1997 4runner 4wd issues

R

raisin75

New member
I have had a 97 4runner SR5 for a couple of moths now. Saturday night was the first time I realized that 4wd is not working. The manual lever for 4H and 4L moves fine, and the gearing definitely changes when going to 4L, but 4wd is not active.

I have started looking into reasons why it's not working, but I haven't been able to find an answer to one question. Do the wheel speed sensors affect 4wd? I know that ABS has an error code for the front driver side speed sensor, but haven't bothered to fix it due to the cost. Now I'm wondering if this is my problem, or if it will most likely be in the vacuum lines or electrical circuit to ADD.

I do know one other thing. When I shift from 2H to 4H, I hear a relay clicking behind the passenger kick panel.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

1997 4runner SR5
 
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Not trying insult your intelligence, how do you know it's not working? How have you tested that the front wheels are not driving? Again no insults, just wondering.
 
AZTOY, no worries. We're all here to help, right? I just didn't give enough info.

First of all, no dash light to indicate 4wd.
Second, my buddy got out and watched all 4 wheels. Only driver side rear spinning.
 
Have you tried 4wd on pavement while turning, to see if you can feel it start to bind? That's how I test it before I buy vehicles.
Never dealt with 4wd issues and I only know about stuff I have actually fixed on my truck, so can't help with the other stuff you asked. I am sure some better answers will come along later in the day. Good luck.
 
My 98 limited randomly doesn't work. And if course it's when you need it. Sometimes it will come on after repeatedly pushing button or will engage when I roll forward. I have no abs issues. Someone must know the fixed for this problem.
 
Electronically and vacuum controlled 4wd systems are useless. I like the 4x4 system in LN 106 hilux. All manual and works 100%
 
Quickspool said:
My 98 limited randomly doesn't work. And if course it's when you need it. Sometimes it will come on after repeatedly pushing button or will engage when I roll forward. I have no abs issues. Someone must know the fixed for this problem.
Click to expand...

Quickspool, you're right. Someone must know. I have limited time to troubleshoot right now, but maybe I will have a little time on Saturday. Bought this one at the local auction for $2200. Good buy, nice ride, just gotta get the 4WD functioning.

Thanks for the support!
 
I had the same problem on my '97 LTD.
After proving the front diff was good by physically applying external vacuum to the diaphram there, I traced the vacuum lines to the 2 little Vacuum Switching Valves located on the inner fender/drivers side.
One pulls it into 4wd and the other pulls it back out.

You can access easily from under the hood.

Do a search for VSV's on this board and you should find a pic of what they look like and more in depth troubleshooting of your system.

Not saying it's the problem but certainly worth a look.
 
Here is a post I've made several times on troubleshooting the VSV's. Hope it helps.

Don't guess at it, troubleshoot! Start at the twin VSV's (Vacuum Switching Valves) on the driver fender wall. There are two long vacuum hoses that come up from the diff, one goes to each VSV. Check to see that one of the two hose nipples on the VSV’s has vacuum (engine running, 4WD NOT engaged. If no vacuum either side, check the check valve going to the intake manifold and look for loose hoses or a hole in the reservoir. If there is vacuum going to one hose, then put it in 4WD. See if the vacuum switches to the other hose. If it does, and no 4WD, problem is the diff actuator or the line to the diff. If it does not, then just switch the hoses and you should go into 4WD. This confirms diff is okay.

OK, switch them back. Then use a test light to see if electrical signal from the TC also switches sides of the VSV. If it does not, problem is the switch on the TC. If it does, but the vacuum does not, the problem is the VSV itself.

I start troubleshooting at the VSV's because you can figure out where the trouble is without having to climb under the truck.
Click to expand...
 
Part of the reason I got such a deal on my 4runner was that 4wd was not working. I bypassed a VSV when I got home and bingo 4wd is all good! Definitely start there.
 
TheDurk said:
Here is a post I've made several times on troubleshooting the VSV's. Hope it helps.
Click to expand...

Don't guess at it, troubleshoot! Start at the twin VSV's (Vacuum Switching Valves) on the driver fender wall. There are two long vacuum hoses that come up from the diff, one goes to each VSV. Check to see that one of the two hose nipples on the VSV’s has vacuum (engine running, 4WD NOT engaged. If no vacuum either side, check the check valve going to the intake manifold and look for loose hoses or a hole in the reservoir. If there is vacuum going to one hose, then put it in 4WD. See if the vacuum switches to the other hose. If it does, and no 4WD, problem is the diff actuator or the line to the diff. If it does not, then just switch the hoses and you should go into 4WD. This confirms diff is okay.

OK, switch them back. Then use a test light to see if electrical signal from the TC also switches sides of the VSV. If it does not, problem is the switch on the TC. If it does, but the vacuum does not, the problem is the VSV itself.

I start troubleshooting at the VSV's because you can figure out where the trouble is without having to climb under the truck.

Great advice and to the point! :bigok:
 
I've been having problems with mine, went out to trouble shoot it this morning and it magically started working....

:roadkill:
 
Was finally able to do about 15 minutes of troubleshooting tonight. First thing I found was that the vacuum canister under the fender was disconnected, but it technically wasn't a vacuum leak, because the vacuum check valve also wasn't functioning properly and wasn't allowing vacuum past it. I disconnected the check valve, temporarily put the 2 ends of the hoses together directly, and tested the VSV's.

Good news. Both VSV's are passing vacuum, and they are switching electrically based on the position of the 2H/4H/4L shifter. I put in a new vacuum check valve, but this hasn't totally fixed the problem.

The vacuum canister is connected, check valve replaced, VSV's operating. Now I need to take time to verify the vacuum is actually getting to the differential actuator. I will check that this weekend, and also pull a vacuum on the actuator manually to check that it will shift.
 
I swapped the vacuum lines at the vsv's when I got home today, and the 4wd indicator came on and it feels as if the front differential engaged. No more time to verify today, but it is looking good. Even though I verified that the vsv's are switching vacuum, one of them must not be fully shifting. I will likely spray in a little wd40 and see if it helps. Looking good though. I can handle a little solenoid issue.
 
Congrats...at least your pretty sure your drive train has integrity.

I got mine to shift into 4wd but it will not shift back out until I stop the engine and then turn the key back to the run position and of course the 4x4 engage button on...well...disengage.
After a slight pause of a second or two, I'll hear the front disengage and I then proceed to start the engine and everything is normal 2x4 mode.

I have not went any further regarding troubleshooting to see why it disengages only in the absence of vacuum but electrical system powered up.

It's not a problem for me but it would be nice to get it working properly.
 
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4wd dash indicator light not coming on

Hi. I was using 4wd on my 97 manual shift 4Runner SR5 and tore a boot on the passenger side CV when the stabilizer link came off and ground in to the boot. I put a new CV axle in and now the dash indicator light doesn't come on when I shift in to 4Hi or 4Lo. I put it up on 4 jack stands and made sure that the front wheels still engage when I put it in to 4Hi or 4Lo. I can tell its in
4wd when I drive it because I can hear it engage and I can tell by the way it feels. I replaced the actuator switch, but the dash light still didn't come back on. I took the console out and checked the bulb. It's working when I switch to something else. The 4wd fuse is good. The ADD switches all have vacuum. Is there a way to follow the wiring up to the 4wd indicator light? This may be a dumb question, but could the new drive shaft be causing the dash light not to come on? It is different looking from the old one. I've attached pictures from the web showing their differences. Thanks for any help anyone can give me with this.
 

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