Can't shift transfer case into 4Lo or neutral

[Sams4Runner]

I've got a 1998 Limited and I can't get it to go into 4LO or neutral. The transfer case lever just wobbles back and forth but refuses to shift out of high gear. I tried driving back and forth, putting the transmission in neutral, and putting it in park. Nothing seems to work. Thanks in advance for the replies and advice.

 

[BlackCat914]

try leaving it in drive and creeping forward very slowly and pulling on the handle.

 

[jsukey]

Definitely odd. When was the last time you put it in 4 Low? Seems like maybe the linkage is loose and is binding. How much wobble are you talking about? Mine has always been pretty firm. You can only see play in it when I am driving fast and hitting dips in the road and even then, its minor.

 

[Sams4Runner]

Never have put it into 4low. I bought the truck in May from an old man. He said he used the 4wd a few times when driving on dirt trails but I don't think he ever put it in 4low.

 

[jsukey]

I would definitely crawl under there and check the linkage. How much is it wobbling? Like a 1/4 of an inch?

 

[Sams4Runner]

I can pull the transfer case lever back and forth and film it. Is there a way to post videos on here?

 

[Sams4Runner]

shifter.mp4 video by chili99 - Photobucket

this is the range of motion of the shifter. i tried driving forwards and backwards while trying to shift and it won't do anything but move back and forth. This is the first 4Runner I've owned. To shift into neutral or 4low, do you just push the shifter straight forward?

 

[Mahalas]

Can you get it in to 4hi?
Went out to my truck to check 2000 limited
the amount of forward and back movement gets me from 2wd-4hi. I cant push forward on my leaver like you do, I can only pull it back and it goes in to 4hi
I also have minor side to side movement maybe 1/4''

Something must be loose
Never checked mine so some one else will have to tell you what to do

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Can you get it in to 4hi?
Went out to my truck to check 2000 limited
the amount of forward and back movement gets me from 2wd-4hi. I cant push forward on my leaver like you do, I can only pull it back and it goes in to 4hi
I also have minor side to side movement maybe 1/4''

Something must be loose
Never checked mine so some one else will have to tell you what to do

Your '00 Limited should have a push button 4WD hi. The only transfer case movement you should be doing is into 4WD low.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

OP, looks like the boot around your T-Case shifter is already loose. Pull it up (like and inside out pocket) and look to see if you can see anything obviously wrong going on down there.

Might be a dumb question but I have to ask, you do have it in 4WD before you're trying to put it in 4LO, right?

 

[Sams4Runner]

I have had it in 4wd and also in 2wd when trying to shift it to 4low and it still doesn't work. I will look under the boot in a little bit and see what I can find. Thanks.

I just noticed that in the video the 4wd button isn't pushed in. I tried it with the button pushed in after I filmed that. I think I also had it in 4wd the first time I tried to shift to 4low out in the desert.

 

[Mahalas]

Your '00 Limited should have a push button 4WD hi. The only transfer case movement you should be doing is into 4WD low.

Nope. I have the ''J'' shifter.

 

[logan.broome]

Mine is doing the same thing. I have a 99 with the J shifter. Any luck with fixing it?