My story: I purchased my 2006 Limited V8 on December 16, 2013 after totaling my 1996 3rd gen on ice. I was in kind of a hurry as we needed another car for a trip to California for Christmas. Consequently, I hurried through the test drive and failed to check the 4WD system thoroughy. When I did test it neither 4LO or the center lock diff worked. I was able to get the center diff to work within a few months by exercising it a lot but no luck on the 4Lo. Today, I got in and started the Runner and thought I would try 4LO. I put it in Neutral, turned the switch to 4LO and, clunk, it went in and the 4LO light went solid yellow! It now works as smooth as butter! I am very pleased and will exercise the actuator often!
After 18 months my 4Lo now works!!
- Thread starter Gdmeadors
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BlackWorksInc
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Yeah sometimes just tapping on it with a rubber mallet while someone exercises the 4WD system brings these guys back to life. Awesome it worked for you! 
Remember to shift it through 4WD and CDL at least once a month or two!
Remember to shift it through 4WD and CDL at least once a month or two!Glad it worked for you man! It never worked for me since I got mine 4runner off my dad. He never used it and i gave up when it didn't work. However after taking it wheeling once i decided to check it out again for fun and BAM it worked on the first try. I know the excitement, enjoy it and exercise it frequently!
I had all but given up ever getting it to work. Although I will probably not need to use it very often it is nice everything works now. It is indeed a mystery to me why suddenly it became "unstuck". Maybe it was the heat I encountered on the trip from Northern California to Southern Oregon. It was close to 110 degrees in some areas.
do it again 10 times from 4h to 4l so it will clear up the metal or use it in 4h when raining or snowing.
