4WD lights are flashing...HELP!

[missingpanic]

Been a member awhile and have found some threads on this subject, but not enough info to ease my mind. Here's the deal:

We live in Nashville TN, and we got about 4 inches of snow Friday. The roads were crap, so I pushed the 4WD button to get some extra traction, but now the 4WD indicator lights on the dash are blinking...

All 4 tires on the display plus the yellow light in the middle blink non-stop, even if I push the button to de-activate it.

I had my fiance back it up and drive it forward while I laid on the snow and the front drive shaft is spinning when the vehicle moves, so that tells me its locked, but does that mean its FULLY locked in? Like dont drive on pavement locked in???

What kind of damage am I doing by running it like this? Do I need to take it in to the dealership immediately? Back in the day I had an 85 K5 Blazer, and when it was in 4WD, you knew it. And you knew not to take it on the pavement, but with this system, im not so sure...

Any solid help would be greatly appreciated!

BTW, its a '99 4WD LTD.

 

[pbcolt]

dont worry just yet

I had the exact same problem. Lights flashing and wouldnt come out of 4wd. Took it to a mechanic and he told me it was the actuator motor. Found this thread 4WD won't disengage on 99 4Runner LTD - YotaTech Forums and changed out the switches and it works perfectly now. $150 in switches vs $2000 that the mechanic told me it would be.

Part #'s are 84222-35070 and 84222-12010...hope this helps

 

[theizzardking]

Been a member awhile and have found some threads on this subject, but not enough info to ease my mind. Here's the deal:

We live in Nashville TN, and we got about 4 inches of snow Friday. The roads were crap, so I pushed the 4WD button to get some extra traction, but now the 4WD indicator lights on the dash are blinking...

All 4 tires on the display plus the yellow light in the middle blink non-stop, even if I push the button to de-activate it.

I had my fiance back it up and drive it forward while I laid on the snow and the front drive shaft is spinning when the vehicle moves, so that tells me its locked, but does that mean its FULLY locked in? Like dont drive on pavement locked in???

What kind of damage am I doing by running it like this? Do I need to take it in to the dealership immediately? Back in the day I had an 85 K5 Blazer, and when it was in 4WD, you knew it. And you knew not to take it on the pavement, but with this system, im not so sure...

Any solid help would be greatly appreciated!

BTW, its a '99 4WD LTD.

so when you engaged the 4wd did you just use the push button?
if so you should be fine to drive on dry pavement to get it looked at or pick up parts, just over time it'll cost you tires and gas, if you tried shifting it with the lever and it's stuck like that, then you should keep it off dry pavement till you get it fixed,


but just so your aware the light flash for a while when engaging it and disengaging it, and you must also be moving and turn the wheels a bit to get things to lock and unlock, i once drove 35 miles when i first got my truck with those lights flashing before i found out i had to turn the wheel a certain amount to get everything to drop in, and this also happened while trying to get out of gear, you system could be functioning properly, you just need the right amount of force to unlock it.

so if your in 4h (4wheel drive high/push button on side of stick) your good to drive on pavement if your in 4h-l or below not ok to drive.

 

[rdgt4r]

I have the same problem it started last night. I was ****ing around with the push button switch but it never engaged and the lights still flash weird ha damn thing.

 

[vizdude]

Wtf ?!?!?

I have the same problem it started last night. I was ****ing around with the push button switch but it never engaged and the lights still flash weird ha damn thing.

I just bought my 99 LTD and tried the push button 4WD got the flashy lights and tried to switch back to 2WD to no avail...now stuck with flashy lights and the dealer says its just stuck in 4WD...damn

Anyone know a decent mechanic in the bay area...

 

[toytech76]

Yep. replace the position switches for the transfer case actuator and you will be back on the road. Very common failure

 

[Ghost_17]

New to the forum. Let's see how it goes! I've been troubleshooting this issue in my 2001 Limited for a couple weeks now. I've replaced the front diff actuator and one of the switches (the blue one on top of the case). I've taken apart the transfer case actuator. I swear everything should be working. If I put everything back together in 4wd, the 4 wheels will light up green. I've been able to engage the diff lock on and off multiple times with success. Then I can disengage 4wd successfully and all lights go away. Then the test... when I try to go back into 4wd my lights come back and sometimes there's even a little grind sound if I turn the wheels. It seems the front shaft is engaged with the wheels but not hooked into 4wd with the TC. Any thoughts why it won't fully go back into 4wd? I can manually do it, just wish it would do it on its own!