My 1995 4 runner will not properly engage it has a 3.0 v6 with an automatic transmission.
When I move the lever to four wheel high or low, it clicks and the 4x4 light flashes but it wil not stay engaged. On loose groung like gravel it seems like it partialy engages, but then it feels like it is binding. Any ideas? I have been told it may be the actuator found on the front diff?
Please help! Thanks
Paul

Check the fluid level first, if the transfer case is low on fluid it wont shift properly.

Transfercase fluid is new, along with the front diff fluid.
Thanks for the help.

I have a 94 4Runner and had that same problem. (5 speed) I'm going to guess that it's the A.D.D. version. The front diff is engaged by a vacuum. There are two hoses going to the diff, just switch the hoses and your front diff should lock. Hope that helped.

really?

Oh yeah I forgot to post the rest of it. (Wife was bugging me about something ) On A.D.D. cars, if you don't drive in 4wd often, sometimes the hubs will not lube itself and it will not engage. When you switch the little vaccuum hoses underneath the front diff, you are manually engaging 4wd... of course you would want to switch the hoses back after you've driving in 4wd for a while. That did the trick for me but I'm not sure if it's different for automatic 4runners.

I really had no problem with the front diff locking into 4WD, but Im having problems with it. I wasnt sure if my t-case or my front diff was the problem i was having, so I switched the lines and it did engage 4WD, and allowed to diagnose the problem being that my front diff is broken . Swapping the lines is a handy thing to know . Thanks NorCal.

Hey guys thanks for all the tips. A little late but thank you!!
I found the problem. I replaced the front acuator, when doing so I found the front diff was replaced. The person didn't bother looking up the correct gear ratio, and put what he found on. My best guess is when he tried out the four wheel drive it almost folded the truck in half. I have a 4.875 gears in the rear and god knows what in the front. Sooooo he took the actuator and sliped it off the coupler so it could not fully engage. Not very bright but it got the truck down the road. I put the actuator back where it belonged and put the vacuum hoses back where they were supposed to be. The truck was partially engaged all the time. Go figure. To make a long story short I now have to decide to match the front with the rear or figure out what the front is and replace the rear. I tried it out in the snow and mud here in upper WI. and WOW does it go where you point it. IT better be in a straight line though cause the rear tires turn faster than the front, so it pushes badly.
Thanks again
P

I have a front whole dif for sale stock gears for th 4-runners whichshould be 4.56 gears thats whatcom in the autos i put a solid axle under my 4-runner not doing me any good sell cheap make me an offer

I am having trouble with my 90 v6 3.0L sr5 5spd. I found out the other night in some wet muddy grass that my front wheels do jack when in 4H or 4L. I almost got stuck at the bottom of a little grass hill! So obviously something is wrong. I am going to try switching the vacuum hoses but will I have to do that every time I want to go 4 wheeling?? Im not to sure I understand. If switching the vacuum hoses does get it working, do I switch them back when Im done and it should work fine afterwards without having to switch them again?? Also does my 90 fully loaded even have a 4WD light? Because if it does then it has never come on. I only got the truck last week and it seemed to work fine in 4H and 4L in the parking lot but it took some slippy grass to show me the front tires arent doing anything at all.
Please let me know
Thanks
Jeff

The VSV (Vacuum Switching Valve) that actuates the vacuum to the ADD ( and turns on the dash light) may have gone south. It's located on the passenger inner fender well.

Switching the vacuum lines prolly won't make the light come on, but it 'should' force the ADD to engage. You should switch them back before you want to go back into 2WD.

Mike in AR

Ive just finished switching the vacuum lines and it did squat. But during my investigations i found out that the vacuum line coming off the engine doesnt have any vacuum. Its got nothing.
just to make sure you know what I mean if you go to the string http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showth...&highlight=add and see where he changed the little valve/filter. I have no vacuum even going into that filter/valve much less past it to the rest of the system

PLease advise
Jeff

Yep. No vacuum at all, will do it. I realize there is an octopus of vacuum lines on that fender. Search down the ONE line that is supposed to be the source of the vacuum to the VSV and check it AT the intake. If the first section has vacuum, then work your way out toward the VSV.

Mike in AR

Ive included a picture this time. The yellow vacuum hose is the one that leads through the "filter/valve" to the assembly mounted ontop of the wheel well inside the engine compartment. The part I have circled in red is where I assume the vacuum is supose to come from. I have removed the hose from the "valve/filter" and at the other end right from the part attached to the engine and no vacuum from the engine.
Is that even where the hose is suposed to connect? It seems to me that as long as the engine is running there should be vacuum at that point.

Attached Images

 

OK. I'm scratching this post. I need to look at it more closely in the daylight.

I'll post more when I have a better look at how mine is hooked up .

Mike in AR