4Lo won't engage - Beeping coming from actuator itself??

[b.hog]

I have an 06 bought used last year. The damn thing was immaculate and drove so sweetly...I forgot all about 4lo. Bought it, brought it home and was mortified to find 4lo wouldn't engage.

I had thirty days of warranty and I tried every day for 25 days or so.

Finally, on a hot summer day I started her up and let her idle on the baking hot driveway for about 30-40 minutes periodically cycling the actuator. That did it. Somehow it seems to have softened the grease and grit enough to engage the 4lo.

The first time it went in it made a really awful sound. After cycling it a number of times the sound got less and less and the speed of engagement went faster and faster. It works smooth as silk now and I cycle it once a month.

Give it a try.

Will do. Thanks

 

[Planetölogy]

Thanks for the reminder. All systems go!

 

[b.hog]

Got it finally. Tried after I got to job site this morning, no go , tried at a friends house, nadda. Tried 3 times waiting on a train and for giggles I tried sitting at a stop light. She decided stop light it was, then stayed locked in and I had to limp it to a parking lot. She moves in and out really good now.

 

[eviele]

got it finally. Tried after i got to job site this morning, no go , tried at a friends house, nadda. Tried 3 times waiting on a train and for giggles i tried sitting at a stop light. She decided stop light it was, then stayed locked in and i had to limp it to a parking lot. She moves in and out really good now.

yay!

 

[CookieRoe]

Great to hear many of you are trying to engage 4Lo with (eventual) success. I just moved to a complex where there's plenty of places (dirt/grass) to try it on. I may try before it gets cold.

 

[Restless1911]

Omg thank you thank you thank you

Just bought an 07.
Same issue.
This thread saved me a fight and ton of money.
Thank you for sharing your wealth of info.
You all saved my butt and big weight off my shoulders.
Its all working perfectly now!

 

[nytosc]

Unfortunately my 4wd wouldnt engage- ended up swapping transfer cases (huge gamble if the replacement would be good or not... got lucky.

I now have a transfer case from my 04 4.0 that needs an actuator. Any ideas what it is worth? I figure this is a great option for someone to install a new actuator while its out of the car and save a ton of time. I was thinking $200 or so?

 

[benztech82]

I had a 2002 benz G500 before, those had problems with engaging 4lo as well. Shift motors were fine, modules had bad grounds and dealer cost was $700 CAD parts only. Luckily with 4gen 4runners its a matter of using a shift motor to keep it operational. Cant wait until Fri to get my truck.

 

[Proper.com]

This is eppic work. But reading through many posts, the breather seems to be the issue with lettin in condensation and freezing up the motors and gears


Crazy thought on my part, but wouldnt it be possible to just run a lithium grease spray or some type of lubricant down into the breather hose?! In which it will Coming contact with the dc motor and or anything else the water came in contact with?


Seems the simplest way to come in direct contact with the internals without actually tearing anything apart?!!!

 

[PJOT63]

2006 4 lo

I slightly loosened the three bolts that mount transfer case actuator, gave it a jiggle, tightened them back up and 4LO immediately engaged. Now once a week I engage it and have had no problems since.

Hello from naper- I read your post and would liek to knwo how hard you tapped if at all and if by slightly loosening was there any fluid that came out? Or is it dry-