My experience with the nonworking 4wd system

[c_mack9]

I sell Toyotas at a dealership and I'm a huge fan of 4runners. Because of how easily people can sell them in our area, it's very rare that we get them in on trade. We had a customer bring their 4runner in for service because the 4wd was not functioning. The customer was a woman, and her husband owns a few 4wd farm trucks that they use on the rare occasions that the weather is bad so her 4runner was mostly a pavement pounder. It's an 06 that they bought used with about 10k miles on it. She stated that she only used the 4wd about twice since she's owned it so the actuators froze up and would not engage the 4wd system. Our service department gave her a quote on how much it would cost to fix it and since it was so high, they decided to trade it in and buy a new one. This is where I come in. I knew it needed quite a bit of money spent on it, but I get a break so I bought it wholesale with the intentions of spending about $2000-$2500 fixing it. First, since it's the least expensive, I had the front diff actuator replaced. That did not fix it, so I had the transfer case actuator replaced. It now engages 4wd and seems to work in 4hi, 4lo, and the center diff lock works. One problem, when in 4hi with the center diff unlocked the 4wd and center diff lights flash. We couldn't figure out why, until htey drained the front diff fluid and chunks of metel start falling out of it, so the front diff is exploded and needs to be replaced. In my opinion, the previous owner once used 4wd a long time ago and saw the flashing lights so she stopped using it, then the actuators froze up. I think the front diff was the original problem, that snowballed into even bigger problems. Did I mention I have horrible luck? This is going to end up costing me a small fortune, even after I get a break because I work there. It's a really nice 4runner, and I'll be glad I have it after it's 100% but it's been 2 weeks now and I'm really frusterated with it. This situation definitley shatters my opinion of 4runners being bullet proof. Sorry for the long rant post.

 

[KidVermicious]

Anything can malfunction when it isn't treated right. I'll never ever buy a truck owned by a woman - the odds are just that much higher that it's been neglected.

Not that all women are horrible truck abusers, because they're not, but I've had my best luck over the years buying trucks from men just past middle age that have calluses but aren't sunburned. Those are the owners that seem to pay the most attention to regular maintenance.

 

[hearno]

We just got new Suburbans at work for the supervisors... They're equipped with a bunch of stuff that won't fit in our cars. They also have selectable 4 hi, 4 low and a CDL. I was asking my Sgt about them the other day and he goes on to tell me how cool they are and just starts turning the 4wd knob while in park with the motor running I could hear the actuator/transfer case grinding away and he just kept turning it back and forth like it was a fan speed knob. Shit like that is why I'm afraid to buy used.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

i bought my 4runner from a woman...theres diet coke all over the headliner from when she was drinking it and bounced over a speed bump, pepto bismol pink stain in the back seat from, you guessed it, spilled pepto bismol, not to mention gouges and scratches on ever corner on the outside from parking attempts... like its been said, not all women are bad, but the fact that my mother still calls me to ask when its time to change the oil... come on

 

[Dylan]

he goes on to tell me how cool they are and just starts turning the 4wd knob while in park with the motor running I could hear the actuator/transfer case grinding away and he just kept turning it back and forth like it was a fan speed knob.

lol I imagine he was all excited too as he explained it. That's too funny.

 

[yotav8]

We just got new Suburbans at work for the supervisors... They're equipped with a bunch of stuff that won't fit in our cars. They also have selectable 4 hi, 4 low and a CDL. I was asking my Sgt about them the other day and he goes on to tell me how cool they are and just starts turning the 4wd knob while in park with the motor running I could hear the actuator/transfer case grinding away and he just kept turning it back and forth like it was a fan speed knob. Shit like that is why I'm afraid to buy used.[/QUOT

STOP THE PRESS, since when do burban's have a CDL? Or is that some kind of GOV option?

pics please

 

[hearno]

STOP THE PRESS, since when do burban's have a CDL? Or is that some kind of GOV option?

pics please

I'll get a picture when I go back to work tomorrow. I can only imagine that's what it was, had the same picture as our CDL button.

 

[c_mack9]

Overall it's in great shape. The lady that drove it did do all of the maintanence on it. I'll love it once the 4wd is sorted.

 

[CrimsonCountry]

I can relate somewhat to what you're going through. I got the same general explanation from the owner on mine stating that they barely used it. It had ~84k miles when I picked it up. I cycled through a few times and it clicked over after a long delay. A few months later, I go to put it in 4-Lo and nothing...just beeps. It's been that way for nearly 3 years now. I'm not about to spend the money to get it fixed (unless it's some weird, easy/chip fix-no luck yet) as 4-Hi works perfectly and haven't needed the 4-Lo. I did get a good deal on mine so i'm not too upset :doh:

Also, the previous owner of mine was a women as well. I found several soda stains under the rear seats but attribute this to the kids she had rather than her. Other than the few stains, the truck was in mint condition so, like what has already been said, not all women are bad at "cosmetic" maintenance.

 

[Stuck CAPS]

Guess my mom just loves her 'yotas. Not a single problem with it until I messed up when tinkering with it a few times.

 

[Izlu]

I sell Toyotas at a dealership and I'm a huge fan of 4runners. Because of how easily people can sell them in our area, it's very rare that we get them in on trade. We had a customer bring their 4runner in for service because the 4wd was not functioning. The customer was a woman, and her husband owns a few 4wd farm trucks that they use on the rare occasions that the weather is bad so her 4runner was mostly a pavement pounder. It's an 06 that they bought used with about 10k miles on it. She stated that she only used the 4wd about twice since she's owned it so the actuators froze up and would not engage the 4wd system. Our service department gave her a quote on how much it would cost to fix it and since it was so high, they decided to trade it in and buy a new one. This is where I come in. I knew it needed quite a bit of money spent on it, but I get a break so I bought it wholesale with the intentions of spending about $2000-$2500 fixing it. First, since it's the least expensive, I had the front diff actuator replaced. That did not fix it, so I had the transfer case actuator replaced. It now engages 4wd and seems to work in 4hi, 4lo, and the center diff lock works. One problem, when in 4hi with the center diff unlocked the 4wd and center diff lights flash. We couldn't figure out why, until htey drained the front diff fluid and chunks of metel start falling out of it, so the front diff is exploded and needs to be replaced. In my opinion, the previous owner once used 4wd a long time ago and saw the flashing lights so she stopped using it, then the actuators froze up. I think the front diff was the original problem, that snowballed into even bigger problems. Did I mention I have horrible luck? This is going to end up costing me a small fortune, even after I get a break because I work there. It's a really nice 4runner, and I'll be glad I have it after it's 100% but it's been 2 weeks now and I'm really frusterated with it. This situation definitley shatters my opinion of 4runners being bullet proof. Sorry for the long rant post.

I assume that you have access to new parts as you sell Toyotas, can you please pull the cover of new actuator and snap a couple pics?

I have had my transfer case teared apart 3 days ago as it was leaking oil and 4LO wouldn't engage. 4Lo motor was seized up completely so it took quite effort to free it up. The techs haven't been able to figure out correct positions for timing gears since then even with some reference pics :ybrick:

I need pics of default positions of both timing gears shown in the below pics, your help will be appreciated very much.

This thread was a huge help

Also, pics showing the 4lo shaft and gear would be awesome!

 

[c_mack9]

Sorry, I can't help with that. The actuators have already been replaced. They're not coming back off.