Question about shifting to 4hi

[importman]

Hi Guys, I guess this is a rather subjective question. In your experience, how long does it take for your runner to shift into 4hi and do you have to "help" it? My 05 has 345K on it and I'm wondering if the actuator motor is getting weak. After I turn the switch to 4hi it flashes the two lights and it seems like it's not going to shift. I will watch it for what seems a long time, maybe 8 - 10 seconds and if it hasn't shifted I will gently work the gas pedal to take any load of the drive train. When I do that it shifts into 4hi pretty quickly. Without doing that I don't know how long it would continue to attempt to make the shift. I fear that it will "give up" and set a code or something. Normally I just turn the knob and immediately take the load off but recently I've tried it to see if it will complete the shift while under a slight load. But I always give up and work the pedal to avoid any complications. Does anyone else do this or does yours shift fine without this? And if it does, about how long does it take to complete the shift? Just worried that the motor might be getting weak. In about 2 months I'll be retiring from my job as an auto tech teacher and I'll no longer have a lift available so if this is gonna be a problem I'd rather go ahead and deal with it now while I have the facilities available. Thanks in advance to everyone.
Oh, one other question, does anyone know what happens if it doesn't complete the shift in a certain amount of time? And how much time would that be? Will it throw a code? I've heard enough horror stories about this system to be a little leery of it. Thanks again.

 

[OopsIBrokeIt]

No idea if it will eventually throw a code or there's a time limit.

I can confirm that mine behaves similarly at 255k. Off throttle it'll engage within a few seconds, on the throttle it will eventually but can be 10-15s while it tries to figure it out.

 

[importman]

No idea if it will eventually throw a code or there's a time limit.

I can confirm that mine behaves similarly at 255k. Off throttle it'll engage within a few seconds, on the throttle it will eventually but can be 10-15s while it tries to figure it out.

Thanks Oops, That's exactly what I was looking for.

 

[Syr4RinNC]

I generally shift into 4hi while at low speeds. I only stop and into neutral for 4lo.

Try for a week or so putting it in and out of 4 hi while a low speeds around the neighborhood until it feels like it is working pretty consistently for you.

Putting it in 4hi while stopped is a little more consistent with your experience

 

[importman]

I generally shift into 4hi while at low speeds. I only stop and into neutral for 4lo.

Try for a week or so putting it in and out of 4 hi while a low speeds around the neighborhood until it feels like it is working pretty consistently for you.

Putting it in 4hi while stopped is a little more consistent with your experience

Yeah I only shift to 4hi while moving. Typically 35 to 45 mph. What I was referring to was unloading the drivetrain by letting off or working the gas pedal so the gears have no load on them thus making it shift more easily.

 

[Bluesky 07]

Hi Guys, I guess this is a rather subjective question. In your experience, how long does it take for your runner to shift into 4hi and do you have to "help" it?

I think your actuator is very likely fine. Mine has done what you described since I bought it in 2014. Assuming you're under 62 MPH, "helping it" as you described is exactly what the manual says to do. Instructions for my '07 Sport:

D “H4”
(UNLOCKED)
To shift from “H2” to “H4” (unlocked), reduce the vehicle speed to less than 100km/h (62 mph) and turn the multi−mode control switch knob fully clockwise. If the four−wheel drive indicator light continues to blink when you operate the multi−mode control switch knob from the “H2”to the “H4” position, this reminds you that the transfer mode is not securely in “H4”
mode. Drive straight ahead while accelerating or decelerating.

If the four−wheel drive indicator light continues to blink and the buzzer sounds when you operate the multi−mode control switch knob from the “H2” to the “H4” position, this reminds you that the transfer mode is not in “H4” mode. Stop the vehicle or reduce the vehicle speed to less than 100 km/h (62 mph). Operate the switch knob again.

 

[importman]

I think your actuator is very likely fine. Mine has done what you described since I bought it in 2014. Assuming you're under 62 MPH, "helping it" as you described is exactly what the manual says to do. Instructions for my '07 Sport:

D “H4”
(UNLOCKED)
To shift from “H2” to “H4” (unlocked), reduce the vehicle speed to less than 100km/h (62 mph) and turn the multi−mode control switch knob fully clockwise. If the four−wheel drive indicator light continues to blink when you operate the multi−mode control switch knob from the “H2”to the “H4” position, this reminds you that the transfer mode is not securely in “H4”
mode. Drive straight ahead while accelerating or decelerating.

If the four−wheel drive indicator light continues to blink and the buzzer sounds when you operate the multi−mode control switch knob from the “H2” to the “H4” position, this reminds you that the transfer mode is not in “H4” mode. Stop the vehicle or reduce the vehicle speed to less than 100 km/h (62 mph). Operate the switch knob again.

Thanks Bluesky, I'm glad to hear this. It just isn't real confidence inspiring when you watch those lights flash for what seems too long. Makes me worry about getting into a situation where I need to shift to 4wd and it not making the shift. I usually select 4hi before I go anywhere that I might actually need it. Thanks again!

 

[Bluesky 07]

Thanks Bluesky, I'm glad to hear this. It just isn't real confidence inspiring when you watch those lights flash for what seems too long. Makes me worry about getting into a situation where I need to shift to 4wd and it not making the shift. I usually select 4hi before I go anywhere that I might actually need it. Thanks again!

You're very welcome. You're right, watching the lights blink is unsettling when you know the cost of actuator problems. The manual doesn't say this but I've tried using the 4L process of stop, shift to neutral, engage 4HI, and it worked, sometimes after a bit of time. Not recommending that as a routine thing but it might be worth trying if the prescribed 4HI steps aren't working.