Need help with front differential actuator

J

JoshD21

New member
If anyone could help me with this, I would sure appreciate it! Its about to drive me crazy!

I have an 02, and its currently stuck in 4wd. It has the flashing green and orange lights of death. I tested the 2 switches on the x-fer case for continuity, they both tested OK. So looking at this thread- 01 4Runner Won't Disengage 4WD - YotaTech Forums

I checked the actuator and on step 3c, it had no resistance between the terminals and ground. I bought a used actuator off ebay, and I'm getting the same reading with it. So, I don't know if its bad or not, but according to this, it is bad also.

Can someone that has a functioning 4x4 system check theirs and see if it has resistance between prong 2 or 6 and ground?
 
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Maybe someone else can confirm this technique, but can't you put it in reverse for a bit, back up a little, and back into drive to try to get it out of 4wd. Have you tried that?
 
JoshD21 said:
If anyone could help me with this, I would sure appreciate it! Its about to drive me crazy!

I have an 02, and its currently stuck in 4wd. It has the flashing green and orange lights of death. I tested the 2 switches on the x-fer case for continuity, they both tested OK. So looking at this thread- 01 4Runner Won't Disengage 4WD - YotaTech Forums

I checked the actuator and on step 3c, it had no resistance between the terminals and ground. I bought a used actuator off ebay, and I'm getting the same reading with it. So, I don't know if its bad or not, but according to this, it is bad also.

Can someone that has a functioning 4x4 system check theirs and see if it has resistance between prong 2 or 6 and ground?
Click to expand...

What do you get between 2 and 6? How does Test 4 go? The reason I am asking is the result of the guy on Yota is impossible. If he has good resistance BETWEEN 2 and 6, there is no way on God's green Earth he had zero resistance between both 2 and ground and 6 and ground. It could only then be zero between 2 and 6. Methinks he didn't know the difference between infinite resistance and zero resistance. I hope you didn't fall into that trap. Because zero on both is for sure a dead unit. So maybe I hope you did make that mistake, for your sake.

The result of Test 4 further confirms he got Test 3 wrong. Motor ain't gonna move if both 2 and 6 short to ground.

No resistance is zero. Infinite is whatever the meter shows when the probes are both touching nothing but air.
 
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On the unit currently installed in the truck, I had resistance between 2 and 6. Between 2/6 and ground, it had infinite resistance, on both the installed unit and the spare I bought.

I jumped the spare actuator with 12v and the fork moves left and right like it should. I also jumped the unit installed on the truck, and it sounded like it did the same, however the lights are still flashing on the dash. Right now, the ADD actuator should be in 2wd mode, and the switch on the shift lever is "out", which should also be 2wd mode. But the lights are still flashing, so I'm not sure what the problem is at this point.
 
JoshD21 said:
On the unit currently installed in the truck, I had resistance between 2 and 6. Between 2/6 and ground, it had infinite resistance, on both the installed unit and the spare I bought.

I jumped the spare actuator with 12v and the fork moves left and right like it should. I also jumped the unit installed on the truck, and it sounded like it did the same, however the lights are still flashing on the dash. Right now, the ADD actuator should be in 2wd mode, and the switch on the shift lever is "out", which should also be 2wd mode. But the lights are still flashing, so I'm not sure what the problem is at this point.
Click to expand...

Well, I'd say the front actuator is not your problem, then. What made you decide it was? I don't know the '01-'02 as well as I do the vacuum systems, but I'll try to help. To be clear, infinite resistance is a pass on the 3c tests.

How did you do on all the other tests?

http://tacoma.site40.net/4Runner_96-02_Repair&Wiring/techinfo.toyota.com/ileaf/02toyrm/02toypdf/02rmsour/2002/024runne/trvf3am/ot24ssy/insp.pdf
 
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actuator

could be switch on four wheel drive stick shift. Disconnect it and battery voltage and see if it clears, often you have to get in reverse to turn out lights, when you get it fixed put it in four wheel hi drive once a month for about 5 miles , then back to 2 wheel drive. This will keep unit working properly.:girl:

Ron
 
fblainen11 said:
Maybe someone else can confirm this technique, but can't you put it in reverse for a bit, back up a little, and back into drive to try to get it out of 4wd. Have you tried that?
Click to expand...

I tried this, as well as various forms of shifting into/out of N, D, and R, and nothing worked.
 
TheDurk said:
Well, I'd say the front actuator is not your problem, then. What made you decide it was? I don't know the '01-'02 as well as I do the vacuum systems, but I'll try to help. To be clear, infinite resistance is a pass on the 3c tests.

How did you do on all the other tests?

http://tacoma.site40.net/4Runner_96-02_Repair&Wiring/techinfo.toyota.com/ileaf/02toyrm/02toypdf/02rmsour/2002/024runne/trvf3am/ot24ssy/insp.pdf
Click to expand...

I had not seen this PDF before, I am reading it now and will go check the 4wd switch. The reason I guessed it was the actuator is that it seemed to be a part that is prone to failure, my 4wd fuse was good, and both switches on the x-fer case tested out good for continuity.
 
JoshD21 said:
I had not seen this PDF before, I am reading it now and will go check the 4wd switch. The reason I guessed it was the actuator is that it seemed to be a part that is prone to failure, my 4wd fuse was good, and both switches on the x-fer case tested out good for continuity.
Click to expand...

So it could be the 4wd switch, the TC actuator, or the switch wiring, among others. Lots of work to do. Should be more than two switches on the TC, too, in a 2002.

I actually don't think it is button switch, as system would not even try to go to 2wd if that were dead.

When the light is flashing as you try to go into 2wd, if you get under the truck, can you turn the front drive-shaft with your hand with the truck on the ground?
http://tacoma.site40.net/4Runner_96-02_Repair&Wiring/techinfo.toyota.com/ileaf/ewdtmc2/ewdtmpdf/ewdsourc/2002/024runne/systemci/0394wd.pdf
 
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JoshD21 said:
Just went outside and tried it, front driveshaft is locked up solid.
Click to expand...

Ok. That rules out the position switch on the front diff. I'm thinking there are more than two position switches on the TC and you missed the bad one. No guarantee, but that makes the most sense based on what we know now.
 
You are correct Durk, I have been researching this issue for hours and apparently there are 4 switches, so there are 2 I haven't gotten to yet. It sounds like they are right on top of the transfer case and might be a bear to get to.

Anybody here removed these switches before? Not the 2 just above the actuator, they were easy to get to.
 
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