Multi-Mode Operation Question (99-00)

G

GarageBuilt

New member
Hey guys, this is a question for those of you with a multi-mode transfer case. More specifically those of you with the 99-00 J-shifter. I am in the middle of a 99 multi-mode transfer case swap into my 97 Limited. I believe I have everything wired in correctly but since I have never operated a multi-mode transfer case before I need to know what exactly is happening through the modes.

00limitedtcaseshifter.jpg~original


In the 2H-4H position when I press the 4WD button on the side, I hear no motors/actuators engaging. (Keep in mind I have a 97 instrument cluster so I do not have the detailed indicator lights, just a small 4wd light) No lights on the dash indicate I am in 4WD center diff UNLOCKED.

When I pull the J-shifter into H4L (Hight 4WD center diff LOCKED), my 4wd indicator lights up and I can hear the actuator motor engaging. When I push it back up to 2H-4H I hear the motor disengaging and the 4wd light goes out. This part appears to be working correctly.

Now the real question here is: In 2H-4H when I press the 4WD button, are there any indicators or a sound of a actuator motor engaging?
 
Did you use the 4x4 ECM out of the multi mode runner?

If you didn't, nothing will work.


The transfer case needs the 4x4 ecm to make work the actuator.

The actuator works the 4x4 and it also locks the center diff. The J-shifter is just a lever to operate electric switches and to throw it in H-N-L.

Now the real question here is: In 2H-4H when I press the 4WD button, are there any indicators or a sound of a actuator motor engaging?
Click to expand...

To answer the question.

You will here the actuator shift a rod in and out of the transfer case when pressing the button and when moving the j-shifter from 2H-4H to H4L.
 
Last edited:
[MENTION=59542]Singtoe[/MENTION] Yes I did use the correct 4WD ECU. Everything is wired in and appears to be correctly working. Moving the J-shifter from 2H-4H to 4HL I can hear an actuator moving. Now staying in 2H-4H and pressing the 4WD button I don't hear anything moving. I guess my question got answered and I have some diagnosing to do. Thanks Singtoe.
 
Well, got everything working. Here is something that will hopefully get a laugh or two. I've been working on this multi-mode transfer case swap for 2 days now. Mechanically everything was straight-forward but there is some extensive wiring involved. Adding wires to the system, using all soldered connections, heat shrinking, and wire-looming everything was time consuming. Everything worked except for the 4WD button in H2-H4. Spent a bunch of time going through wiring and in the end this is what I found:

imag0133-0.jpg


I had the old transfer case shift knob attached still while I was wiring because I like to have a confirmed working switch. When I completed the wiring and went to test the system, I had forgotten about the knob laying to the side. The whole time I was using the new unconnected shift knob. No wonder it wasn't working.

So here is a confirmed fully operating 1999 multi-mode transfer case swap into a 1997 Limited w/ electronic rear locker.

Cheers!
 
good job.

You did a lot of work. Let everyone what you had to do.

ECU
longer and shorter drive shafts
some sort of indication for awd and 4x4
and installation

looking forward to more upgrades from you.
 
Singtoe said:
good job.

You did a lot of work. Let everyone what you had to do.

ECU
longer and shorter drive shafts
some sort of indication for awd and 4x4
and installation

looking forward to more upgrades from you.
Click to expand...

Yeah...what Singtoe said! I love to see a write up on this. Maybe like a parts list, what it cost you, and then the actual build.

I too have an 2000 SR5, and would really like to have had this from the factory . Thanks for sharing!
 
I am also quite interested in a parts list.

However, is it possible that the plugs and wiring for the Multi-Mode ECU exists in the 99+ 4WD models, and if they weren't multi-mode, they tucked away the wiring, similar to fog light wiring? We already know Toyota pre-wires for many options, and if they aren't used they are simply tucked away.

That could eliminate a lot of wiring for 99+ owners that would like to upgrade. I also believe that the SR5 Clusters may have the Multi-Mode display already, it is just covered by a black piece of plastic. If you look at your cluster, you can see the faint outline of a rectangle in the same place as the multi-mode display on Limited models.

Just doing some thinking out loud. :playball::madgrin:

OP, sorry for the thread jack!
 
Although many questions have been asked about the possibility of a multi-mode transfer case swap into non-multi-mode 4runners, nobody has actually confirmed a fully working completed swap that I have found on the internet. Many have asked about them on 5spd transmissions, and I'm sure it's been done but nothing verified I have found either. I researched as much information prior to swap and found the posts written by Singtoe to be the most informative. His information given was about 99% correct.

As he has stated here are all the parts required:
- multi-mode transfer case
- front and rear drive shafts
- 4WD ECU
- transfer case shifter & knob
I had actually bought the transfer case from a member here, I do not know his username but he mentioned researching this site as he was going to tackle this swap in his own T4R. Luckily he included the ECU and a FULL (but cut up) body harness from a 99 (which I used for the swap). I paid $200CDN which I thought was fair. Drive shafts were at purchased at the wreckers for $50/piece. So my total cost was $300CDN and 2 days of labor. This guy also included a 99 instrument cluster as well which I wired in to replace the 97 cluster I had ... BUT the fuel gauge does not work since I need the fuel sending unit of the 99. Maybe I'll attempt that again when I need to replace the fuel pump.

This swap is possible with all 96-02 4Runners regardless of what transfer case it has originally. This is possible because the 4WD ECU is independent. There ARE however signals from ECU, ABS, Cruise etc. but it's up to you if you want to tie them in. I can only give my input from what I have done which is with 2-4 Selectable 4WD that come on the Limited. I have never done a write-up and don't intend to either but I will give insight on what is involved. Here is the link to Singtoe's post where he goes through the pin-out. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/130920-feasibility-j-shift-multi-mode-transfer-case-swap.html I myself used a wiring diagram for both vehicles as it made more sense to me. Now for the wiring I used most of the existing wiring (with the Limited 2-4 Select Switch I already had the switch wired). Although the wire was there they were all in different pin locations, and the connector is different so all 17 wires you have to cut. I would have liked an identical connector to re-pin but hey, soldering 17 small wires is fun! I solder, heat shrink, and wire loom ALL my wiring and I suggest people do as well. I had to run a total of 4 wires from the 4WD ECU to the transfer case. And one wire to the ADD switch on the front differential.

Now the most confusing in the electrical wiring was the ADD switch. With the way it was wired in my 97, there was no way I could tie into the existing wiring. It had to be independently wired with it's own ground from pin #2. Pin #1 comes from the 4WD ECU which I tied in with the PCM signal as well. Not sure what it does but it's black & white in the 99 wiring diagram. Without proper hookup of this ADD wire, nothing will work. That was the only obstacle I encountered.

I know this is no writeup but I'm willing to answer questions and give information to those who are willing to tackle this swap. I may decide one day to do a proper writeup with the information that Singtoe has provided combined with all the small information I have learned through this process.

Good luck to those who will now attempt this swap!
 
THatfield said:
I am also quite interested in a parts list.

However, is it possible that the plugs and wiring for the Multi-Mode ECU exists in the 99+ 4WD models, and if they weren't multi-mode, they tucked away the wiring, similar to fog light wiring? We already know Toyota pre-wires for many options, and if they aren't used they are simply tucked away.

That could eliminate a lot of wiring for 99+ owners that would like to upgrade. I also believe that the SR5 Clusters may have the Multi-Mode display already, it is just covered by a black piece of plastic. If you look at your cluster, you can see the faint outline of a rectangle in the same place as the multi-mode display on Limited models.

Just doing some thinking out loud. :playball::madgrin:

OP, sorry for the thread jack!
Click to expand...

I highly doubt that all the wiring is there but I'd have to pull up a wiring diagram of the specific model to be certain. As I stated, the 4WD Selectable transfer case will have more existing wires that you will end up using. With the wiring diagram of the transfer case to be swapped, and the vehicle to be swapped into, I can easily locate all wire relocation. Of course you still have to understand basic wiring to complete the job.

With the 99+ clusters yes you are right about multi-mode display. But with the clusters prior to 99 we only have a 4WD indicator. A 'center diff locked' display can be added externally anywhere if you really would like to know when your center diff is locked. This can be done by wiring in an LED to the 4WD ECU. I chose not to as with the J-shifter I can see when I am locked.
 
THatfield said:
I am also quite interested in a parts list.

However, is it possible that the plugs and wiring for the Multi-Mode ECU exists in the 99+ 4WD models, and if they weren't multi-mode, they tucked away the wiring, similar to fog light wiring? We already know Toyota pre-wires for many options, and if they aren't used they are simply tucked away.

That could eliminate a lot of wiring for 99+ owners that would like to upgrade. I also believe that the SR5 Clusters may have the Multi-Mode display already, it is just covered by a black piece of plastic. If you look at your cluster, you can see the faint outline of a rectangle in the same place as the multi-mode display on Limited models.

Just doing some thinking out loud. :playball::madgrin:

OP, sorry for the thread jack!
Click to expand...

I have seen Toyota's wired for fog lights, cruise control and partial e-lockers but this will be specifically for limited 4runners and they wire harness is all together different with the auto climate control and what not.

I believe those options can be dealer installed and that is why the wiring is provided.
 
:thanks:

Thanks to you both for your replies. both very informative on the subject. I will definitely be looking into this more towards tax time.
 
Hi, bringing this back to the top,

I'm hoping to do the transfer swap in the next couple of weeks before the snow flies. I've attached a pdf with a couple of wiring diagrams and a summary of what was put together by Singtoe and Garagebuilt.

Still a couple of wires that are a mystery but working on it still. If somebody has suggestions all are welcomed.

I would like to ask Garagebuilt how much wiring was involved in the dash swap? I don't need the center diff lock indicator but if it's easy enough I might throw it in.

thanks for any help!

Dave
 

Attachments

Singtoe said:
What wires and I should be able to help out.
Click to expand...

I am guessing that Pin 6,7,9 & 18 require wires to the transfer case motor and detection switches. Does anybody have a picture of the switch locations on the multi-mode transfer case? I can take a picture and post it up tonight but at "work" now.

Also Pin 1 has no connection but Garagebuilt routed these to the ADD on the front axle?? Looking at the wiring diagram I get the ADD(99) = 4WD(96) which is Pin 19(99) to Pin 6(96)?

help

Dave
 
dhmenheere said:
I would like to ask Garagebuilt how much wiring was involved in the dash swap? I don't need the center diff lock indicator but if it's easy enough I might throw it in.

thanks for any help!

Dave
Click to expand...

If you understand wiring and can read a wiring diagram then it isn't difficult. I did have an entire wiring harness from a 99 to work with so I actually re-pinned all connectors. I'm not sure if I mentioned but with the 99+ gauges in our pre-99, I could not get the fuel gauge to work properly. I do believe that the 99+ fuel sending unit is required. If I can remember correctly the part numbers are different.

The 4WD ECU has a pin that supplies power to the diff lock indicator light so if you have the new cluster you can have it working like factory. If you remain with the original cluster and want a light you can put a LED bulb anywhere on the dash to know when it is locked. I chose to go without for now and in the future if I do want to change sending units then I'll go wire in the newer instrument cluster.
 
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