Ok, this is my first post so be gentle. My 1999 limited, 4x4, e-locker (Which doesn't work), 4-runner has one odd thing going on. The 4x4 shifter appears to be in the "neutral" position and won't shift to ANY other position. There is a 4WD button on the side of said shifter that when depressed will put the truck in 4WD. But no H2, H4, H4-L, or L4-L position can be achieved by manipulating the shifter. It just moves around a little bit and returns to the N position. Also, after looking at pics around the internet i think my shifter is resting in an abnormal position. Shouldn't be in H2 during normal driving? I have asked various people and none of them can come up with an answer. Any advice is welcome and i have attached pics of the suspect shifter for yalls review. One last thing, about the e-locker. It won't engage. The dash light just blinks and blinks when i hit the button. I have tried putting the truck in 4wd (by pressing the button on the side of the shifter) and then depressing the button, but all i get is blinking. Thoughts????? Thanks guys!
HELP! 4x4 shifter in odd position.
- Thread starter Rolltide
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A-dog
New member
First, your transfer case selector should be in 2H. I have attached the picture of mine to show you the proper position for normal 2wd driving. Second, please clean and vacuum out your poor runner. Is your car driving normally? If it was indeed stuck in Neutral, it would be apparent because you could not drive it. It sounds like the linkage between the shifter and the transfer case is loose, broken, or disconnected. You may have to take off the shifter knob, remove the center console, and get in there to see what is going on. If you look up on your sun visor, there should be card in there describing the sequence to shift between the different modes of 4wd and 2wd. Take a look at that card and make sure you are following the steps exactly before you start tearing into things. As for the e-locker not engaging, that is a different problem entirely, and has been discussed at length in various posts. Just google the issue and you will get all the information you could ever want and need.
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Lol! Yep, I def need to vacuum the ole runner. This is my daily driver and it runs just fine. It cruises at 70-75mph all day with zero issues and it has 204,000 miles. I looked at your picture and the 4x4 lever has a different shift pattern. This is exactly why i am resorting to posting my issue here. The shift pattern on the shifter you posted goes straight forward to backward with 4wd being at the top and 2wd at the bottom (respectively). My t-case knob hooks in a "J" configuration. This is a strange problem bc from what i have gathered, the knob i have on my runner is probably for a manual shift truck. Mine is an auto. It is the most bizarre thing. The toyota mechanic i take it to reached the same conclusion you did (pull the console apart and investigate). But, the truck operates properly and 4wd still engages when the button on the shifter is pressed. I have attached a pic of the card from my visor for you to review. It looks like the "H4L" and "L4L" options are exclusively for a manual trans vehicle. I have this option on my shifter but, as i said earlier, my runner is an auto. I am totally stumped. My fear about tearing into the console is i might never get it back together.
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psraff
New member
Put the shifter in Neutral first. Then try to Shift the 4wd out of it's neutral position down to 4Hi. As for your E-Locker, if stock it will only engage in 4LO. Because you're in Neutral, that's why the E-Locker won't engage.
Unless I missed something scanning over your thread.....
Unless I missed something scanning over your thread.....
psraff
New member
You have the right Knobs... Mine is a '99 Auto and it's the same. Removing the center console is very easy.
1. Lift up lid on console storage
2. Engage E-Brake
3. At front of console storage, the front edge slides straight up. Then Raise up the rest.
4. 4WD Knob just twists off. Remove it.
5. That piece of the console just pops up also.
6. You can continue to do the whole center console that way (around the stereo). It just snaps in.
1. Lift up lid on console storage
2. Engage E-Brake
3. At front of console storage, the front edge slides straight up. Then Raise up the rest.
4. 4WD Knob just twists off. Remove it.
5. That piece of the console just pops up also.
6. You can continue to do the whole center console that way (around the stereo). It just snaps in.
Alright, I have reached the conclusion that the actual shifter isn't connected to anything. I just took the truck out and really tried everything. The 4wd button engages the 4wd with a audible metal "clang" but after that the light on the dash indicates 4wd with 4 green wheel like lights. I have included a pic. The aforementioned "clang" really isn't that loud, but you can def hear it. Before/when/after the 4wd button is pressed, no matter how hard or in what direction i push/pull, the shifter does nothing.
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Your tcase is different then OP. OP try being in (R) reverse and trying putting the tcase in H2. If nothing. Put it in H2 and reverse.
Thats what i thought. The t-case is just different. Here is the most baffling part, neither t-case pattern does anything with my truck. If i really pull back hard on the shifter i can hear a faint grinding sound. No matter what i do (push/pull/ect) there is never that "break-over" moment where the shifter "goes/falls/locks" into any different position. It just goes back to the position identified in the first picture i posted. I pulled the console apart and it looked exactly like a rubber boot coming out of a transmission tunnel.
I just checked, the truck was delivered to the original customer in June of 1999. Don't know what that means in re the gauges, but there ya go. Thanks btw.
nc-grayson
Member
Is your trains in neutral during this?
