Hello all. I had a problem yesterday with my 03 V8 4Runner (165k). I was going about 60mph on the highway when all of the sudden I could no longer accelerate (and I was slowing down). I managed to get off the road. When I came to a stop, I tried to shift gears and nothing. No reverse, no forward gears, not even park.

Had it towed to my mechanic, and I was thinking my transmission or transfer case were done. He told me it was the solenoid in the transfer case that went bad. He replaced it for $160.

My question is, how would the solenoid in the transfer case cause all of the gears and park to not work? I thought the solenoid only moved the transfer case between high and low? Did the solenoid get stuck in between or something?

Thanks

JT

The 4x4 Actuator moves the tcase from hi -> lo. The transmission is equipped with solenoids for proper operation.

I have an '03 V8 Ltd, not familiar with the solenoid(s) in T-case, but did this repair fix your problem?
If so, WHAT solenoid was replaced?

Well. I was mistaken about what the mechanic said he did. He had pulled out the actuator and re-greased it?

Problem is, it failed again today. Again, it will not move forward or reverse, nor will it go into park. BUT, when you turn on/off the center lock, it seems to go back to normal.

Does this sound like it could be the actuator or could the transfer case be bad?

Why are you running with center lock on? It should be off almost all the time.

I am not running with the center locker engaged. If I cycle it on and then off, it seems to reset something, and I can get the 4Runner to move again.

But then eventually, it goes back to not wanting to move in any gear.

If there is something wrong with the actuator, is it possible that the transfer case could be in an "open" state where the transmission output is not being sent to the wheels?

I know this isnt a helpful comment, but this is scary AF.

Does your gearshift lever feel normal when you go park-reverse-neutral-drive?
Just a thought, there's a bushing in the lever that can fail and cause lack of engagement.

It feels normal, except something grinds when I put it into park. It does not grind everytime though.

The other thing I noticed is when I moved it from reverse, to neutral and then drive, I don't notice that slight drivetrain "thump" when the transmission is put into drive.

Check for a broken cv axle. Our v6 wouldn't work acted like it was in neutral same grinding when we put it in 4 high last year unless we locked our center diff. The cv looked ok on the outside but the inner parts were broken.

Sorry to bring this back up but the shop put in a used transfer case and it worked for about 70 miles. I had been on the freeway and when I got to my exit and stopped, it did not want to move in any gear again. When I locked the center diff, then it moved. I had to drive with the center diff locked.

When I got home and put it into park, after turning the center diff off, my 4Runner started to roll. When I started it up again, and locked the center diff, then put it into park, it did not move.

If one of the CV's was broken, would that send all power to that broken CV and nothing to the rear because of the AWD system? But then how would that cause the 4Runner to roll when in Park?

Im stumped....have no idea what would cause that. However it doesn't sound like a CV issue. Sounds more like an electronic issue?

Truck won't move in 2wd but does in Auto4x4 : Transmission/Drivetrain

check out this post. Seems his was electronic related as well. Did the mechanic reuse any electrical parts from the original TC?

What shop are you using?

Had your shop checked your CVs yet?

I have not needed to use these folks since my hot-rod days...
Could give them a call to discuss.. HiTech Transmissions

Located on Old Lee Highway, not far from the MicroCenter..

use a scanner for ecu/engine codes through the ODB II connection?

That first part sounds very similar to what my 4Runner is doing.

As far as I can tell, he did not reuse the actuator from the old TC (I got it back from him).

When I had it towed back the 2nd time, everything worked when the flatbed dropped it off. Then failed after moving a few feet. I remember there was a loud whining noise coming from the center (which we thought was the TC) and the source of the problem.
@L8Shift - I took it to a shop in Chantilly we used before. I don't think they checked the CVs since the TC was making quite a bit of noise. If my mechanic can't figure it out, I will hit up HiTech. I forgot they were out there.

@jrm If there were codes, would there be an indicator flashing on the dash?