My 2000 Limited has 5spd manual and V6. 4wd works fine when cold, but if it has been driven several miles (to a trailhead, snowy road, etc.) it will not engage the 4wd. If it sits for a half hour or more, the 4wd works fine and it will shift back to 2wd. But if I have run it any distance, it will not go into 4wd again. Anyone else have this?
4wd won't engage when warm
- Thread starter 4ruiner
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
I didn't think they ever offered a manual limited trim. Do you have a standard j-shift or a multimode transfer case?
jgue467
Senior Member
Nope, I have the standard J shift for the transfer case. Thus, when it is working properly, I have 2Hi, 4Hi and 4Lo. As a side note I took it out this afternoon. It works great when cold. I drove for about 45 min. to see when it would start to fail to engage 4wd. When it did begin to fail, I could hear the relay clicking and buzzing as the green dash light also flickered. I know if I had driven further it would not have tried to shift into 4wd at all. Could it be the switch in the transfer case seizing up or do they fail completely?
jgue467
Senior Member
I've not read of anyone else having anywhere similar problems on this site.
Guessing diff fluids have been replaced? Mine needed that to help get the parts moving from the previous owner's Non-use of 4wd yet your situation is opposite.
I suspect you could remove the switch to test it via the FSM specs to know if it is getting weak. Luck.
Guessing diff fluids have been replaced? Mine needed that to help get the parts moving from the previous owner's Non-use of 4wd yet your situation is opposite.
I suspect you could remove the switch to test it via the FSM specs to know if it is getting weak. Luck.
If you don't have a multimode transfer case then you don't have a Limited, but that's besides the point here.
I would recommend removing and cleaning the transfer case and add position switches.
Here's a 2000 FSM: Update your browser to use Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Sites, Slides, and Forms - Google Drive Help You have a VF2A transfer case. Post up some interior pics please.
phattyduck
Elite Member
Unless the previous owner swapped in a manual, you have an SR5. It would also have the door cladding, wide fender flares, leather interior, etc. if it was a Limited. No Limiteds came with a manual trans.
There should just be a single 'click' of the relay when you go from 2HI to 4HI. If there is buzzing or other odd noises, I would expect one of the position switches on the transfer case is a bit intermittent.
-Charlie
I did buy this used and you folks are correct. This is definitely an SR5 with 5spd manual and a VF2A transfer case. I suspect the transfer position switch is failing as movement of the transfer lever, when it is on the cusp of not operating, will cause the relay to click. I have ordered an new one and am not looking forward to changing it. I appreciate all your suggestions and would be pleased to hear any insight on how best to do that. I am sure someone has addressed this in the forums. Thanks again.
I removed the switches on my auto vf3am transfer case for cleaning and I had to take the transmission crossmember off so I could lower the transmission/transfer case so I could get to the position sensors. I had to borrow a big wrench too if I remember correctly. Anyways, might be something to try if you have trouble getting to the switch.
Well, I made the special tool out of a deep well socket to change the 4wd detection switch on my transfer case. What a booger; still can't find my wobble attachment. Everything 4wd worked great until I had driven about 20 miles and then once again no 4wd. The relay in the passenger footwell area stopped clicking. Once the car sat parked for awhile, presto, the relay clicks and 4wd operates again. I don't think it was the switch. I wonder if the relay heats up, since it appears to always have power, and then gets sticky. Anyone have problems with this relay?
cl4Rk
Member
I bought a 1 1/16" socket, which is almost exactly 27mm, I opened up one side for the wires to stick through and had to trim probably an inch off the length to fit it in the confined space. Oh, I also found my wobble adapter about 10 ft away from where it fell, among some parts I picked up today. Amazing how far parts can travel on concrete with just a little kinetic energy, eh?
JustTroItIn
Member
This relay was not working when I first purchased my SR5. I removed it, banged it around, then bench tested and it started working. Has been working fine ever since and that was almost a year ago.
Toyota if awful proud of this relay with a new on being > $100.
phattyduck
Elite Member
It might be worth removing it, popping it open and seening what's up. A little contact cleaner and dielectric spray inside might bring it back to life.
-Charlie
JustTroItIn
Member
I didn't bother even opening mine up. Literally just banged it around on a hard surface then put power to it to see if it would cycle. Once it cycled I just cycled it a handful of times then put it back in the truck.
phattyduck
Elite Member
Sorry, that comment was for the OP - if it is working for you, keep it that way!
-Charlie
Well I got one of those pricey, NLA relays and installed it the other day. I drove about 40 min. and my 4runner still went in and out of 4wd just like it should. Today we took a drive in the mountains for a walk and it would go in and out of 4wd all the way to where I turned off to the deeper snow. Sil fun of bilfitch!! No 4wd. No mechanic or exorcist in sight so we took a short walk. Come back 20min. later and hop in to head back. Yup, works fine now. But only for about half an hour. Is it possible the mechanical part in the transfer case, that presses the button on the 4wd detection switch doesn't make a solid enough pressure, when the case warms up? Just before the 4wd function stopped altogether, the relay could be heard clicking and then buzzing and I could make it change by wiggling the transfer case lever. Anyone else hate intermittent electrical gremlins, especially when you can't duplicate them at home where the tools are?
In order for the 4wd indicator light to be on the transfer case 4wd switch and front add switch both have to be depressed. If your 4wd light is on the dash when the 4wd isn’t working then I don’t think the switches are the issue.
When the 4wd isn’t working when it’s supposed to be on can you spin the front driveshaft by hand?
