then put her in "D". I hear the tranny "clang" into drive and hear another "thud". The 4x4 indicator then staying steadily on. BUT, when I switch over to 4Hi while on the drive or not putting it into "N", it takes awhile, as in 30seconds +, all the while the 4x4 indicator flashing. I know flashing means it's still not done fully engaging.

Is it normal for the 4Hi to engage this slow? Is it an indication of trouble?

thanks

Sometimes it takes a bit longer than a few seconds to engage 4HI on my 4Runner. The ADD incorporates a yoke that slides a splined hub over a mating splined shaft. It can take a while for these splines to sinc properly before the hub slide over.

Your June reminder.

(I'm posting early because I won't be on the site on June 1st.)

10 miles?!!! Yeaaaaahhhh good luck with that here. You'd have to get recovered 50 times on illegal mudhole trails to put that kind of mileage in around these parts.

Exercised my CDL button today.

I had mine replaced 1 year ago? (both 4hi and low wasn't working, so they said both actuators needed replacement? Dunno much about actuators but thats what I can remember) If I didn't have my extended warranty I think it was about $700-$800 each actuator for parts and labor from dealership.

Just a heads up for anyone needing replacement.

So $1600 for both?? Wow, sounds low. Others were being quoted 2-4K grand. It's a big job.