4LO only engages when the car is started in 4LO. Was working fine the other day.

[redrunn]

Hey Guys,

91 4Runner 3.0. Only mods are a BJ spacers and t-bars torqued in the front, with pro-comp long travels all around. 4'' lift Procomp explorer springs in the rear.

4HI and 4LO used to engage without any issues. 4HI engages fine, but it wont switch into 4LO during any operation, any gear or standstill.

The only way I can engage 4LO is to start the vehicle in 4LO and put it into drive.

Was working perfectly fine while i was having some WOT fun, then out of nowhere it just stopped engaging 4LO

Any help?

 

[redrunn]

update

it randomly fixed itself =/

Started to engage into 4lo on slow rolling.

 

[BigRyan1986]

it randomly fixed itself =/

Started to engage into 4lo on slow rolling.

Maybe bushings in the shifter or something

 

[Ahlem]

Just for future benefit for those searching...
Do you have an automatic transmission?

 

[redrunn]

not fixed!!

Just for future benefit for those searching...
Do you have an automatic transmission?

Hey, I do have an automatic, and sadly, the problem is back.

It doesn't switch to low range at all, but switches to 4HI immediately.
BUT if I switch NEUTRAL; turn the car off and on, switch to drive, then I'm in 4Lo.

I never had this issue before. I'm don't have much exp. with transfer cases. Hoping someone could chime in.

3.0V6 with an AUTO.

 

[BigRyan1986]

Hey, I do have an automatic, and sadly, the problem is back.

It doesn't switch to low range at all, but switches to 4HI immediately.
BUT if I switch NEUTRAL; turn the car off and on, switch to drive, then I'm in 4Lo.

I never had this issue before. I'm don't have much exp. with transfer cases. Hoping someone could chime in.

3.0V6 with an AUTO.

Do you have automatic or manual hubs? If you have automatic hubs check the vacuum line going to the front diff to see if they are messed up maybe........just a thought. Check to see if the bushings in the shifter to the transfer case are all good also maybe

 

[redrunn]

Do you have automatic or manual hubs? If you have automatic hubs check the vacuum line going to the front diff to see if they are messed up maybe........just a thought. Check to see if the bushings in the shifter to the transfer case are all good also maybe

i do have ADD. It engages to 4Hi no problem, so the vac lines are fine. If I switch to 4Lo in drive, it wont switch. But if i quickly switch to nuetral without touching the transfercase, and switch the car off and on, it will immediately be in 4LO

Actuator?

 

[giro]

If I switch to 4Lo in drive, it wont switch. But if i quickly switch to nuetral without touching the transfercase, and switch the car off and on, it will immediately be in 4LO

Any chance it's one of the related sensors, like a speed sensor that doesn't let you switch into lo when above 5-10mph? (just thinking of things like it not starting if not in park, or not starting if the clutch pedal or clutch skip button aren't pushed. I don't know the limits on 4lo, though I remember locking the rear diff on a 3rd gen was sensitive, so much so that the next owner swore it didn't work, and (sadly?) truthfully I only used it when test driving)

I just glanced at the FSM and didn't see anything obvious. Shouldn't be the switch, given your symptoms. I'd be tempted to try the easy route first of replacing the transfer case fluid and hope that that gets you through. Of course check the level and look at the fluid (color, and for metal) when pulling the old out.

 

[redrunn]

Any chance it's one of the related sensors, like a speed sensor that doesn't let you switch into lo when above 5-10mph? (just thinking of things like it not starting if not in park, or not starting if the clutch pedal or clutch skip button aren't pushed. I don't know the limits on 4lo, though I remember locking the rear diff on a 3rd gen was sensitive, so much so that the next owner swore it didn't work, and (sadly?) truthfully I only used it when test driving)

I just glanced at the FSM and didn't see anything obvious. Shouldn't be the switch, given your symptoms. I'd be tempted to try the easy route first of replacing the transfer case fluid and hope that that gets you through. Of course check the level and look at the fluid (color, and for metal) when pulling the old out.

Thats exactly what I was thinking. Maybe there some kind of hindrance of that sort. I don't think t-case oil has been changed in 25 years, so I'm going to be doing that first thing.

Will update.