4LO Indicator on. Not in 4WD!!

[NCSCOTT]

A couple days ago on the way into work my 4LO indicator lit up while I was driving down the Highway. I went straight to the dealer and dropped it off (I never shut it off or tried to cycle it through the 2wd -4hi-4lo). That was over an hour from when it came on. I even stopped and got gas, leaving it running. It was obviously not in 4LO and the switch was in the 2HI position.

The dealer had to put in a call to Toyota for help. They did get the light to go off but I probably could have done that by shuting it off or cycling it thru. Toyota's response was for me to bring it in if it does it again so they can take some measurements in the wiring harness.

My biggest concern was I wanted it documented if I had a problem in the future.

Here is a pic from my cell with the 4LO (Amber indicator on the right) on while going 80 down the highway, which we all know would not be possible in 4LO. It is not the best pic.

 

[jharris2]

Did they document it for you?

 

[sant6236]

I love it, you snapped a photo while doing 80mph on the highway. Might as well been doing 110. HAHAH

 

[NCSCOTT]

It is all documented. I am just waiting to see if or when it may do it again.

The 80MPH was just to prove it was not in 4LO. You could never go that fast in 4LO. I could not take a good enough pic to show the 4x4 switch and 4LO light at the sametime with just the cell phone.

As you can tell I am the often ticketed member!!!!

I don't have a pic of 110MPH but I have had a ticket for 104MPH.

 

[hulk311]

Man, you drive fast. Was the 104mph done in the 4runner??

 

[NCSCOTT]

Man, you drive fast. Was the 104mph done in the 4runner??

No... It was in a 96 Dodge 1500 2WD 5.9L V-8, K&N FIPK, dual exhaust, Mopar performance PCM (powertrain control module), Accel coil cap & rotor, MSD Super conductor 8.5mm wires, Iridium plugs, All synthetics front to back.

It was a fairly quick truck for its day.

I actually have not had a ticket in my 4Runners. Knock on wood!!!!!!!

 

[chayos00]

Hey I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who has seen this happen!!! The only thing though was I didn't get it to Toyota for them to see. I did get the light to go away by quickly switching to 4WD back to 2WD.

After this happened I drove around in 4WD for about 10-20 miles, thinking maybe it needed to be exercised a bit. It's been about 2 months now that I haven't seen it on.

 

[NCSCOTT]

Hey I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who has seen this happen!!! The only thing though was I didn't get it to Toyota for them to see. I did get the light to go away by quickly switching to 4WD back to 2WD.

After this happened I drove around in 4WD for about 10-20 miles, thinking maybe it needed to be exercised a bit. It's been about 2 months now that I haven't seen it on.

I figured switching to 4wd and back would more than likely clear the light but with less than 15k miles I wanted it to be documented.

I believe it states in the manual somewhere to drive it in 4HI at least 10 miles a month to make sure everything stays lubed up. I usually drive the 08 to work at least once every 2 weeks. (My wife drives it the rest of the time, her drive is only 9 miles and mine is 23 one way and my 04 2wd gets a couple more MPG the the 08 4wd.) Anyway when I drive it to work I switch it to 4HI one way or the other.

If It happens again and I get it into the dealer for the checks I will post the results and any related fix on this thread.

Just for Sh!ts and grins mine was assembled 07/07. What month and years was yours? It is on the sticker top right inside the drivers door jam.

 

[chayos00]

Mine says 03/08. I've got 6037 miles on mine. I want to say that I saw this around 4K. When I talked to toyota they said that it could be one of many things. They also told me next time it happens to bring it in and they'll diagnose it, but I doubt they would find anything. Until I :bash: them till they find something!

Of course if it happens again, and they fix it I'll tell you about it too!

Lets just hope it never happens again.!

 

[chayos00]

Funny thing happened today I got my 4LO light on too, I left it on to see when it would go out, but of course it went off when I shut off my truck @ work.

So on my way home and to school I put my truck in 4HI just to exercise it.

Has anyone else seen this?!? I know we can't be the only two individuals to see this problem.

 

[chayos00]

Well my 4LO came on again, I'm going to call Toyota this time. I'll teach them how to troubleshoot an electrical problem, so they can fix it properly.

It happened again when I was accelerating, I was in Taos, NM just after skiing for the day.

 

[chayos00]

Any updates, NCSCOTT?

I've had the 4 low light on twice since the last post, but never anywhere near or able to go straight to the dealer with the problem. I called them and asked about it. One individual there had heard of the problem due to a family member experiencing the same thing, but no fixes.

Of course they told me to bring it in with the problem, but kind of hard to do so when it happens on your way to work in the AM.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Any beeping or just the light?

:cheers:

 

[NCSCOTT]

Any updates, NCSCOTT?

I've had the 4 low light on twice since the last post, but never anywhere near or able to go straight to the dealer with the problem. I called them and asked about it. One individual there had heard of the problem due to a family member experiencing the same thing, but no fixes.

Of course they told me to bring it in with the problem, but kind of hard to do so when it happens on your way to work in the AM.

Sorry No updates. I don't drive it everyday.

It has not done it again to my knowledge. My wife is pretty good about telling me when the vehicles do something out of the ordinary. I drive the 08 every weekend and every morning during the week every other week to take my son to school and that is when it is cold from sitting overnight and I have not seen it then either.

If you would like I would be willing to give you the last 8 of the vin and the dealerships name I use and there is supposed to be notes in my file as to which measurements and where to take them in the wiring harness from Toyota Engineering. Your dealer maybe able to call mine and get that info once you get it in. Your issue sounds much more persistent than my is.

Just PM me if you would like the info.

CJ3Flyr

No Beeping. Just the light in my case. Stop and go, HWY , stop and idle, it did not matter just a solid 4LO light while in the 2HI position.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

No Beeping. Just the light in my case. Stop and go, HWY , stop and idle, it did not matter just a solid 4LO light while in the 2HI position.

Hmmm... Maybe it's trying to tell you to get out of traffic and onto a trail somewhere

:cheers:

 

[chayos00]

CJ3Flyr.... I wish it was that simple.

Being that I was an aircraft electrician, the problem is only a few simple things.

1st - Wiring.
2nd - Sensor (Or adjustment)
3rd - Computer (not sure if it goes through this or not) and last
4th - Something with the dash


Give me a schematic and a toyota mechanic and I'll have it fixed within the day!

 

[NCSCOTT]

Give me a schematic and a toyota mechanic and I'll have it fixed within the day!

I second That!!! I was an Avionics tech F-111 & F-16s. Currently a FAA Technician maintaining ILS, Radar, Ground Based Navigation Aids, Radios, Lighted NAV aids, and anything the Air Traffic Controlers use to keep the planes from running into the ground and each other.

I even have a shop manual on CD but have not really look into it since it has not repeated,

 

[chayos00]

Ok, here's an update!

On Thursday I had the light come on while I was heading home, I called Toyota and they said bring it down. Well when I got there all of their technicians had gone home. (I *****ed them out about why did they say I could bring it in for them to check it out.) SO... they wanted me to bring it back the next day (Friday) so I left it with them as soon as they opened. I also made a list of all the dates it has happened and provided them with pictures of it @ 45-55mph. They believed me, plus the service guy saw it on Thursday.

So @ the end of Friday, they said they hadn't found anything yet. But they were checking all wiring for short to grounds, and opens. Plus doing the "wiggle" test on the harnesses. Plus more don't remember what else, but it sounds like they are actually trying to find out what the problem is instead of just saying "well it looks like it works!"

So they said they are going to keep it and work on it more on Monday, hopefully after all the wiring check they will either change something or all of the components that it goes through. (sensor, relay's, computer) or whatever.

I'll keep you posted. Plus for some who asks I do run my truck in 4WD Hi at least once a month for 20 miles or so.

 

[chayos00]

Well I got my truck back today, and nothing different was done other than finish checking wires and what not.


So I asked if there was a sensor that sets this off and he said there is no sensor it's all done by the ECU. So if it happens again I want to speak to a technician there and find out what else is in the system. THEN I'm going to shove it down there throat that I'm not taking it back without that stuff changed.

So to give them the benefit of the doubt of maybe a loose connection I'm going to wait till it happens again!

Jason

 

[Summit]

I've had my 4LO come on about a dozen times. It is usually when I'm accelerating up mountain passes. I'm always in 2HI when it happens and it won't clear till I turn the vehicle off.

Anyone have any further info?