4wd troubles after wreck

[madbomber08]

So I had a little bit of a wreck with my 4runner a few months back. About a 4000 dollar fix for a body shop to do it.

Here it is fixed.....

I think they did an excellent job. I can post more pictures of the wreck and of it fixed if you all want. Anyway, the 4wd worked great before the wreck. The green drivetrain light always came on in the bottom right side of the dash. But in fixing my runner, they switched out fuse boxes from a different AUTOMATIC 4runner because mine was pretty busted up. Luckily, after I got it back from the body shop, I had my sister get under the vehicle to see if the front drive shaft was spinning and it is, but no indicator light comes on the dash. I just figured maybe the bulb was burned out. Not the case. It was really rainy last night and I decided to drive into a mud hole in which two wheel drive and pathfinder suv tires couldn't get me out of. I was pissed and I still am.

So since it's not the transfer case that's messed up it must be the differential or the auto hubs up front. When I put it in 4 hi or 4 low when i was trying to get out of the hole, there was no grinding or creeking in the front end at all...just no spinning of either front tire. So could this be an electrical issue from the new fuse box and if anyone knows anything about this or has had this problem before please chime in I need some help!

P.S. I'm taking it back to the body shop on Monday. There going to look and see if they can find whats wrong. But if anyone has an easy fix idea on this it would be greatly appreciated. It's a 4runner it's supposed to be 4wd!

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

I was just reading this on Yotatech last night, you said it was done but didn't post pics.

Glad to see it's finally done.

 

[TheDurk]

Here is something I've posted a few times. It can be a couple of things, especially with your history.

Don't guess at it, troubleshoot! Start at the twin VSV's (Vacuum Switching Valves) on the driver fender wall. There are two long vacuum hoses that come up from the diff, one goes to each VSV. Check to see that one of the two hose nipples on the VSV's has vacuum (engine running, 4WD NOT engaged. If no vacuum either side, check the check valve going to the intake manifold and look for loose hoses or a hole in the reservoir. If there is vacuum going to one hose, then put it in 4WD. See if the vacuum switches to the other hose. If it does, and no 4WD, problem is the diff actuator or the line to the diff. If it does not, then just switch the hoses and you should go into 4WD. This confirms diff is okay.

OK, switch them back. Then use a test light to see if electrical signal from the TC also switches sides of the VSV. If it does not, problem is the switch on the TC. If it does, but the vacuum does not, the problem is the VSV itself.

I start troubleshooting at the VSV's because you can figure out where the trouble is without having to climb under the truck.

 

[madbomber08]

Durk, can you see the two vacuum hoses from these pictures?

 

[TheDurk]

Durk, can you see the two vacuum hoses from these pictures?

I can see ONE, for sure. I think the other is in shadow. It is just to the left of the red positive terminal cover in the second pic. See that ganglia of tubes below the fuse box and just to the rear of the battery? Those go to the two VSV's which are low on the fenderwall. I can also see the vac supply line with the checkvalve coming along the side of the engine on its way there.

Here is what it looks like close up--I'd would definitely make sure the plugs are well set and the tubes are all tight.

 

[madbomber08]

I think I found both of the hoses. In two wheel drive only 1 valve, the valve closest to the front of the vehicle, had suction. As soon as I put the lever into 4wd hi, both valves had suction. So what does that leave me with?

 

[TheDurk]

I think I found both of the hoses. In two wheel drive only 1 valve, the valve closest to the front of the vehicle, had suction. As soon as I put the lever into 4wd hi, both valves had suction. So what does that leave me with?

You have one very confused front actuator. They expect vacuum on only one hose at a time. Sounds like a bad VSV. See if the voltage to the plugs of the VSV that has continuous suction is going on and off as you go from 2wd to 4wd. If it is, then I would take the VSV out and bench test it. If it doesn't, maybe they missed a connection back on the TC. Quite possible.

Was it affected by the crash?

 

[madbomber08]

See I don't know if it was affected by the crash because I had never put it into 4wd from the time it was wrecked until now:shrug:. I'm thinking what happened was they put the VSV on from the donor front end, but I don't know for sure if they used it. If they used the donor VSV, maybe it's bad or it could be different somehow since I'm 99% sure the donor had an automatic transmission. Anyway, I'm taking it back to the shop on Monday or Tuesday and I believe they are going to look at it free of charge. I really hope this is nothing to serious.....

 

[TheDurk]

I'm guessing it's not (too serious.) The ADD and the VSV's on the auto and manual are the same, especially on the earlier years. They just get the signals from different places.

 

[madbomber08]

The dealer fixed it for 37.50. I don't exactly remember what the problem was, as the girl didn't give me a reciept, but I believe it was something with the actuator vacuum near the front differential itself. Probably something I could've plugged in and FIXED! But no new parts were installed, so the 37.50 was just for labor.

Now, time to change the differential, transfer case, and transmission fluid!