4wd not engaging

C

cgarrett5119

New member
You guessed it... Stuck in North Carolina trying to get back to nashville and my 4wd on my 04 4Runner won't engage. The lights blink when I go to 4wd high. When I go back to 2wd they continue blink. When I go in to 4wd lo the vsc is off and blinks with noise. Feel like I have tried all the tricks but nothing has worked. Any thoughts???

Btw, I can hear the buzz when I change into 4hi with just the key on, no engine
 
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mine usually takes like 30-60 seconds to engage however, sometimes when i am rolling and come to a stop it would just keep blinking. I realized that rolling around 20-30mph at a constant pace, it will go right in. If it doesn't engage, just turn the switch back to 2hi and then go back to 4hi.
 
I saw a post by BlackWorks last week saying that you might be able to unstick the actuator by flipping it into 4Hi and then real quick jumping underneath the truck (taking all safety measures of course) and giving the actuator housing a tap with a rubber mallet.

If you've tried everything else, give it a shot.
 
Does it mean anything if the light keeps blinking even when I switch back to 2hi? Will try the mallet truck when I get back home.

What's the buzz noise I hear when I engage using the button?
 
cgarrett5119 said:
Does it mean anything if the light keeps blinking even when I switch back to 2hi? Will try the mallet truck when I get back home.

What's the buzz noise I hear when I engage using the button?
Click to expand...

when you turn it to 4hi, come to a stop, put it in neutral, reverse, and drive. repeat this process a few times. if it doesnt go into 4hi, you most likely have an actuator problem. the buzzing noise you hear is more than likely the hydroboost for the braking system. when 4x4 engages you'll hear a clicking sound coming from the center console if you listen closely
 
Okay so I can now hear the actuator every now and then when I try with just the ignition on, no engine. 4wd still won't engage. Thoughts?
 
cgarrett5119 said:
Got a clunk but didn't engaging
Click to expand...

hmm.. Mine makes a clunk when it DOES engage almost instantly.. going to 4lo from 4hi that is(I have a V8).. My actuator stuck for a while and it took me putting it upwards on a slight slope(my driveway) and letting it slowly roll backwards for a few inches after setting it on 4lo .. Don't ask how but I read someone else had tried this with success.. After I tried the mallet and had no luck, I figured wth! Sure enough it worked. I make a point to engage it more often now and have had no issues ever since.. Going on a year since it was stuck..
 
If your VSC light is on I'm thinking maybe your center diff lock is on. Make sure the center diff lock is off and try again going forward, then stop, backward, and so on.

How long has it been since it was in 4wd?
 
Still have no 4wd. I am getting a clunk and can hear the actuator from time to time. What does the vacuum leak diagnosis look like?
 
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