OBD P1782 code came up

[danw]

So this was my situation. We just had a lot of snow fall yesterday. So, today I took my 2002 4runner out to check out the back roads. Well I came up to a parking lot of where I usually go to dock my kayak during the summers. This parking lot wasn't plowed. The 4runner got a little stuck so i put it in 4lo and tried to get out. Didn't work. So i tried going from drive to reverse to "rock it out". Still stayed stuck. At this time I tried to hit the center diff lock button. The dash just kept blinking and it didn't engage. So I gave up and just pushed the button again to stop it from attempting to engage. I luckily managed to get the 4runner out but after that, the check engine light went on. So on my way back from that parking lot, I was going to stop at AutoZone to have them check what the code was.

Before I got to AutoZone, I pulled into an empty (paved) packing lot and tried putting it into 4lo and engaging the center diff lock. This time, everything worked fine, and when i hit the button to disengage the center diff lock it all worked properly. So I went to Autozone, they checked the code and it was P1782. I had them clear it for me to see if it'd come back. It did not. I tried to put the truck into 4lo and engage/disengage center diff lock a couple more times and it all worked properly. The light has stayed off and there seems to be no grinding at all or anything out of the ordinary that might worry oneself.

So what I want to ask you guys is:

-Was this just some fluke thing that happened?
(only thing i could think of was maybe it just didn't work right then and there because the woman i bought it off of probably NEVER used the center diff lock. it was literally a pavement princess and meticulously taken care of)

-If everything is working now and the lights stayed off, should I not worry about it or should I have a mechanic take a look.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Searched and found this:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/probl...-transfer-case-actuary-jammed-internally.html

BTW your mechanic probably won't be able to help. If it cannot be replicated in a parking lot, your mechanic won't be able to replicate it in his parking lot either. It's one of those things that unless you catch it they won't be able to help, only guess and throw parts at it.

 

[Robertw]

Searched and found this:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/probl...-transfer-case-actuary-jammed-internally.html

That's for a 4th gen, dial 4x4 selector. Not sure if that applies to the 3rd gens but I could be mistaken.

 

[gamefreakgc]

Yeah, but it may still apply. I don't have the differential lock on my 4Runner though so can't say. Figured it doesn't hurt, since often Toyotas share technology between generations and even models.

 

[animator]

Unless everything is in perfect alignment, I've always had to roll my 4runner a few feet before the center diff lock would engage, either forwards or backwards. And it'll never engage under load, meaning when I have my foot on the gas.

I assume there is a timeout on the sensor, so if it doesn't detect the center diff lock is in the locked position by a specified amount of time, it throws the code.

 

[TheDurk]

You people should check the manual to see what the code means before speculating. From the 2002 FSM: P1782 is a problem with transfer L4 position switch (LOW switch) or its signal circuit. Odds are the issue is the position switch. You can test it, clean it, and put it back if it tests good. Or change it if you are obsessive about these things.

Me, I'd leave it until it happens again, and then just swap the switch after confirming it was not making contact as it should.