99 4Runner no 4wd HI, but 4L works, any ideas?

[JohnsD90]

So i haven't looked at the truck at all since i figured out that 4H doesnt work. Incase no one knows, i have a 99 4x4 4Runner 3.4l V6 with the 5 speed.

Also when i bought the truck almost a year ago the 4wd indicator wouldnt come on in 4h but it would bind in corners and such, so i never had an issue, until i tried it recently and it no longer works.

The shifter will shift into 4H, but no light comes on, and no change in steering weight, and i can do tight circles without issues all day long, and yes i have gone forward and reverse, on and off the accelerator, clutch in and out, i've engage it moving, stopping in every gear, its not engaging. Please don't tell me im engaging it wrong, i have 3 4wd vehicles.

BUT, it will engage in 4lo, and yes it is in 4wd, and not just low range 2wd, it binds around corners and you can feel it heavier in the steering wheel, and the light indicator works.

So before i start looking at the truck, anyone have any ideas what kind of problem i am looking at.

 

[JohnsD90]

anything? before this gets lost in the 2nd page abyss.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Wow, that's an odd issue. I'm not sure where to even big. Maybe climb under there and and have someone shift it back and forth. Just look for something obvious. If nothing, not sure where to go from there.

 

[steezemcqueen]

Pull the vacuum lines off the ADD actuator on the front diff. In 2wd, one should have vacuum and the other shouldn't. They should reverse when you shift to 4wd.

If they do reverse, pull off the ADD actuator and see if its moving freely or is sticking. You can also check the vacuum diaphram by moving the shift fork back and forth and putting your hand on one of the ports to see if it holds vacuum or pressure.

If the vacuum lines don't reverse, you probably have a bad VSV. I had one go out on the green 4Runner when it would shift in out of 4WD.

 

[steezemcqueen]

However i just reread your post and saw that is does engage 4wd in 4lo. So my ADD actuator nonsense probably doesn't apply at all :lmao:

I'd check the switches on the side of the T-Case. I bet the one that senses when you are in 4Hi isn't working but the 4Lo one is.

I'm trying to find a pictures of the switches on the t case. I'll post up if i find one.

 

[drabbits]

BUT, it will engage in 4lo, and yes it is in 4wd, and not just low range 2wd, it binds around corners and you can feel it heavier in the steering wheel, and the light indicator works.

So before i start looking at the truck, anyone have any ideas what kind of problem i am looking at.

Had the binding issue when turning, replaced one of the actuators to fix the problem, but the light was also blinking, unlike you.
is it possible its engaging just enough to look like its working properly but not fully engage?

I'd start what ^^ Dylan said and go from there.

 

[TheDurk]

I had that exact issue when a mechanic messed up the wires to a T-case or tranny switch after a clutch change. 4Lo worked but 4Hi did not. Your problem is not the ADD, the VSV's, or the actuator. Unfortunately, the guy who did the clutch fixed it, so I don't know which switch caused the problem. As it happens, I am doing my clutch again, this time myself, ten years later. I can see where he repaired the wires, but the switch itself is totally inaccessible. Once I get it out, I'll give you some more feedback.

I also have the 5-speed.

 

[JohnsD90]

I had that exact issue when a mechanic messed up the wires to a T-case or tranny switch after a clutch change. 4Lo worked but 4Hi did not. Your problem is not the ADD, the VSV's, or the actuator. Unfortunately, the guy who did the clutch fixed it, so I don't know which switch caused the problem. As it happens, I am doing my clutch again, this time myself, ten years later. I can see where he repaired the wires, but the switch itself is totally inaccessible. Once I get it out, I'll give you some more feedback.

I also have the 5-speed.

I changed my clutch, but the light did not work before i did the change, but 4H did work, i can't remember 100% now if i checked it since i changed the clutch, but i was fairly certain i did, but im no longer 100% positive i did. Now when i did do the clutch i pulled the tranny and t-case shifters out, and it took me 3 tries to get the t case shifter installed properly to shift in the J pattern, so in theory that could be it, but i tested to make sure it shifted through 2H-4H-N-4L and it did go through everything so i cant imagine thats the issue. (i dont know if i tested to see if it engaged 4H, or just tested to see if i could get to 4L).

That you guys, i will check the switches and wiring on the T-case, i was thinking it had to be a wiring thing, considering these t-cases have no mechanical linkage that could be bent/stuck/rusted, and i figured it wasnt the actuator because it works in 4L.

 

[JohnsD90]

Had the binding issue when turning, replaced one of the actuators to fix the problem, but the light was also blinking, unlike you.
is it possible its engaging just enough to look like its working properly but not fully engage?

I'd start what ^^ Dylan said and go from there.

It is supposed to bind in corners when you are on dry ground and in 4wd, only time it shouldnt is if you have an unlocked center diff, which only the 99-00 limited have, or all 01-02's.

 

[TheDurk]

I changed my clutch, but the light did not work before i did the change, but 4H did work, i can't remember 100% now if i checked it since i changed the clutch, but i was fairly certain i did, but im no longer 100% positive i did. Now when i did do the clutch i pulled the tranny and t-case shifters out, and it took me 3 tries to get the t case shifter installed properly to shift in the J pattern, so in theory that could be it, but i tested to make sure it shifted through 2H-4H-N-4L and it did go through everything so i cant imagine thats the issue. (i dont know if i tested to see if it engaged 4H, or just tested to see if i could get to 4L).

That you guys, i will check the switches and wiring on the T-case, i was thinking it had to be a wiring thing, considering these t-cases have no mechanical linkage that could be bent/stuck/rusted, and i figured it wasnt the actuator because it works in 4L.

How are you coming with this? I finally got my tranny pulled, and I have some info for you. On our TC (5-speed J-handle w/ABS #VF2A), there are only two switches, one on either side, high up and on the rear of the case. (If you have a locker, that adds a third switch.) The one on the driver's side is the 4LO Transfer Indicator Switch. The one on the passenger side is called the 4WD Transfer Indicator Switch according to my '99FSM, but I think this means 4Hi Indicator Switch. Anyway, this is the one whose wires were broken when I had the same condition you have (No 4H but 4L works.) Hope this helps.

I can get pics if you want.

 

[JohnsD90]

How are you coming with this? I finally got my tranny pulled, and I have some info for you. On our TC (5-speed J-handle w/ABS #VF2A), there are only two switches, one on either side, high up and on the rear of the case. (If you have a locker, that adds a third switch.) The one on the driver's side is the 4LO Transfer Indicator Switch. The one on the passenger side is called the 4WD Transfer Indicator Switch according to my '99FSM, but I think this means 4Hi Indicator Switch. Anyway, this is the one whose wires were broken when I had the same condition you have (No 4H but 4L works.) Hope this helps.

I can get pics if you want.

I have not checked yet, my dad usually has the 4runner so i havent really been around it in a few days. Thank you for the help, i dont think pictures will be necessary but i will keep you posted.

 

[JohnsD90]

How are you coming with this? I finally got my tranny pulled, and I have some info for you. On our TC (5-speed J-handle w/ABS #VF2A), there are only two switches, one on either side, high up and on the rear of the case. (If you have a locker, that adds a third switch.) The one on the driver's side is the 4LO Transfer Indicator Switch. The one on the passenger side is called the 4WD Transfer Indicator Switch according to my '99FSM, but I think this means 4Hi Indicator Switch. Anyway, this is the one whose wires were broken when I had the same condition you have (No 4H but 4L works.) Hope this helps.

I can get pics if you want.

Can you post up the page from the FSM, i have 2 part numbers from toyota for the switches, the guy couldnt tell me which switch was for 4lo and which for 4hi. They are each $75 at the stealer and i want to figure out which of the 2 i need. I haven't looked at the wiring yet, but i will check to make sure the wiring is good and the switch is hooked up before i buy the part.

84222-35080
84222-35110

 

[TheDurk]

Can you post up the page from the FSM, i have 2 part numbers from toyota for the switches, the guy couldnt tell me which switch was for 4lo and which for 4hi. They are each $75 at the stealer and i want to figure out which of the 2 i need. I haven't looked at the wiring yet, but i will check to make sure the wiring is good and the switch is hooked up before i buy the part.

84222-35080
84222-35110

I could take a pic of it but it won't answer your question. I don't know which one you need or even how to figure it out. They are the same switch mechanism--the difference is wire color for sure, and maybe wire length and plug. The plugs are both blue and look identical, but I didn't actually try and switch them. Anyway, if you did get the wrong one, you could always solder your old plug and wire on.

I am confident you need the one on the passenger side, but I have nothing that says which part number goes with which. My exploded parts diagram is completely ambiguous as to what goes where.

 

[tigershark]

Dash light shows that 4L works, but 4H just flashes then goes out

Just got a '99 Limited with 149k and am having trouble figuring out the 4WD. I didn't think either 4L or 4H were engaging so took it to my mechanic.

They replaced the switch for front axle engagement, which wasn't cheap.

Got it back today, pressed the 4WD button to engage 4H from 2WD, and the dash indicator just flashed then went out. So I did the whole rigmarole suggested by the visor card and forum posts: tapped gently on the brakes, drove in a straight line, put it in reverse, etc.

When I put the vehicle in neutral and shift the lever to H2, the dash indicator light turns solid orange. But when I try to put it into H4 again, it just flashes for a few seconds, then goes out.

I called the shop back and it sounds like they aren't sure what the issue is either.

I've read a bunch of posts about shifting into H4, but none of them say that the dash indicator light should be solid--I assume if it were truly in H4, it would glow orange rather than going out after flashing.

Am I wrong? Any tips on what I should ask the mechanic to look at tomorrow? I've read various things about the vacuum lines, and I'd like to point him in the right direction because he admitted that the info he was finding was confusing too.

 

[phattyduck]

You have a multi-mode case... so there are multiple things to figure out.

First: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...rs-3rd-gens-transfer-case-awd-multi-mode.html

You could have a sticking actuator or a bad position switch on the transfer case.

-Charlie

 

[tigershark]

You have a multi-mode case... so there are multiple things to figure out.

First: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...rs-3rd-gens-transfer-case-awd-multi-mode.html

You could have a sticking actuator or a bad position switch on the transfer case.

-Charlie

Thanks. My mechanic swears that the front axle is engaging properly when I press the button on the side of the 4WD shifter, but I'm not so sure.

When I'm following the directions listed on the visor/in the manual (driving straight, under certain MPH, etc.) and press the button to engage 4H, the orange light in the middle of the wheels on the dash flashes for about 20 seconds, then turns off. I can feel something switch (or try to switch) on the vehicle, but I don't notice any binding or different operation while driving.

If I then depress the button to go back to 2WD, the dash shows the same thing: the orange circular light flashes for less than a minute, then turns off, and I feel the vehicle do something like it's switching, but again, I can't really tell a difference when driving.

So my main question is: When the vehicle is in 4H, should that orange indicator light glow constantly, as it does when I'm in 4L (which works, BTW)?

My mechanic admitted he was quite confused by the setup, but says that the 4WD is working when the button is pressed, regardless of whether the orange light is glowing constantly or not at all.

I might not have all my terminology correct here and appreciate any input.

 

[phattyduck]

I don't have a limited, so I may get some minor details wrong here...

In 2WD, all of the '4WD' lights in the top center of the dash should be off.

If you press the button on the shifter to engage 4H-unlocked, the truck should drive exactly the same. With a center differential, you can drive on the street in this mode with no binding. The dash lights should show the 4 wheels lit green and no orange center light.

If you move the 4WD shifter to the bottom left position, the center orange light should turn on. If you do this on a solid surface, you should feel drivetrain binding in turns.

Does that help? Maybe your system is working correctly?

-Charlie

 

[tigershark]

Thanks, Charlie.

Everything you mentioned lines up with what's happening in my vehicle, except for the 4 wheels being lit green--nothing I shift into causes them to light up.

I noticed today that my dash lights overall seem to be a bit dim, at least compared to other vehicles I've had, so I wonder if a bulb is out.

I hope that's the case and that 4H-unlocked is working, as I might need it soon.

Unfortunately, I can't find anything reliable on this, and the manual doesn't indicate what the dash lights should be doing in each mode.