4Lo beeping

[BlackWorksInc]

A good thing to do if the vehicle will not shift into 4LO is to have a friend take a dead blow hammer and firmly tap the transfer case near the actuator.

Let me repeat that: TAP (we're men, our idea of a gentle "tap" often ends up with a cracked transfer case! LOL) the transfer case with a dead blow hammer while trying to shift into 4LO to try and shock loose the actuator.

 

[GeoBoyOSU]

What worked for me

I was having the same problem, and it was frustrating the crap out of me....used to manual 4 wheel shifting....

The directions in the manual did not work, as you mentioned. What I found was that you had to shift into 4H first...let it engage...then shift into 4L.

I imagine I was in neutral. Hope that helps, and works for you!

 

[jonz]

Nice! Thx for clarifying.

Good luck with the 4low. I would just keep trying. Try putting it in neutral, stopped, facing downhill, if/when it doesn't engage, let off the brake slightly and just creep forward a few inches at a time and see what happens.


- Sent via Tapatalk for Android

Dealership replaced the actuator (which determined to be defective) in the transfer case and I'm good as new now. My truck is at 76k+ miles, so the extended warranty more than paid for itself. Parts & labor just under $2400 and it covered a rental for three days as well.

I had not run in 4 Lo since the tranny was replaced in January of 2010 (18 months). Lesson I learned is that in addition to running in 4HI at least 10 miles per month per the owners manual, I'll be shifting it into 4Lo as often to "exercise" the actuator and make sure it's working correctly on a regular basis.

 

[durrell]

After reading about this problem with the 3rd gens, I was nervous about my 4th gen since the PO told me he had never shifted it into 4LO. I tried it on the test drive and had no problems. Did it again today while stopped in deep sand on the beach (since 4HI was needing higher RPMs than I'd like to keep momentum) and had no problems.

I always shift my 4x4s in and out of 4LO at least once a month to keep everything nice and lubricated and I've never had a problem.

Good luck with the fix.

 

[Bedstraps]

A good thing to do if the vehicle will not shift into 4LO is to have a friend take a dead blow hammer and firmly tap the transfer case near the actuator.

Where exactly is the transfer case? What does the actuator look like?

 

[mexican]

Hi everyone, new to the forum. I just came back from a 5day trip to the San Juan Mtns and I had issues engaging my 4Lo as well, pretty annoying beeping. I used to have an FZJ80 and 2000 4Runner, both would engage 4Lo in a heartbeat.

My 2007-V6-Sport Edition sucked at engaging 4Lo every single time during my trip, some times it would take me up to 10 mins of going up and down, shift to N, back to D, then to N, then R, let it roll downhill a bit, my buddies also got tired of waiting for me while my "newer" truck took all its time to engage.

At the end, it would just magically engage, but not after some frustrating moments and lots of beeping. Once engaged the center diff would go in with no issues.
Going from 4Lo to 4Hi was never an issue, neither from 2Hi to 4Hi and back.

My truck is not on warranty, so I am hoping nothing is broken or about to get broken because would hate to drop $K's getting anything replaced.

I can't say I had used 4Lo before other than when I bought the truck to make sure it worked, could it be just a matter of using it more frequently? Just like I engage 4hi once a month?

Thanks!

 

[chaz]

yes, engage 4lo at least monthly.

 

[JB.]

Where exactly is the transfer case? What does the actuator look like?

 

[Bedstraps]

Thanks dude.

 

[ASUMTNEER]

sorry to bring up an old thread. So I should tap the transfer case and not the actuator? I've heard to tap the actuator itself...

 

[chaz]

from 9 posts above by blackworksinc. " A good thing to do if the vehicle will not shift into 4LO is to have a friend take a dead blow hammer and firmly tap the transfer case near the actuator." " Let me repeat that: TAP (we're men, our idea of a gentle "tap" often ends up with a cracked transfer case! LOL) the transfer case with a dead blow hammer while trying to shift into 4LO to try and shock loose the actuator. "

 

[subspd]

Yeah I also read to loosen the bolts on the actuator and then tap on it. Is this true? Or is just tapping enough? Also if this still does not resolve it can this actuator be replaced easily?

 

[Gdmeadors]

4 lo Not Working on 2006 V8 - Should I just swap out the TC??

I have a 2006 Limited 4WD V8 with 98,000 miles purchased 12/2013 and found out after the purchase that 4lo does not work! The center lock works fine.

I am a newer member and have researched most of the threads on this subject regarding problems with the 4LO not working. It is not the switch or the 4WD computer so it is likely the TC shift actuator. I have tried all of the tricks posted in this forum and none worked.

I am looking for advice and opinions regarding the practicality of just swapping my transfer case for a good used one with a working shift actuator. I could do the swap for no more than $1,000 maybe less versus a $2,500 repair of the existing actuator.

I appreciate any and all responses. Great forum!

 

[DC runner]

Honestly? Ignore it. Cost benefit analysis the repair. Have you ever needed 4lo? I have not. 99% of the use people have for 4wd is 4HI, on the road. Unless you expect to be a serious outdoor crawler or to need to two a house through mud or snow, you honestly will never use 4lo.
The reason all of these 4lo's are sticking is because the PO never touched it. Never needed it. So, I know as humans it is hard for us to know that it doesn't work and not get irritated, but unless you can fix it for cheap.... I just don't see it worth the cost.

My .02 cents.

I will preface this by saying I have a v8, my 4lo works, I own a large sailboat that I haul to the ramp and I don't touch 4lo. My truck is a full time 4hi, so at the ramp I just through it in 1 and have 0 issue pulling her out.

 

[Gdmeadors]

Thanks for your thoughts. I understand not needing it often, maybe never. I peviously owned a 97 4Runner and honestly never needed it. I did use it about 3-4 times but never out of necessity.

That said, it is hard to not have the feature working. It likely would decrease the resale value accordingly as well when I eventually sell it in the future.

Must say, the 4th gen is a real pleasure to drive compared to my 97! I especially enjoy the V8.

 

[Climb14er]

The 4Lo feature with the actuator on the 4Runner is one of the 'weak-spots' in the design. Oh how I miss the old lever shift to manually go into 4Lo on the pickups.

One quick note of thought...

When you drive in 4Lo... remember, on the V8 and I don't know about the V6 model...

Drive on a loose surface, a gravel road, on the grass or in an area that the surface is not asphalt type hard.

You need 'slippage' in 4Lo so that the system does not bind.

I live right by a cemetery and have a 'usual' route for the 4Runner to 'do its thing in 4Lo' for a couple of miles.

I don't know about the ten miles a month thing... but the actuator just needs a 'workout' once a month for a few miles.

While you're doing this... you might as well turn-on the locking center differential and run this while you're in 4Lo.

This will keep all parts moving so that you won't have a REAL problem later on.

 

[Martinjmpr]

When you drive in 4Lo... remember, on the V8 and I don't know about the V6 model...

Drive on a loose surface, a gravel road, on the grass or in an area that the surface is not asphalt type hard.

You need 'slippage' in 4Lo so that the system does not bind.

Not true. With the center diff unlocked (that is, center diff open) you can drive in 4 lo as long as you want and make as many turns as you like.

The only time you need slippage is if the center diff is locked.

 

[Climb14er]

Not true. With the center diff unlocked (that is, center diff open) you can drive in 4 lo as long as you want and make as many turns as you like.

The only time you need slippage is if the center diff is locked.

You go ahead and run 4Lo on dry pavement all you want.

With my V8 I will run 4Lo only on a gravel, sandy or off road surface.

Plus... As mentioned... I lock my center diff to lubricate all parts!

Even if I didn't do this... I wouldn't run 4Lo for miles on a dry surface!

 

[JB.]

T
That said, it is hard to not have the feature working. It likely would decrease the resale value accordingly as well when I eventually sell it in the future.

One thing you can do is get in the habit of trying to engage it often -- anytime you think of it (well, anytime after the engine has warmed to normal idle speed). Yes, you can drive on pavement in low range without the diff locked, but that doesn't matter. You don't even need to drive it. You're just trying to activate the actuator.

You may eventually get it engaged at which point you should engage it many times and then stay in the habit of engaging it frequently.

If all the above seems like too much, then at least you've established for yourself how badly you really want it working.

 

[2014 Warthog]

You go ahead and run 4Lo on dry pavement all you want.

With my V8 I will run 4Lo only on a gravel, sandy or off road surface.

Plus... As mentioned... I lock my center diff to lubricate all parts!

Even if I didn't do this... I wouldn't run 4Lo for miles on a dry surface!

Heh yeah, all you have to do is put it in 4L and try to turn a tight radius on pavement to quickly learn that that is not a healthy thing to do for the drive train at all Going straight is ok, but the differing tire track arcs during a turn put some pretty big strains on the drive train unless one of the wheels can slip on something.