4Wheel Won't Disengage AND Steering Issue?

[cadrummo]

So I did a quick run to Pleasant today and encountered a couple small ledges that the Runner was able to make quick work of but, now the 4 wheel won't disengage AND the steering is grinding when fully turned either direction, and the tires lock up when trying to make a smaller radius turn.

After about 20 minutes of driving after the 4 wheel wouldn't disengage, I smelled what I thought was gear oil. Looks like there may be an overflow in the engine compartment? Then also realized the steering rack is leaking.

I just swapped out the front 4 wheel actuator about 1000 miles ago and do have front ARB lockers but I didn't engage them on the quick ledges today, just the rear.

Has anyone had this happen to them? Both issues happened at the same time so I would expect they are related right? Also, I did hear a couple of clanks front the front end on the way home. Any ideas are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[3bears]

will it disengage when you come to a stop and go backwards a foot or so ?

 

[Technoplasm]

sounds like a serious case of driveline windup

 

[cadrummo]

will it disengage when you come to a stop and go backwards a foot or so ?

No I've tried it to no avail. I'm going to take it back to the shop that put in the actuator and see what the real problem was. How they respond will dictate my next move. Thanks for responding.

 

[cadrummo]

sounds like a serious case of driveline windup

I hope not Technoplasm, but the VSC light is on so that means everything is connected, so that might be contributing to the issue. BAH!

 

[desertegal7]

Could be gear oil

I faced last year same phenomena... It won't easily pop back to H2 regardless what im trying,, playing wis gas pedal /brake then gas /playing with steering... It just wont.
I figured out to complete stop then put in 4LO, drive for 2-3meters then complete stop and back to H2. Works every time.
I suspected that the actuator is clogged from old gear oil thus replaced it with synthetic 80w-90 and now working perfect. Changing oil didn't work immediately and took a while.
Now shifting from H4 to H2 just normal.

Might be not exactly your case but this is my story.

Since you are having ARB stuff i thing there is something related.
And hearing clunks is no good.

 

[cadrummo]

Yeah I took it in today, wasn't driving well at all, but fortunately didn't have to go far. I'll let you know the outcome!

 

[audiness]

My bet is your CDL is stuck on. You may want to try engaging and disengaging multiple times or whacking it with a hammer to see if it clicks off

 

[cadrummo]

So the culprit was the actuator motor in the transfer case. Shop is repairing this week but it looks like the all the rest of the issues should be solved with the replacement of that motor. Fingers crossed.

 

[3bears]

there's an actuator motor in the transfer case ?

 

[phattyduck]

there's an actuator motor in the transfer case ?

On all Limiteds and all '01/'02's, yes. '96-'00 Base/SR5's, no.

-Charlie

 

[pavelvoivoda]

Hey cadrummo
I recommend to make sure whoever repairs the problem, has the breather hoses connected to the actuators (transfer or front diff), otherwise water gets in and rusts out the spiral gear mechanisms and the actuators stop moving. Do not continue to cycle the 4WD/CDL switches to try to move the system, or you may burn out the motors in the actuators.

Actuators are repairable, if not burned out, or way too much rusted out.
Other problems that are equally likely are broken wires on sensors/actuators.

One note on the fulltime/AWD transfers - if everything is working correctly and mechanisms are aligned, switching from 2WD to 4WD should happen in a matter of 2 seconds or less!

If you press any CDL/4WD buttons while you are pressing the gas pedal, the 4WD system won't complete the cycle unless you get your foot off the gas.
The car's components need to be at rest for them the engage/disengage.

Also, if you are on a paved surface and tires are sticking well to the ground, the system will not complete until tension on the components eases.

Hope this helps

 

[cadrummo]

Thanks for the message Pavel. It ended up being the transfer case motor. Once it was returned, the shop ended up extending the front diff breather to prevent overflow of diff oil again. If I run into any more issues I'll keep you all posted.

Thanks all your your help!