4WD Troubles

[Bballreich]

2000 4Runner Limited, 192,000 miles, daily driver, no off roading (yet). I like to engage the 4WD system every once in a while just to make sure the rotating bits get fresh lubrication. I did this a couple of days ago and everything was good going into 4WD. Things weren't so good coming out of 4WD. The lights on the center of the instrument binnacle were flashing. I've seen this before and did what I normally do. I tried stopping, going into reverse, going into drive. Nothing seemed to work. It seemed to be driving OK, just wouldn't come out of 4WD. Then, I noticed it was really difficult to turn the wheels to the left, especially when moving slowly or parking. There was a clunking sound as well. I finally nailed the throttle making a left turn and she popped out of 4WD and the lights went off. Seems to drive fine now and I don't see any busted parts hanging from the bottom or fluids streaming from underneath. I am tempted to go "exercise" the 4WD system with the attitude "if it breaks, it needed to be replaced anyway" but I really don't want to break anything if I don't need to. Any suggestions?

 

[4runnerWiniarski23]

When was the last time you swapped your tranny fluid? Greased up your driveline? Maybe something was "stuck" because of old fluid.. Just a thought I could be way off.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

 

[Bballreich]

All the fluids are fresh, within the last 10,000 miles or so including the differentials.

 

[mikeferg]

All the fluids are fresh, within the last 10,000 miles or so including the differentials.

I would try it again and see if you want get under the car while you engaged in and out of 4wd to see if anything is freezing up like rust? did you replace the diff fluid your self? if not check the fluid maybe they never did it or they put the wrong fluid in, I dont trust taking my cars to places...

 

[atalarico]

There have been a lot of threads about disengaging 4WD troubles, so check those out too. I had the same issue for a long time and tried pretty much everything. Mine would disengage if I would turn the car off, count to 3, and then back on and start moving again.

It wasn't until I replaced my transfer case front output shaft seal that it resolved, and that was only dumb luck. I was replacing that seal to fix the leak in that area. Oddly enough, one of the first things you're supposed to do when replacing that seal is rotate the front drive shaft, which you're supposed to be able to do with your hand. Mine wouldn't budge. I did the replacement, and I could spin that thing without a problem.

The popping and hard to turn thing is pretty normal for 4WD on dry pavement, and is why it's advised NOT to turn the wheel in 4WD on dry pavement. The fact that you haven't taken you 4Runner wheeling yet is criminal. Go, right now!

 

[alumarine]

If you were in true 4wd then you may have binded it up by trying to turn or park on pavement.

 

[Bballreich]

OK, so now I'm confused. I thought that simply pressing the button on the 4WD shifter would engage all four wheels but that you could continue to drive on dry pavement. Is that not the case?

 

[Konkordmusk]

You are correct, you have the multi-mode transfer case which means that when you press that button and are fully engaged, you are in a sort of AWD mode and are perfectly fine to drive on dry pavement. It is not until you press the center-differential lock that you are in 4wd.
The only thing that happens when you press the button, is the ADD tube sleeve slides on over and engages the front driveshaft. This means that if you're having trouble disengaging, you need to be looking at the front differential, more specifically the ADD electronics. There is a way to test it, and to apply power directly to the connector to power the sleeve. You should do this test and report back.

 

[jgue467]

When i first got my vehicle it did the same it would struggle going into and out of 4wd. Changing all the fluids helped some but i think what helped most was repeated use.

Now mine will go into/out with relative ease. What I've learned works best for mine is to engage/disengage while traveling at low speeds (say 20 or less) in a straight path. If it delays to engage/disengage then I give it very light throttle and back off the throttle after a couple seconds then repeat if necessary. I used to try the 'right turn' to engage and 'left turn' to disengage and that definetly seemed to help until it smoothed out on its own.

It doesn't always go in/out easy but much better so I think it can be normal to occasionally have some trouble yet at others stated just don't engage the center locker on paved roads/concrete unless you can assure yourself you won't need to make hard turns. Luck and enjoy. :cowboy:

 

[willhaman21]

My 99 Limited had 4wd problems as well when I first picked it up. I couldn't find any one else that had the same issue, so I ended up replacing the transfer case with a low mileage used unit after spending over a year trying and failing to diagnose it.

A good trick to get you home on asphalt if its stuck in 4wd: Open the hood, and swap the hoses on the Blue and Brown VSV hoses on the driver's side fender well. This will disengage the front differential (kinda like being in a truck with the transfer case in 4HI but the hubs unlocked) and allow you to drive home without binding on high traction surfaces. Saved my ass quite a few times.

Feel free to PM me if you have questions about anything, like I said, I tried everything to fix mine before biting the bullet and replacing it.

 

[alumarine]

OK, so now I'm confused. I thought that simply pressing the button on the 4WD shifter would engage all four wheels but that you could continue to drive on dry pavement. Is that not the case?

You never mentioned how you were engaging it or what system you had.

 

[Bronconhoj]

3rd gen 4wd will not engage manually

Hey , I have a 4Runner 3rd Gen stick shift and the transfer case,. stick shift will not engage. from inside the rig.

I have to pop the hood and rearrange 4 vacuum hoses. to get 4wd,. and then put back to get 2 wheel drive. when this happens the light goes on and the 4 wheel works as it should,.

I am taking it to garage to check the solenoids that they are working properly however I think that the transfer case shifter lever ( which was previously removed and then reinstalled might not have been put back properly.

Has anyone experienced this ? Any links to show what the transfer case spring and guts should look like and the shifter knob to know if its ok or not ?

Thanks
John

 

[TheDurk]

Hey , I have a 4Runner 3rd Gen stick shift and the transfer case,. stick shift will not engage. from inside the rig.

I have to pop the hood and rearrange 4 vacuum hoses. to get 4wd,. and then put back to get 2 wheel drive. when this happens the light goes on and the 4 wheel works as it should,.

I am taking it to garage to check the solenoids that they are working properly however I think that the transfer case shifter lever ( which was previously removed and then reinstalled might not have been put back properly.

Has anyone experienced this ? Any links to show what the transfer case spring and guts should look like and the shifter knob to know if its ok or not ?

Thanks
John

Just check to see if the front shaft locks when you engage 4wd and free wheels in 2wd. Then the shift part is fine. You just need to figure out if the ADD does not engage because of the VSVs (solenoids), the relay, the position switch on the TC, or the wiring.