Transfer Case Bad or User Error.

[4runnah005]

Here is the deal. I live in Massachusetts. We just got 18 inches of wet snow. I was fooling around in near by unplowed parks with a very steep hill. Truck was struggling to get traction. Put it in 4 low. Then decided to turn traction control off and lock the diff. Both the 4 wheel drive low. and diff locked. I am positive. I engaged both of these while in neutral.

Here is where my problem occurred. I couldn't turn the lock diff off and turn the traction control on. After using it. Once i got to a flat road. Put car in neutral and tried to turn traction on and diff off. both in 4 hi and 4 lo while car was in drive and while in neutral. Still wouldn't turn off. Then i parked car turned it off. Turned back on and finally got it to switch over after a few trys. by switching over i mean i was able to unlock the diff and turn traction control back on.

Tried it again later just in my drive way. The truck allows we to go from 4hi to 4lo and turn lock diff and traction control on and off while PARKED...

As soon as i try to drive the truck with a locked diff and traction control off i struggle to get it out of a locked diff and to turn traction control back on....

So it seems the system works while not parked. I am sure it is engaging 4lo and am sure the diff is locking and traction control is off when i press the buttion. I can feel it when i drive. So it has something to do with once i drive the truck then try to get back out of a locked diff and no traction control.

I checked the manual and didnt see anything. Am I doing something wrong. does the car have to be in 4lo ? and does it have to be in neutral. I dont remember ever having this problem before when i wheeled it.

Could be user error or bad transfer case.. What do you think? Good news is if my transfer case is going care is still under warranty..

BTW it is a 2005 Sport v8 4x4.. Thanks in advance for your help!!!

 

[mach1diesel]

Are you trying to do this on hard pavement by chance? It might be binding if you are...

 

[JB.]

Not following completey but you're saying the center differential is difficult to unlock after having it locked on snow, correct?

More driveline windup can occur on snow than you might imagine. That can make the diff a little hard to unlock especially if you're just sitting in one spot.

Test turning it on and off while driving in a straight line. You can play with the accelerator a little to help it along if you wish. It should go on and off pretty quickly and easily.

 

[4runnah005]

That's correct jb. What do you mean by windup.

And no not trying to switch it over on dry pavement roads are covered in snow. So I have to be driving in order for the diff to unlock?

 

[DocMT]

A bit off topic, but I wish people would post smaller pictures so that we don't have to scroll left and right just to read their text.

Is there any way I can change a setting on my computer to avoid the need to scroll left & right when someone posts a huge picture in a thread?

 

[JB.]

That's correct jb. What do you mean by windup.

It's the pressures caused by the front/rear drive shaft being unable to turn at different speeds. It can make the gears in the transfer case get kind of wound up tightly, making the unlocking more difficult.

So I have to be driving in order for the diff to unlock?

No, but it makes it easier especially if there's any windup.

 

[4runnah005]

Thanks for your help jb. Docmt time for a bigger computer monitor. It looks fine On my screen.

 

[JB.]

Is there any way I can change a setting on my computer to avoid the need to scroll left & right when someone posts a huge picture in a thread?

You can increase screen resolution. I'm living with a resolution I don't prefer just for that reason.

 

[DocMT]

Thanks for your help jb. Docmt time for a bigger computer monitor. It looks fine On my screen.

I've got a huge screen for my desktop. But my laptop (which I use most of the time) just doesn't allow me to change the resolution enough to be able to read the text if I change it enough that your picture fits on the screen.

I'd love to see a screen shot of your computer with your picture and text on the screen. I'm guessing the text will be pretty small, even if you have a large monitor.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

FWIW 100% in agreement w/JB's suggestions... Moving will help unlock it and screen resolution will help with the pics:lmao:

4runnah005, General Grabber ATII's? How do you like them in the snow?
:cheers:

 

[4runnah005]

CJ the tires are great in the IMO. I had valtiva a/t before, which I used last winter and these are 10x's better. Even in this deep snow I really have to try to get it stuck.. They have great traction even slowing the heavy 4runner down. They have a pretty rugged tread for an A/T and aren't any louder then my less aggressive a/t i had before. Best of all they only cost $700. so no regrets

DOC nothing is small on my screen I have an overkill 27in Mac. Just saying a bigger screen or as JB suggested finding a way to change the resolution is a good idea. Mine is 2560x144. What do you have yours set at?

 

[TOYLUVA]

you can increase screen resolution. I'm living with a resolution i don't prefer just for that reason.

also you can just hit "ctrl -" control and minus to make the display smaller just for temporary and ctrl + to get bigger or back to normal

 

[scottm]

This happens on center diff locks on other trucks as well, usually when they haven't been used much. Some guys have jacked a wheel off the ground and rotate it back-and-forth to make sure all the windup is out of the drive-train. If the actuator was unable to unlock it might have burned a fuse trying, check those.

I usually lock and unlock the center diff carefully. In motion, coasting, with the transmission in neutral seems to help. Slight turns left and right help get the gears aligned to help the lock slide in place.