Please Help no 4low on 2003 4runner 4.7 V8

[rock4200]

Hi I have searched these threads hi and lo. I just bought a 2003 4runner with a 158k on it. The car has been well serviced and garage kept. Picked it up for 3800.00. However , it has no 4lo. When you switch into 4lo no lights or no beeping happens. From what I am reading people are getting the beep even when the actuators are stuck. Any help would be appreciated!!

This is my 3rd T4R I had an 97, 02, and now a 03 limited. I also have a 08 Tundra love the Yotas. Good to be back on this forum, it has been a few years. :fishing:

 

[RDOOGZ89]

The person who had the truck before you probably never used the 4lo and the actuator seized up. I had the same issue with mine when I went to buy it. The truck would shift into 4hi but not 4lo. I had them replace the entire transfer case a condition for the sale, so I did not have to deal with replacing the actuator or replacing the transfer case myself.

That is why it is very important to test these features before you buy. It is probably one of the best pieces of advice I got from this forum.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

It could be the switch in the interior of the 4Runner since it doesn't beep or make the light blink. Hopefully its not the actuator/transfer case itself. Earlier this year I posted the Toyota trouble shooting guide from when my dealer diagnosed/fixed my 4lo issue. Not sure if it'll help since the V6 is different than the V8 transfer case (full time vs part time).

Let me see if I can find that post...

 

[Monkey Wrench]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...ese-factory-inspection-steps.html#post2659344

 

[TowMeOut]

Dumb question.....but it has the center diff lock, right?? Does that operate??

+1 on the dash switch potentially being bad. It's not that common but does happen. Last suggestion....the 4wd "computer" is mounted on a panel under the glove box along with the TPMS brain. Several times when I was trying to get the timing correct on my t-case I ended up what I believe was some kind of "error" or maybe a SAFE mode. The little sensor wheels in the actuator tell the brain what position the shift rods are in. If you end up in a combination that doesn't jive I think it just stops trying. At least a few times I got it stuck in a position where the front diff (I've got the V6) was engaged but the t-case was kind of in-between. It detects that as an error (since the diff shifts last) and sort of locked up.

I did the typical solution.....I just unplugged the brain box for a few seconds (with the truck power OFF). I think that reset it then I'd plug it back into the harness and turn the truck back on for another try.

FYI...in tearing my actuator apart I was really disappointed in Toyota to see what a silly design they used. The electrical contacts going to each motor are literally just a friction fit. They don't crimp or have any kind of real connector. I'm pretty sure that just due to age, heat cycles, vibration, etc that the connection to the motor gets loose over time. There's "contact" but it's so loose that the motor isn't getting the proper current in order to overcome all that friction and move the gears/rods. Bring back the manual lever!!

 

[rock4200]

It could be the switch in the interior of the 4Runner since it doesn't beep or make the light blink. Hopefully its not the actuator/transfer case itself. Earlier this year I posted the Toyota trouble shooting guide from when my dealer diagnosed/fixed my 4lo issue. Not sure if it'll help since the V6 is different than the V8 transfer case (full time vs part time).

Let me see if I can find that post...

That is my thoughts since there is no beep. The center diff does lock and the all-time 4wd (V8) is engaged. I will see if there is a easy way to test the switch first.

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[rock4200]

Thank you everyone for the replies. Next action check switch. Possibly unplug the 4wd computer and see if it does a reset. The no light and no beeping is what throws me.

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[Monkey Wrench]

Another thing to try is to stop on a hill and put the truck into neutral, and then try to engage 4lo. After you turn the switch to 4lo, you then coast at a few miles an hour to see if anything happens. Some folks have had good luck with the momentum freeing up the stuck gears in the actuator.

The biggest thing is to use 4lo a few times a month after you get it working so it doesn't seize again from lack of use. At least its a good excuse to go 4 wheeling!

 

[Ruthven13]

I may have missed something in the other replies. Is the plug for the switch connected? I just say this because it happened to me with the same symptoms and scared the hell out of me. I was doing some work on my head unit and forgot to plug it back in...

 

[rock4200]

I may have missed something in the other replies. Is the plug for the switch connected? I just say this because it happened to me with the same symptoms and scared the hell out of me. I was doing some work on my head unit and forgot to plug it back in...

I just bought it this past week the owner had it and never used the 4 low my guess the switch is plugged in but I need to double check.


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[hgill]

same issue here. No beeping and no light. :ybrick::ybrick::ybrick:

 

[RedRumt4r]

i dont have a 4wd but i do have a 04 v8 with 156k miles. i paid about a 100 less them you did. Then a week later i started to find out why i paid 3700 for it :/. but its a solid body and sound motor. but all suspension including the hub bearings, rotors and pads, and blend door actuator all need replacing. Then i thought to myself i should have offered that guy 3000 bux for all the loot im about to drop into this truck....oh well you live and learn

 

[rock4200]

i dont have a 4wd but i do have a 04 v8 with 156k miles. i paid about a 100 less them you did. Then a week later i started to find out why i paid 3700 for it :/. but its a solid body and sound motor. but all suspension including the hub bearings, rotors and pads, and blend door actuator all need replacing. Then i thought to myself i should have offered that guy 3000 bux for all the loot im about to drop into this truck....oh well you live and learn

I knew the issues going into the buy. He also had a book of all maintenance performed and all the receipts to accompany it. I need to get a wiring diagram of the 4wd switch to see how to test it for power.

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[RedRumt4r]

I knew the issues going into the buy. He also had a book of all maintenance performed and all the receipts to accompany it. I need to get a wiring diagram of the 4wd switch to see how to test it for power.

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man at least you got that much. I didnt get jack. I had to take my truck to toyota to get them to find all the problems which costed me 300 bux and they should be getting all my recalls done along with my new dash.

One that i got irritated with from the guy i bought it from on his ad he said he had cold ac. when i went to go test drive the truck. i told him only hot air is coming from driver side and cold on the passenger side. He proceeds to come to the trucks saying its cold air its good lol..

 

[rock4200]

Update: pulled the dash apart In 5 mind and found the issue. The 4wd switch was Unplugged! Plugged it back in and 4low works fine. Thanks for everyone's input. The last time it was at the dealer for the dash replacement I guess they never plugged it back in. Well onto the next issue a little play in the sunroof and a tick coming from the upper passenger cylinder head.

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[rock4200]

Update: pulled the dash apart In 5 mins and found the issue. The 4wd switch was Unplugged! Plugged it back in and 4low works fine. Thanks for everyone's input. The last time it was at the dealer for the dash replacement I guess they never plugged it back in. Well onto the next issue a little play in the sunroof and a tick coming from the upper passenger cylinder head.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[Ruthven13]

Update: pulled the dash apart In 5 mind and found the issue. The 4wd switch was Unplugged! Plugged it back in and 4low works fine. Thanks for everyone's input. The last time it was at the dealer for the dash replacement I guess they never plugged it back in. Well onto the next issue a little play in the sunroof and a tick coming from the upper passenger cylinder head.

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HA! Told ya so! I felt pretty dumb when it happened to me and I freaked out for a little while. Glad it worked out for you with no major issues...

 

[hgill]

Update: After OP resolved the issue, i figured the switch on mine had to be unplugged or bad as I didn't have any beeping or lights.

Realized that I had my stereo installed about 9 months back and thought they possibly could have forgotten to wire it back up (I hadn't tested the 4Lo until recently). Took it to the stereo shop to have them look at it and the guy said it was indeed not plugged back in.

Drove home as I was a bit hesitant to try 4lo there as I had not shifted into 4Lo in the last 6 years of owning the truck. Brought it home and shifted it into 4Lo (while praying to the Toyota Gods), and bam it went right into 4Lo. Such a relief. Will definetely be shifting it into 4Lo everything month now.

Thanks OP