Newbie 4wd disengaging difficulties (98)

[SecureBase]

I have recently gotten a 98 4runner limited (with 4L-N-H, pushbutton 4wd lever, no center lock).

I tried to engage the 4wd by pressing the button while in drive/stopped and I could hear mechanism engage. However, pressing the button again i did not hear it disengage, nor did i see any lights.

Now, pressing the 4wd button does nothing (except when i press it while 70+mph it flashes the 4wd light and beeps). The car feels like its stuck in 4wd.

The previous owner implied that the 4wd system was used only on a few spare occasions. Where should i begin the diagnostics? From reading other threads it seems like i should check the vacuum lines first. Any other advice would be most welcome.

 

[Bad Luck]

I have recently gotten a 98 4runner limited (with 4L-N-H, pushbutton 4wd lever, no center lock).

I tried to engage the 4wd by pressing the button while in drive/stopped and I could hear mechanism engage. However, pressing the button again i did not hear it disengage, nor did i see any lights.

Now, pressing the 4wd button does nothing (except when i press it while 70+mph it flashes the 4wd light and beeps). The car feels like its stuck in 4wd.

The previous owner implied that the 4wd system was used only on a few spare occasions. Where should i begin the diagnostics? From reading other threads it seems like i should check the vacuum lines first. Any other advice would be most welcome.

Not sure if you're aware of this but when you press the 4wd button it is supposed to put you in High 4 Locked which you aren't supposed to use on hard surfaces. That beeping is telling you that you're going to fast to engage 4wd and need to slow down. I would find a dirt lot and do some figure 8's while engaging 4wd. Report back with results

 

[SecureBase]

Not sure if you're aware of this but when you press the 4wd button it is supposed to put you in High 4 Locked which you aren't supposed to use on hard surfaces. That beeping is telling you that you're going to fast to engage 4wd and need to slow down. I would find a dirt lot and do some figure 8's while engaging 4wd. Report back with results

Thanks for the tip. I tried this for a good 20 min today. I could not detect anything happening mechanically, nor were there any lights.

Could the gears be stuck 4wd? the way the truck makes sharp turns (tail swings into turns) makes me believe that 4wd remains engaged.

P.S. the 4wd lever has a steady vibration it it. The vibration becomes very intense for a short moment as it passes from one position to the next. Could this be indicative of something?

 

[APhelps]

Thanks for the tip. I tried this for a good 20 min today. I could not detect anything happening mechanically, nor were there any lights.

Could the gears be stuck 4wd? the way the truck makes sharp turns (tail swings into turns) makes me believe that 4wd remains engaged.

P.S. the 4wd lever has a steady vibration it it. The vibration becomes very intense for a short moment as it passes from one position to the next. Could this be indicative of something?

Spin the front driveshaft, if its truly in 4wd the front driveshaft won't free spin.

 

[Bad Luck]

Thanks for the tip. I tried this for a good 20 min today. I could not detect anything happening mechanically, nor were there any lights.

Could the gears be stuck 4wd? the way the truck makes sharp turns (tail swings into turns) makes me believe that 4wd remains engaged.

P.S. the 4wd lever has a steady vibration it it. The vibration becomes very intense for a short moment as it passes from one position to the next. Could this be indicative of something?

Try pressing the 4wd button with the key on engine off and see if you can hear the transfer case motor actuating.

Spin the front driveshaft, if its truly in 4wd the front driveshaft won't free spin.

Not necessarily true. If the front diff is engaged but the transfer case is not then the front driveshaft won't spin and vice verse. You need to jack the front end off the ground with 4wd engaged to see if the front driveshaft spins to see if the transfer case is in 4wd. If it spins and the front tires spin with it then the front diff is engaged but the transfer case is not in 4wd. If the driveshaft doesn't spin then the transfer case is in 4wd, and you should try to spin a front tire and see if the other front tire spins in the opposite direction. (Top of one tire rotates towards the front and top of the opposite tire rotates towards the rear.) If the opposite tire doesn't rotate then the front diff isn't engaged.