4th gen stuck in 4Lo. Help!!

[heavenscape]

There is a 4WD control module behind the glove box. My center diff would not lock and it turned out moisture had gotten to this and corroded it. Maybe this is the culprit for the center diff and possibly the 4Lo too.?...

I had problem with my 4WD system, a different issue with the 4WD light keeps flashing no matter what, 4WD will not engage. and the mechanic told me he spent 4 hours tracking it down and it was the shock absorber of the glove box hitting the control module and made the computer gone stupid. he end up removing the shock absorber to fix it.

 

[Robs08Runner]

Could I recommed, if you haven't done this already, driving around the neighborhood at a safe speed for 4low for 20 minutes or so to get the fluids good and hot in the tcase and then trying to go back into 4high? If this doesn't work, it's time to bite that bullet.

 

[TFJ-4runner]

You're supposed to be in Neutral when shifting to low range and stopped. Since you heard a pop who knows what could be the cause. I doubt water and mud exposure harmed it based on the volume of heavy wheelers on here that have no cycle issues. If you don't cycle the transfer case at least one a month you're doomed to have this happen. This is a very outcome and I've had friends avoid buying certain 120 trucks if the previous owners didn't cycle the drivetrain. Use it or lose it folks, best of luck man.

 

[Erkelbot]

This thread is 6 years old. Just sayin...

 

[CookieRoe]

This thread is 6 years old. Just sayin...

True, but let it serve as a warning to those who don't engauge 4x4.

 

[Erkelbot]

True enough. Also worth noting that a lot of basic information is on the little card above your head in the visor in the car. Lots of helpful tidbits on that card.

 

[Bstrom]

I gotta be grateful to the PO of my 'runner. The 4WD works beautifully without a sound. I am so anally careful with using this feature. Sad such a spiffy vehicle is prone to such frustrating issues. Kinda takes some of my confidence away from Toyota.

Would putting my Gen 3 Limited in the AWD mode once a week count as a proper engagement or do I need to get into 4WD Low to ensure reliable operation? This needs to be emphasized.

 

[Erkelbot]

I'd say a monthly 10 miles ought do it. I'm pretty sure that's what Toyota advises in the manual to ensure proper lubrication. There's a thread that comes up monthly as a reminder, so use that as a reminder. To be thorough, I'd do your monthly 4hi and then find a soft patch of gravel/snow/grass and flip it into 4lo. I don't think you need to run it in 4lo long -- just a bit of driving to make sure it gets some use.

 

[Gdmeadors]

The point of putting the transfer case into 4lo and using the CDL is to exercise the gears and the electric motor in the shift actuator attached to the transfer case. This prevents the actuator from freezing up. There is no need to actually drive the vehicle to keep your actuator healthy! The actuator is driven by an electric motor. Of course, it can be fun to drive around in 4lo with the center diff locked!

 

[JTR178]

Hate to resurrect an old thread, but I can't create a thread yet.

Bought a 2004 Sport V8 a few days ago. During the test drive I tested switching to 4lo and the center diff. No real problems there.

Today on the way to work I was stopped at a redlight at the bottom of a large hill, both snow and sleet on the roadway. I locked the center diff no problem and disengaged it when I got into the parking lot.

I went out on a coffee run earlier and the "4Lo" light was blinking "VSC OFF" "Trac Off" light was on. I never put the vehicle in 4Lo and the switch was still in 4Hi. I have tried everything to rectify this. I can even get it into 4Lo without the blinking after playing with the switch and center diff, and the truck is indeed in 4Lo. It will even disengage by switching to 4Hi, but it beeps at me until turning switch to 4LO where the light is steady 4LO but truck is not in low range.

Any ideas?

 

[4runner206]

Hate to resurrect an old thread, but I can't create a thread yet.

Bought a 2004 Sport V8 a few days ago. During the test drive I tested switching to 4lo and the center diff. No real problems there.

Today on the way to work I was stopped at a redlight at the bottom of a large hill, both snow and sleet on the roadway. I locked the center diff no problem and disengaged it when I got into the parking lot.

I went out on a coffee run earlier and the "4Lo" light was blinking "VSC OFF" "Trac Off" light was on. I never put the vehicle in 4Lo and the switch was still in 4Hi. I have tried everything to rectify this. I can even get it into 4Lo without the blinking after playing with the switch and center diff, and the truck is indeed in 4Lo. It will even disengage by switching to 4Hi, but it beeps at me until turning switch to 4LO where the light is steady 4LO but truck is not in low range.

Any ideas?

When you're stopped and in nuetral, if you switch to 4low, (once it stops blinking) and then to drive, it keeps blinking and beeping for you? it sounds like 4low is not engaging for you, to me at least.

 

[JTR178]

When you're stopped and in nuetral, if you switch to 4low, (once it stops blinking) and then to drive, it keeps blinking and beeping for you? it sounds like 4low is not engaging for you, to me at least.

The switch is in 4L, but the truck is definitely not in low range... when I try to move the switch back to 4H while in Neutral with my foot on the brake the 4LO light just blinks and won't allow me to shift into D without beeping. It's throwing a frozen actuator code, but if I play with it enough I can get it to engage into 4L. Here is a pic of the dash...

 

[GunniCO]

Going to resurrect this even more instead of starting a new post.
I have a 2003 V6 with alot of similar problems that i have been trying to research. From my research I think that my similar issue is caused by moisture and im hoping someone can verify my thinking.

So in my case, all of my 2wd,4hi,4low, Center Diff, all work, but the strange thing of it is, is sometimes if im in 2wd and turn my steering wheel a certain angle, the little 4Hi light will turn on and off quickly even though im in 2wd.

When its raining or snowing sometimes the 4i, 4lo and Center Diff light will blink until i restart the car.

This all seems to happen when there is some sort of moisture, ie rain or snow.
I had read about moisture getting into the control module behind the glove box and messing with 4wd. Any thoughts. Again under normal circumstances all of the 4wd/2wd features work.

I dont think it would be the actuator in the front diff, because again it does shift in and out of all the selections.

 

[TowMeOut]

Yep...if you've got a "ghost in the machine" I'd definitely take a look at the 4wd "computer" under the glove box. When I was trying to reset the timing on my actuator after I had it apart any "error" the box detected caused all kinds of problems. Several times I had to pull the connection from that box and the front actuator, hook a power supply to the actuator motor to disengage, then plug everything back in. That box acts like a spoiled child in that if it detects an "error" it just stops working or even trying to shift the t-case or front actuator. I think that's kind of a "safe" mode to make you bring it to the dealer or otherwise take it in for repair.

I'd take a good look in that area for any signs of moisture and check the harness for any corrosion. Mine got a big glob of diaelectric greas (spark plug boot grease) when I put everything back together "just in case". Right next to that box is the "brain" for the TPMS. If you start getting crazy indications of low tires then I'd definitely home in on that area again.

Good luck!!

 

[Ausumm]

Sorry to add another layer of question marks to this thread, but my problem is also similar but unique.
After trying to use 4LO to get up a hill, the 4LO light just blinks.
I turned the selector to 4HI, and then to 2HI...
and the 4LO light continued to blink.
Turning the truck off seemed to clear the lights...
but when I got back in to go home,
the trucks now feels like it is either isn't shifting up...
or it's stuck in 4LO.
There is that feeling that the truck has been downshifted from DRIVE...
and every time you take your foot off the gas, it slows down.
Testing it out today, it seems to do fine shifting into 4HI....
but 4LO just makes the light blink as before.
I was in the parking lot trying to shift from LO to HI, tried going in reverse for long stretches...
but no change. Still feels like it's stuck in 4LO,
even though the lights don't indicate that it is.
Kinda odd, too....the 4LO light only blinks when you try to put it in 4LO...
And will not stop blinking, even after you switch back to 4HI or 2HI.
The only way to clear the light is to turn the truck off and then re start it.
=
=

 

[Ausumm]

Wow!

What I thought was a huge a** lump of coal
turned into a very nice gift.
Mechanic just called and it was in fact STUCK IN 4LO.

So, it was labor only.....cost around $78 !

 

[schwein]

Wow!

What I thought was a huge a** lump of coal
turned into a very nice gift.
Mechanic just called and it was in fact STUCK IN 4LO.

So, it was labor only.....cost around $78 !

So I assume he just banged around the actuator a bit till it released and went back to 4WH?

I tried out my 4WL for the first time in ages last week. At first it slipped into 4WL wile in natural perfectly, all the right lights were on, no beeping etc.. then later that day I put it back in 4WL and drove around a parking lot for a bit to try it out, then getting back int 4WH took a couple of turns of the dial. made me a little nervous but sounds like if it gets stuck a good mechanic can bash it back into 4WH if you are lucky rather than replace the whole actuator unit?

 

[feralcomprehension]

Worked for me...

 

[Ausumm]

So I assume he just banged around the actuator a bit till it released and went back to 4WH?

I tried out my 4WL for the first time in ages last week. At first it slipped into 4WL wile in natural perfectly, all the right lights were on, no beeping etc.. then later that day I put it back in 4WL and drove around a parking lot for a bit to try it out, then getting back int 4WH took a couple of turns of the dial. made me a little nervous but sounds like if it gets stuck a good mechanic can bash it back into 4WH if you are lucky rather than replace the whole actuator unit?

Not sure exactly what he did to get it out of 4LO...
but it was "labor only" so I assume he banged on the actuator motor to get it out.
I was also turning the dial back and forth, in and out of neutral, driving in reverse... to get it back into 4HI. But it never got there.
Basically he said that with normal driving, you never really need to go into 4LO...
and told me I should simply use 4HI.
And he also confirmed the "use it or lose it" theory.
I put it into 4HI at least once a month, just to keep it working well...and never had a problem with 4HI.
I never did it regularly with 4LO, because I had issues in the past.
-
-

 

[STEVE HOLT!!!]

The switch is in 4L, but the truck is definitely not in low range... when I try to move the switch back to 4H while in Neutral with my foot on the brake the 4LO light just blinks and won't allow me to shift into D without beeping. It's throwing a frozen actuator code, but if I play with it enough I can get it to engage into 4L. Here is a pic of the dash...

JTR, I'm currently experiencing the exact same thing in my 07 V8 4WD.

Did you ever get yours figured out?