4WD - 10min of your time could save me $900 - Please help!

[jlarew]

If you have a 4WD V6 4th gen 4runner, I need 10min of your time to help me identify something that could save me from buying a new actuator or spending countless hours under my 4Runner. There is a blue indicator behind a plate with 2 screws in it on the infamous transfer case actuator . (see pics) If someone could PLEASE crawl under their truck, unscrew that little plate and take a picture of in while in 2WD, then start it up and put it in 4WD and take a pic, I would be so grateful. I'm trying to get my gearing aligned properly after taking everything apart to free up the 4Low motor. I plan on putting a DYI up once I get these gears timed. So again:
1. Locate transfer case actuator on back side of transfer case (no need to jack up your vehicle).
2. Unscrew the two screws holding the plate on.
3. Take pic of blue indicator position.
4. Start up vehicle and switch to 4WD
5. Take pic of blue indicator position
6. Put back in 2WD, turn off vehicle, and put 2 screws back in.
7. Post pics - THAT'S IT!!!

 

[08T4R]

If I had a camera and screwdriver I'd help for sure, right now I'm at my moms without tools or anything..

 

[Kmvreter]

I can do this Monday if no one has done it by then.

 

[jlarew]

I can do this Monday if no one has done it by then.

Thanks so much! I can't wait to get this fixed and back on the road! This will be a HUGE help!

 

[08T4R]

Here ya go man. First pic is 4hi, second is 2wd. You should be able to figure out orientation of pic by the transfer case in the background. If you need more lemme know. Also sorry about size if they're huge, I used tapatalk on my phone to upload. At first I didn't see any difference, but then I noticed the change in rotation of the blue piece. Good luck to ya!

 

[jlarew]

08T4R - Thank you so much!!! This is exactly what I needed!

 

[Kmvreter]

Here ya go man...

Thanks also.
Saves me crawling under mine in the cold.

 

[08T4R]

No problem. Hope it helps. Post up if you figured out a way to fix the frozen actuator issue! Many would thank you.

 

[zonianbrat]

The DIY will help out a lot I think. I keep reading about more and more people with this problem. And they say the solution is to actuate the 4wd at least once a month. I can say for sure that this does help. We have had some really cold temps here and the snow that has fallen has stayed around so I have used my 4wd a lot. When I first got the truck, going into 4wd took quite a few seconds (never counted) and 4 low took a few seconds as well. Now it goes into 4wd in twice as fast and 4 low is about instant. So actuate that 4wd often people!

 

[jlarew]

I definitely plan on posting a DYI. I've found bits and pieces of how to do it across numerous forums, but no start to finish - especially nothing on reassembly. The really tricky part is getting everything timed right. It's really not that hard once you figure it out, but without knowing exactly how the gears need to be positioned, it takes a lot of trial and error.

I got into this whole mess because I didn't engage my 4wd (make sure you do HIGH and LOW) on a monthly basis. My front actuator (ADD) wasn't actuating. When I'd flip the knob, the 4wd lights would just flash. The dealer wanted $997 to fix it. I said no thanks and used a DYI I found on Yotatech. I removed the actuator and jumped the motor with a 12V source. The motor turned super slow and then freed up. So I thought I was set. Got everythign back together and took it for a test drive. Flipped the knob and TADA! 4wd! I'm thinking I'm the man at this point. High fiving myself. Push the diff lock. Bam! Locks in. Oh yeah! Then I put it in neutral and flip it to 4Low....nothing. I drove all around trying everything - all of the suggestions on the forums - backing up for 50 feet, taping on the transfer case actuator with a rubber mallet while my wife went from 4high to 4low...everything. SO I knew I had the same problem as the ADD - the 4low actuator motor was seized. I know that if I could just hit it with my 12V source, that I'd be back in business... This one is a little more complicated. There are compound gear trains in this one with limit switches and gears with multiple contacts. It is a mess.

Long story short, I'm almost done getting everthing back together. I got the 4low motor freed up, I just have to get everything timed properly. I'll shoot out a DYI when I'm finished. It has been a long process, but it feels good to save $3500 ($1000 for the front and $2500 for the transfer actuator from the dealer).

 

[Kmvreter]

I definitely plan on posting a DYI. I've found bits and pieces of how to do it across numerous forums, but no start to finish - especially nothing on reassembly. The really tricky part is getting everything timed right. It's really not that hard once you figure it out, but without knowing exactly how the gears need to be positioned, it takes a lot of trial and error.
...

Thanks for figuring this out for us.
So the repair manual pages aren't enough info to actually service the unit?