4LO not engaging

[Bedstraps]

I have a 2006 V8 SR5. My 4Lo has never worked since I purchased used. Today I got under my rig after flipping the switch. It engages something. Just a squeeky beepy sound. like something is rotating and not doing what it should be doing. Does anyone have a clue what the problem would be?

 

[lightfreak]

Probably seized from lack of use.

Cycle between 4Hi and 4Lo like a dozen times it should come loose.

It may help to pop the gear shift into neutral each time you shift between modes. I like to run them through all the modes at least once a month to keep things loose.

 

[Bedstraps]

Probably seized from lack of use.

Cycle between 4Hi and 4Lo like a dozen times it should come loose.

It may help to pop the gear shift into neutral each time you shift between modes. I like to run them through all the modes at least once a month to keep things loose.

I was thinking it was seized but the sound it was making made me think otherwise. It sounded like movement. Maybe I am not understanding what seized means.

 

[DallasGooner]

Best case is you get it working as mentioned about. Worst case you need a new actuator. Lots of threads on what has worked for other people if you search. Once you get it working use it monthly just to keep it working.

 

[Bedstraps]

Best case is you get it working as mentioned about. Worst case you need a new actuator. Lots of threads on what has worked for other people if you search. Once you get it working use it monthly just to keep it working.

What does the actuator do?

 

[BlackWorksInc]

The actuator engages the sleeves on the transfer case like you would on a manual transmission.

Try to switch between the Hi and Lo and TAP the case with a hammer or mallet.

 

[DallasGooner]

See http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/25245-4lo-beeping-2.html#post837670 for picture of the 4x4 actuator. Emphasis on tap, don't break it.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

See http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/25245-4lo-beeping-2.html#post837670 for picture of the 4x4 actuator. Emphasis on tap, don't break it.

This cannot be stressed enough! Tapping on starters, 4WD Actuators, ect when they get stuck is often a simple diagnostic tool/solution. But the idea is you are giving it a slight shock to budge the stuck component, NOT to beat the living @#*^ out of the transfer case.

 

[co2tx]

hope this helps u out. Best of luck

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/probl...-4hi-engages-fine-dealership-couldnt-fix.html

 

[Daron-t4r]

This may be a stupid question, but are you in neutral while going into 4lo? You have to be in neutral.

 

[Bedstraps]

This may be a stupid question, but are you in neutral while going into 4lo? You have to be in neutral.

Yes I read the visor.

I fully engage the parking brake.
Put in neutral.
Select 4 lo.
Look at dash 4lo blink.
Turn off radio and HVAC.
open door crawl underneath the transmission.

When I am directly below actuator I hear a faint squeaky sound. All the forward and reversing doesn't shake anything loose. Can I take off the front of the actuator and lubricate something or does the whole thing need to be replaced?

 

[ClockWork]

The whole transfer case needs to be dropped. 12 hours of dealer labor. One Lexus tech figured out a way to remove the actuator only; however, GL finding a dealer that will do it.

 

[DallasGooner]

Yes I read the visor.

I fully engage the parking brake.
Put in neutral.
Select 4 lo.
Look at dash 4lo blink.
Turn off radio and HVAC.
open door crawl underneath the transmission.

Don't use the parking brake, the visor just says apply the brake, as in keep your foot on the pedal. I just tested in mine and with the parking brake on 4lo just keeps flashing but with no parking brake it goes solid almost instantly.

 

[DallasGooner]

Any update on if this worked for you not using the parking brake?

 

[spenceuiuc]

So for those who have had success with tapping the actuator, has it been a permanent fix, or did the actuator ultimately fail and need replaced?

 

[simple]

I used to have an 04 and mine seized. Or atleast wouldn’t work. It stayed blinking for minutes. Like somebody else allude to here, I had great success when I ended up just flipping the specter back and forth a dozen or so times and it finally worked. It was fine after that. I would imagine tapping the actuator does the same thing in jarring it loose. I would also imagine you’ll be good as long as you engage it every month or so.

 

[ByeJeep]

It took me 30-40 tries to get 4lo to engage. Maybe more. Tried using every combination of with and without the center diff locked, trying on a slight slope and letting it roll forward in neutral, trying on flat then back to 4hi and going forward or back 10 ft. then trying again.

Pay attention to the beep the actuator makes and roll down your window so you can hear it, it's very faint. It gives a 3 sec beep and then chirps every sec. if it's not engaging. If it doesn't beep right away it's trying, so wait a bit until the beeping starts.. I was close to giving up but it eventually gave a clunk and whaddya know, the 4lo light was solid. Persistence is key.:vader:

 

[mcyota]

I was able to get mine to work after trying to switch it to 4lo about 100 times over the past couple of days and also taking a hammer and piece of wood and tapping around on the xfer case and actuator housing.

I bought my '06 v6 from my dad, who bought it from my brother, who bought it new. Neither my dad nor my brother ever used 4lo, so it's been unused since '06.

I was really thinking I was going to have to take it somewhere and BAM...it just started working. I had one person in the cab switching it to 4lo every 5 seconds or so while I was tapping.