4wd blinking light question!

NorthWestManiac

NorthWestManiac

New member
I went and test drove a 2002 4runner today and it was in 4 high and i pushed the 4wd button and the 4wd light (orange dot and the 4 green wheels) just blinked forever and never went solid? The lights are supposed to stay solid right and not continuously blink? i did it while i was accelerating and while i was just coasting. Any help on this would be great thanks!
 
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NorthWestManiac said:
I went and test drove a 2002 4runner today and it was in 4 high and i pushed the 4wd button and the 4wd light (orange dot and the 4 green wheels) just blinked forever and never went solid? The lights are supposed to stay solid right and not continuously blink? i did it while i was accelerating and while i was just coasting. Any help on this would be great thanks!
Click to expand...

Solid Light = 4wd High is engaged.
Flashing = Not engaged.

Did you try stopping and resetting the button?
 
How fast were you going? Pretty sure 4wd won't engage until you drop below a certain mph. Can't remember what it is off the top of my head but it should be on either the card in the driver's sun shade, or in the owner's manual.

Other than that I dunno, maybe just keep playing with it. Mine sometimes takes a minute of playing with the gas/slowing down. good luck
 
Bfaulken said:
How fast were you going? Pretty sure 4wd won't engage until you drop below a certain mph. Can't remember what it is off the top of my head but it should be on either the card in the driver's sun shade, or in the owner's manual.

Other than that I dunno, maybe just keep playing with it. Mine sometimes takes a minute of playing with the gas/slowing down. good luck
Click to expand...

Yeah, its 62 MPH.
 
The fastest i was going was like 40 mph. I might go back tomorrow to take it for another test drive and maybe buy it if everything is right, thats the only thing that is bothering me about the car.

Other 4runners that i have driven went into 4wd with just a few seconds of the blinking lights
 
Ask the seller if they know what's up then. You're right, it shouldn't take longer than like 15 seconds tops, seems like that's the longest I've ever waited. The middle orange light is for the center diff, maybe that switch was in the lock position? That shouldn't prevent it from engaging but just spit-balling in case you drive it again...I'll stop there though since that's about the extent of my knowledge on this...
 
The blinking light means that there is a malfunction. Either the transfer case did not engage the front axle or the ADD did not engage. If either one of those systems malfunction, those light will blink.


Can be a costly repair. Don't buy the vehicle unless they repair it.
 
Don't be intimidated by the issue of the blinking lights. It's most likely a really easy fix. I had this issue on my 4runner a couple months ago. I was beach driving in 4HI and by the end of the day it would not come out of 4HI. The lights just blinked whenever I tried to disengage it. I ended up driving 50mph on the highway all the way back to Houston (about an hour drive) in 4HI. When I got back, I did some reading on this forum as well as Yotatech, and decided to try something.

All it took was for me to jack up the front end, and it finally popped out of 4HI. It wouldn't pop out when I jacked up the rear though. I don't know a lot about the 2001-2002's, but if it's stuck in 4HI you should try this. If it's stuck in 4WD/AWD mode you'll have to replace the front diff sensor from my understanding. It only costs about $36 so I wouldn't be too worried about the issue.
 
Dark Lord said:
Don't be intimidated by the issue of the blinking lights. It's most likely a really easy fix. I had this issue on my 4runner a couple months ago. I was beach driving in 4HI and by the end of the day it would not come out of 4HI. The lights just blinked whenever I tried to disengage it. I ended up driving 50mph on the highway all the way back to Houston (about an hour drive) in 4HI. When I got back, I did some reading on this forum as well as Yotatech, and decided to try something.

All it took was for me to jack up the front end, and it finally popped out of 4HI. It wouldn't pop out when I jacked up the rear though. I don't know a lot about the 2001-2002's, but if it's stuck in 4HI you should try this. If it's stuck in 4WD/AWD mode you'll have to replace the front diff sensor from my understanding. It only costs about $36 so I wouldn't be too worried about the issue.
Click to expand...


It wasnt stuck in 4wd, it wouldnt go into 4wd. when i tried to put it into 4wd it just blinked forever. idk if this means its a bigger issue or not?
 
Another thing to consider is that sometimes 4WD wont engage if the transfer case isn't "warmed up". On my previous 4Runner, I would sometimes have to go forward and reverse a couple times to warm it up, then it would shift easily into gear. Another option would just to see if it will go on in neutral. Hope I can help!

-DirtDawg
 
Bfaulken said:
Ask the seller if they know what's up then. You're right, it shouldn't take longer than like 15 seconds tops, seems like that's the longest I've ever waited. The middle orange light is for the center diff, maybe that switch was in the lock position? That shouldn't prevent it from engaging but just spit-balling in case you drive it again...I'll stop there though since that's about the extent of my knowledge on this...
Click to expand...

Right, If you only pressed the 4wd button the center orange light doesnt fill but if you actually shift it into 4wd HI then it should fill. But mine will flash for a while although I've never tried putting it into 4wd over like 20mph and sometimes if its cold I'll put it into reverse to make it engage.
 
It was in 4 high and then you pushed

the AWD button on the shifter? Sounds like, the center transfer case was already engaged by manually putting the trans in 4 high. When you pushed the AWD button, the trans couldnt engaged the AWD function b/c the center diff was already engaged when you put it into 4high.

Anyone?
 
When I bought my Runner for the dealership about a year ago I noticed the same thing. Also it had a slight pull to the driver side. After poking around the truck I noticed that one tire was a 265 70r16 (front driver side) and the rest were 265 75r16's. So this one tire was throwing off the front end and not letting it engage to awd. I eventually did get it into awd by driving through their parking lot really slow and once it engaged it REALLY pulled to the driver side. Which makes sense. Also it was a B**CH to get it out of awd, a lot of putting it in drive then reverse and back again.

I ended buying the truck and having them buy me a new tire at the right size, I also had them sign the paper that said they would fix it if the tire didn't work to get it driving straight and engaging into awd properly.

The tire did end up working, and after I changed the gear oil I can engage awd or 4wd in about 5 seconds after pushing the buttons.....smooth as eggs...

Something to look at on this one, maybe its the same issue.....maybe not. But if you do go with this truck just cover you A$$. Remember its a dealership and they don't give a d*mn about you or your troubles as soon as you drive off the lot.
 
MediumX said:
When I bought my Runner for the dealership about a year ago I noticed the same thing. Also it had a slight pull to the driver side. After poking around the truck I noticed that one tire was a 265 70r16 (front driver side) and the rest were 265 75r16's. So this one tire was throwing off the front end and not letting it engage to awd. I eventually did get it into awd by driving through their parking lot really slow and once it engaged it REALLY pulled to the driver side. Which makes sense. Also it was a B**CH to get it out of awd, a lot of putting it in drive then reverse and back again.

I ended buying the truck and having them buy me a new tire at the right size, I also had them sign the paper that said they would fix it if the tire didn't work to get it driving straight and engaging into awd properly.

The tire did end up working, and after I changed the gear oil I can engage awd or 4wd in about 5 seconds after pushing the buttons.....smooth as eggs...

Something to look at on this one, maybe its the same issue.....maybe not. But if you do go with this truck just cover you A$$. Remember its a dealership and they don't give a d*mn about you or your troubles as soon as you drive off the lot.
Click to expand...


One of the tires on this 4runner i looked at was significantly low on air, i dont know if that could aslo contribute to the problem as well but they were gunna fill it with more air today.
 
This is the reason I got rid of all the ADD shat. Too many "it could be's" with it.

If it's the center locking diff, you're going to have to get the dealer or a shop to replace it. $$$$$

If it's the ADD, that's an easy fix, thought I couldn't tell you how much the acutator is going to cost.

If you're set on buying this truck, if it's from a dealership, make them fix it.

Otherwise, you have a couple options.

1) You could look up how much it would be for some manual hubs, a manual t-case, manual CV's and a new driveshaft, and tell them that you'll take the Runner if they take the price of all those off of it.

2)Walk away.

All depends on how much you want a 4Runner
 
I'm going to take this 4runner to a mechanic pretty soon before i buy it to see what the problem is (if there even is one) and if there are any other issues with the car.
 
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