Lost all of my gears?

[JTS197]

Hello all. I had a problem yesterday with my 03 V8 4Runner (165k). I was going about 60mph on the highway when all of the sudden I could no longer accelerate (and I was slowing down). I managed to get off the road. When I came to a stop, I tried to shift gears and nothing. No reverse, no forward gears, not even park.

Had it towed to my mechanic, and I was thinking my transmission or transfer case were done. He told me it was the solenoid in the transfer case that went bad. He replaced it for $160.

My question is, how would the solenoid in the transfer case cause all of the gears and park to not work? I thought the solenoid only moved the transfer case between high and low? Did the solenoid get stuck in between or something?

Thanks

JT

 

[Zed33]

The 4x4 Actuator moves the tcase from hi -> lo. The transmission is equipped with solenoids for proper operation.

 

[rdruss]

I have an '03 V8 Ltd, not familiar with the solenoid(s) in T-case, but did this repair fix your problem?
If so, WHAT solenoid was replaced?

 

[JTS197]

Well. I was mistaken about what the mechanic said he did. He had pulled out the actuator and re-greased it?

Problem is, it failed again today. Again, it will not move forward or reverse, nor will it go into park. BUT, when you turn on/off the center lock, it seems to go back to normal.

Does this sound like it could be the actuator or could the transfer case be bad?

 

[rdruss]

Why are you running with center lock on? It should be off almost all the time.

 

[JTS197]

I am not running with the center locker engaged. If I cycle it on and then off, it seems to reset something, and I can get the 4Runner to move again.

But then eventually, it goes back to not wanting to move in any gear.

If there is something wrong with the actuator, is it possible that the transfer case could be in an "open" state where the transmission output is not being sent to the wheels?

 

[MrSeth]

I know this isnt a helpful comment, but this is scary AF.

 

[rdruss]

Does your gearshift lever feel normal when you go park-reverse-neutral-drive?
Just a thought, there's a bushing in the lever that can fail and cause lack of engagement.

 

[JTS197]

It feels normal, except something grinds when I put it into park. It does not grind everytime though.

The other thing I noticed is when I moved it from reverse, to neutral and then drive, I don't notice that slight drivetrain "thump" when the transmission is put into drive.

 

[Andysrt]

Check for a broken cv axle. Our v6 wouldn't work acted like it was in neutral same grinding when we put it in 4 high last year unless we locked our center diff. The cv looked ok on the outside but the inner parts were broken.

 

[JTS197]

Sorry to bring this back up but the shop put in a used transfer case and it worked for about 70 miles. I had been on the freeway and when I got to my exit and stopped, it did not want to move in any gear again. When I locked the center diff, then it moved. I had to drive with the center diff locked.

When I got home and put it into park, after turning the center diff off, my 4Runner started to roll. When I started it up again, and locked the center diff, then put it into park, it did not move.

If one of the CV's was broken, would that send all power to that broken CV and nothing to the rear because of the AWD system? But then how would that cause the 4Runner to roll when in Park?

 

[That_Titanium_4RNR]

Sorry to bring this back up but the shop put in a used transfer case and it worked for about 70 miles. I had been on the freeway and when I got to my exit and stopped, it did not want to move in any gear again. When I locked the center diff, then it moved. I had to drive with the center diff locked.

When I got home and put it into park, after turning the center diff off, my 4Runner started to roll. When I started it up again, and locked the center diff, then put it into park, it did not move.

If one of the CV's was broken, would that send all power to that broken CV and nothing to the rear because of the AWD system? But then how would that cause the 4Runner to roll when in Park?

Im stumped....have no idea what would cause that. However it doesn't sound like a CV issue. Sounds more like an electronic issue?

Truck won't move in 2wd but does in Auto4x4 : Transmission/Drivetrain

check out this post. Seems his was electronic related as well. Did the mechanic reuse any electrical parts from the original TC?

 

[L8Shift]

If one of the CV's was broken, would that send all power to that broken CV and nothing to the rear because of the AWD system? But then how would that cause the 4Runner to roll when in Park?

What shop are you using? :ballchain:

Had your shop checked your CVs yet?

I have not needed to use these folks since my hot-rod days...
Could give them a call to discuss.. HiTech Transmissions

Located on Old Lee Highway, not far from the MicroCenter..

 

[jrm]

Did you or your mechanic

Sorry to bring this back up but the shop put in a used transfer case and it worked for about 70 miles. I had been on the freeway and when I got to my exit and stopped, it did not want to move in any gear again. When I locked the center diff, then it moved. I had to drive with the center diff locked.

When I got home and put it into park, after turning the center diff off, my 4Runner started to roll. When I started it up again, and locked the center diff, then put it into park, it did not move.

If one of the CV's was broken, would that send all power to that broken CV and nothing to the rear because of the AWD system? But then how would that cause the 4Runner to roll when in Park?

use a scanner for ecu/engine codes through the ODB II connection?

 

[JTS197]

That first part sounds very similar to what my 4Runner is doing.

As far as I can tell, he did not reuse the actuator from the old TC (I got it back from him).

When I had it towed back the 2nd time, everything worked when the flatbed dropped it off. Then failed after moving a few feet. I remember there was a loud whining noise coming from the center (which we thought was the TC) and the source of the problem.
[MENTION=207708]L8Shift[/MENTION] - I took it to a shop in Chantilly we used before. I don't think they checked the CVs since the TC was making quite a bit of noise. If my mechanic can't figure it out, I will hit up HiTech. I forgot they were out there.

@jrm If there were codes, would there be an indicator flashing on the dash?

 

[Inv4drZm]

When I had it towed back the 2nd time, everything worked when the flatbed dropped it off. Then failed after moving a few feet. I remember there was a loud whining noise coming from the center (which we thought was the TC) and the source of the problem.

Yes the truck will roll in park with the center diff unlocked and something like the front or rear driveshaft removed. Ask me how I know, I about ran myself over.

I would imagine the same thing would happen with a broken cv or rear axle shaft as well.

 

[JTS197]

Yes the truck will roll in park with the center diff unlocked and something like the front or rear driveshaft removed. Ask me how I know, I about ran myself over.

I would imagine the same thing would happen with a broken cv or rear axle shaft as well.

Dang, that's scary. How bad were you hurt?

So I am trying to understand how the AWD system works; under normal conditions, if only one wheel was spinning (no traction), none of the other wheels would get power from the TC unless it is locked?

 

[Inv4drZm]

Dang, that's scary. How bad were you hurt?

So I am trying to understand how the AWD system works; under normal conditions, if only one wheel was spinning (no traction), none of the other wheels would get power from the TC unless it is locked?

Well I was behind the vehicle and lowered it down with the floor jack onto the tires and it rolled back a foot towards me until I through a plastic tire chock at one of the tires and it stopped.

Correct its just like any normal rwd vehicle except it can choose to send power to any of the 4 wheels when unlocked instead of just 2.

 

[JTS197]

I am not sure if this would make sense, but I went outside to see if I could tell if either one of the CVs was bad. I used my phone to record each side to see if the CVs would rotate when I applied power. If they rotated while I was applying power that should indicate that CV was bad correct?

Well, neither one moved. However, I did not notice that the front driveshaft was spinning when I accelerated. Could it be a bad front diff? If none of the wheels are getting power but I can clearly see the front diff spinning under acceleration, that would make me think the front diff is the problem?

 

[Inv4drZm]

I am not sure if this would make sense, but I went outside to see if I could tell if either one of the CVs was bad. I used my phone to record each side to see if the CVs would rotate when I applied power. If they rotated while I was applying power that should indicate that CV was bad correct?

Well, neither one moved. However, I did not notice that the front driveshaft was spinning when I accelerated. Could it be a bad front diff? If none of the wheels are getting power but I can clearly see the front diff spinning under acceleration, that would make me think the front diff is the problem?

Did you jack the front tires off the ground to test this?