'03 V8 won't move

[Bacon]

hi folks, new guy here. new to 4Runner's, been a Jeep guy for years. I bought the Yota thinking the reliability would be higher and it'd last forever. but I already need help with my 4Runner! I just bought two weeks ago -'03 SR5 V8 with 67XXX miles- We got a big snow storm here today, and I was trying to get up my driveway in about a foot, foot and a half of snow. I almost made it to the top, then got stuck. D to R a couple of times in 4hi, 4hi locked, 4lo, 4lo locked. nothing I haven't done in my Jeeps a hundred times before. at one point, when I was in reverse (and rocking slightly backward), I heard a bang that sounded like I ran into something (i didn't). then the tires would only spin in D, not in R. after a couple more tries, the tires don't move no matter what combination of D, 4,3,2,1, R, 4hi, 4lo, locked, unlocked I try. it feels like the t-case is in neutral, but does the t-case in this thing even have a neutral position? this is the first experience I have with a switch on the dash for the t-case instead a real lever on the floor.

help please!!!!

 

[eskimochaos]

You need to be in neutral to switch between hi and low. Did you cycle the switch to ensure that the hi low function worked while in neutral. If its an 03 and hasnt been touched, i bet that the actuator is stuck. Did the 4low light stop blinking when you did it?

 

[Bacon]

yes, I know the 4lo worked before tonight. I checked that out before I bought it. It was in neutral when I switched from one to the other. at least I'm pretty sure it was. I do know better than that, but in the heat of the moment (man vs. steep driveway), testosterone sometimes clouds judgement. just wondering, if it wasn't in neutral when I switched it once, what's the worst that could happen?

now, when I put it in 4lo, the 4lo light flashes at me when it's in neutral, then when I put it in drive, it flashes and beeps in unison.

I don't think my Runner likes me today.

 

[Bacon]

is it possible to manually shift the t-case?

 

[eskimochaos]

is it possible to manually shift the t-case?

no and it wont do anything if you shift to low in D.

sounds like a stuck actuator possibly worse.

 

[Will816]

Hope you get it figured out. Remember that one of the problems with the tires not spinning is that when they do, the vehicle thinks it is in a skid and activates the vsc, which keeps the wheels from spinning on the snow/ice. Locking the center diff overrides vsc. Another thing to think about is, whether its a Jeep, Toyota, Ford, or whatever, its still just 4 rubber tires on the ground, and the traction is only as good as those tires can provide. If they are the factory all-season Dunflops, you may be needing an upgrade.

I'm not a fan of the shift on the fly transfer case, either. You know that flip open compartment with the 12V outlet next to the gear selector? Thats the spot that the transfer case handle comes out of on the Japanese version, called the hilux surf. And unfortunately for us US 4Runner owners, the mechanically identical (except for the transfer case) Lexus GX 470 has a manual transfer case (all of them, its not an option) with the lever in that spot. I call junkyards from time to time hoping that they'll have a totaled GX, only one said yes so far and when I went to check out the transfer case, it was gone

 

[Bacon]

well, it's being towed to the transmission shop shortly. I frickin hope it's just a stuck acutuator, and not a blown trans.

it's not the tires. it's not that the tires are spinning and I'm stuck, the tires are turning at all.

 

[eskimochaos]

I doubt its the transmission. The A750F is completely and utterly bulletproof. You might have hurt the transfer case because it is a unique chain drive VF4 torsen model. I had a stuck actuator when I got mine new off the lot. It was 12 hours of labor for a 300 part due to the fact that they need to take the entire transfer case off the truck. My bet is the actuator is frozen and you possibly damaged something in the transfer case. I recommend you bring it to toyota however. Good luck. Please keep us posted.