Need help: center diff won't engage

[John7M7]

Hi guys,

Sorry if the subject has been discussed already, but I'm currently in Maine, next to Acadia National Park, and our network is spotty at best. Can't spend much time online to research.

We are being hit by the "snowstorm" Grayson, which btw is also the name of one of our two dogs
There is snow everywhere, and the wife, doggies and I would like to go around. Roads are decent enligh in regular 4WD, but to get to some hiking trails I might need some extra capability.

I tried engaging the center diff (4 high) today and nothing happened. The little orange light didn't blink. No noise.

I tried while stopped, while driving, nothing. I was already in 4WD of course. I drive a 2000 Limited.

The center diff has been serviced nine months ago and it worked fine last month.

Well, I need your input!

Thanks in advance,
John

 

[John7M7]

Bump

 

[Bandit Runner]

Here's one thing to try: Don't just press the center diff button and instantly let go of it. Try pressing and holding it in for a second or two, and then letting go. I've found that this helps when mine doesn't want to engage right away. Good luck!

 

[John7M7]

I have no button sadly, it's through the transfer case lever. The button I have is for the Rear Locker.

 

[phattyduck]

I tried engaging the center diff (4 high) today and nothing happened. The little orange light didn't blink. No noise.

I tried while stopped, while driving, nothing. I was already in 4WD of course. I drive a 2000 Limited.

Ok... Since you have a '99/'00 Limited, the locking of the center diff is mechanically controlled by the lever. If the lever is in the lower left position (or 4L), the center diff is locked, whether or not you have the orange light lit. If the green lights (4 tires) were lit on the dash, you were in 4H locked, whether or not the center diff light was active.

Most likely, you just have a bad indicator switch.

-Charlie

 

[2ndhandyotaman]

I have no button sadly, it's through the transfer case lever. The button I have is for the Rear Locker.

Is there more than 1 4wd system for the '99''00 Limiteds? My '99 has the "j" shift pattern AND a 4wd button on the t-case shifter. I read the owners manual to be sure that I was understanding exactly what I have. E-locker button is on the dash where it should be.

 

[thecole1098]

Is there more than 1 4wd system for the '99''00 Limiteds? My '99 has the "j" shift pattern AND a 4wd button on the t-case shifter. I read the owners manual to be sure that I was understanding exactly what I have. E-locker button is on the dash where it should be.

No. Both the 99 and 00 Limiteds have the multi-mode system you described with the RR Lock being optional on them. In 01 they changed to where all models have the center diff lock button which replaced where the RR Diff lock button used to be. The shifter on the 01 and 02 had a shifter that simply had L4 - N - H with the high range being controlled with the 4WD button on the side of the shifter.

This will explain it better than I can:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...rs-3rd-gens-transfer-case-awd-multi-mode.html

 

[John7M7]

Ok... Since you have a '99/'00 Limited, the locking of the center diff is mechanically controlled by the lever. If the lever is in the lower left position (or 4L), the center diff is locked, whether or not you have the orange light lit. If the green lights (4 tires) were lit on the dash, you were in 4H locked, whether or not the center diff light was active.

Most likely, you just have a bad indicator switch.

-Charlie

Thank you for your answer. Let me ask you something though.

The owner's manual and the little reminder on the sun visor tells you that when put in 4High locked (bottom left of the t case lever), if the orange light blink, you have to do a quick procedure to fix it. It says to drive straight, or brake, or whatever, I don't have it in mind but it doesn't matter.

If there is no true connection between the orange light and the diff being locked when the lever is in the bottom left position, why do they tell you to follow this procedure? I hope my question is clear enough.

 

[RunnerMike]

Ok... Since you have a '99/'00 Limited, the locking of the center diff is mechanically controlled by the lever. If the lever is in the lower left position (or 4L), the center diff is locked, whether or not you have the orange light lit. If the green lights (4 tires) were lit on the dash, you were in 4H locked, whether or not the center diff light was active.

Most likely, you just have a bad indicator switch.

-Charlie

I have a 99 Limited which is set up the same as the 2000.

You have 4 drive mode. 2WD, 4 HI Unlocked (aka AWD) that is safe to drive on regular paved roads, 4 HI Locked , and 4 LO.

By default you will be in 2WD. Dash should not indicate any green wheel lights. Transfer case lever is in the 2WD/4H position.

If you press the 4WD button on the transfer case lever, it engages 4 HI Unlocked (AWD mode). You should see 4 green wheel lights on the dash. Transfer case lever remains in 2WD/4H position. Truck is in 4 HI Unlocked mode because the 4WD button is engaged (pushed in). To return to 2WD, simply depress the 4WD button again. Leave transfer case lever in 2WD/4H position. Dash will clear all 4 green wheel lights.

If you move the transfer case lever down (from 2WD/4H position) to the 4H-L position, it will lock the center differential. The dash should show one orange center light in between the 4 green wheel lights. This indicates 4 HI Locked center diff. This splits power front and back 50/50. Do not drive on pavement in 4HI Locked because you will bind your drivetrain and potentially cause damage.

Note: You can go from 2WD to 4 HI Locked by just moving the transfer case lever down to the 4H-L position. This bypass the 4WD button (AWD mode). You can use this trick to bypass situation where the 4WD button doesn't work (aka sticky). Once in 4 HI Locked, push the 4WD button and move the transfer case lever up. This is an alternative way to get to 4 HI Unlocked (AWD mode).

If you shift the drive shifter to neutral, then move the transfer case lever right and up to the 4L position, you will engage 4 LO. 4 LO always have center differential locked unless you modify the system. The dash will still indicate 4 green wheel lights and one orange center light. The only way to know you are in 4 LO is because you have to manually put the truck in neutral and the move the transfer case lever (J lever) right and up into the 4L position. Rear locker is engaged using the button to the left of the steering wheel. It will only work in 4 LO (unless you modified it to work in 4 HI or 2WD).

I hope this help you troubleshoot your issue.



99/00 Transfer Case Lever (J pattern)

• 4L
|
2WD/4H • |
| |
4H-L • • Neutral
\____/


-Mike

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[phattyduck]

If there is no true connection between the orange light and the diff being locked when the lever is in the bottom left position, why do they tell you to follow this procedure? I hope my question is clear enough.

The orange light should only blink if you went straight from 2WD to 4H-locked by moving the lever. In this case, the blinking orange light is the 4WD computer waiting for the ADD system to engage. If you started from 4H-unlocked and moved the lever down to 4H-locked, the ADD system is already engaged.

Most likely, in your case, the 4WD computer doesn't know that the center diff is locked due to a malfunctioning indicator switch on the transfer case. If you shifted to 4H-locked without pressing the 4WD button on the shifter, you would be stuck in 2WD still (front diff disconnected).

-Charlie