Transfer case question (Swapping TO a j-shift from a pushbutton)

[dl1911]

Okay folks here is my issure. I have a 1998 limited and the t-case actuator has died. I tested it with 12 v power and won't shift in and out of 4wd reliably.

I have a spare j-shift laying around out of a 97 sr5. Physically they look the same minus the electronic actuator...I don't mind loosing the 4wd button on the shifter. I'm old school and don't mind shifting manually into 4wd.

So my question is, if I put the j-shift case in my limited is there going to be any issues? ECU? Blinking lights?

With the addition of the j-shift will the front diff engage the same?

This truck has a rear locker.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! I have searched till my eyes are crossed.

Thank you in advance!

 

[nissanh]

If you are going back to J-shifter (which is the MOST reliable method: as you have experienced) you will need a new drive shaft to the rear. Trucks with J-shifter has a longer drive shaft.

When you move the J-shifter, It sends a signal to activate the vacuum actuator to engage the front differential.

Your 98 with 4WD button is AWD so I think your front is not ADD (correct me if I am wrong). Check whether you have the front diff vacuum actuator, if not, probably you will have to get a front diff from a 96 or 97.

 

[dl1911]

My front diff has a vacuum actuator yes. I don't think my limited is the AWD version as the button shifter only moves straight back and forth.

The made so many variants it is crazy

 

[etc.]

Be sure to post pics of the swap

 

[dl1911]

Well at this point Im not sure Im going to do a swap or just pick up another limited T-case.
I would prefer to go to the j-shift because I have it but if it is going to cause problems or if Im going to have to change a bunch of parts I wont do it.

Thoughts please

 

[RockenAlex]

If you are going back to J-shifter (which is the MOST reliable method: as you have experienced) you will need a new drive shaft to the rear. Trucks with J-shifter has a longer drive shaft.

When you move the J-shifter, It sends a signal to activate the vacuum actuator to engage the front differential.

Your 98 with 4WD button is AWD so I think your front is not ADD (correct me if I am wrong). Check whether you have the front diff vacuum actuator, if not, probably you will have to get a front diff from a 96 or 97.

All of this is correct except AWD was introduced in 99 and was not yet an option in 98. I have a J-shift transfer case equipped 4runner, a push button 4wd 4runner, and a push button AWD 4runner sitting in my driveway right now. I will measure them tomorrow but off the top of my head I can say the AWD case is longer maybe a 6 inches longer.

 

[dl1911]

My front diff has a vacuum actuator yes. I don't think my limited is the AWD version as the button shifter only moves straight back and forth.

The made so many variants it is crazy

Well decided to look a little closer at this swap today. Measured driveshaft lengths off of my 1997 SR5 and they are the same as my 98 limited so I did the swap.

Everything went well and she is back on the ground with functioning 4wd again. The j-shift TC was exactly the same dimensionally minus the actuator.

One thing I should note. The 4wd position switch is on the opposite side of the case and had a female pigtailed end on it so I swapped out the switch from the one touch TC and everything worked.

Thank you guys for all the assistance. I love this sight and all the knowledgeable people .

 

[miles.less.traveld]

Well decided to look a little closer at this swap today. Measured driveshaft lengths off of my 1997 SR5 and they are the same as my 98 limited so I did the swap.

Everything went well and she is back on the ground with functioning 4wd again. The j-shift TC was exactly the same dimensionally minus the actuator.

One thing I should note. The 4wd position switch is on the opposite side of the case and had a female pigtailed end on it so I swapped out the switch from the one touch TC and everything worked.

Thank you guys for all the assistance. I love this sight and all the knowledgeable people .

I know I'm reviving a bit of an old thread here, but any help would be greatly appreciated! I have a 1998 limited with push button 4wd hi same as OP.

My 4wd will not work from button push or lever shift forward.

My front differential (ADD) does actuate when either method of 4wd is introduced, but there is a disconnect of some sort at the transfer case.

My green 4wd light appears on the dash and I hear the electronic actuator at the t case fire but when I jack the front end of the vehicle up and spin both wheels in the same direction, the front driveshaft off the t case spins while the other is is stationary on the ground and this is true throughout all the gears, PRND2L.

Needles to say, the j shift sounds better and better all the time.

I am just confused as to what needs to happen to swap a j shift in and still be able to use the add? or do I need the ADD? I drive the vehicle 3-4 days a week and a 1000ish mile trip atleast once a month with moderate offroading involved each trip.

Any insight would be greatly beneficial especially from OP!

Thanks in advance fellas

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I know I'm reviving a bit of an old thread here, but any help would be greatly appreciated! I have a 1998 limited with push button 4wd hi same as OP.



My 4wd will not work from button push or lever shift forward.



My front differential (ADD) does actuate when either method of 4wd is introduced, but there is a disconnect of some sort at the transfer case.



My green 4wd light appears on the dash and I hear the electronic actuator at the t case fire but when I jack the front end of the vehicle up and spin both wheels in the same direction, the front driveshaft off the t case spins while the other is is stationary on the ground and this is true throughout all the gears, PRND2L.



Needles to say, the j shift sounds better and better all the time.



I am just confused as to what needs to happen to swap a j shift in and still be able to use the add? or do I need the ADD? I drive the vehicle 3-4 days a week and a 1000ish mile trip atleast once a month with moderate offroading involved each trip.



Any insight would be greatly beneficial especially from OP!



Thanks in advance fellas

Have you actually put it in 4wd and mashed the throttle and confirmed it wasn't in 4wd.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[phattyduck]

My front differential (ADD) does actuate when either method of 4wd is introduced, but there is a disconnect of some sort at the transfer case.

My green 4wd light appears on the dash and I hear the electronic actuator at the t case fire but when I jack the front end of the vehicle up and spin both wheels in the same direction, the front driveshaft off the t case spins while the other is is stationary on the ground and this is true throughout all the gears, PRND2L.

Sounds like you have something broken internally to the transfer case. If the 4WD ECU senses the actuator has completed the shift to 4WD, it engages the ADD, which then lights the light.

So, both actuators are in the "4WD" position (actuator on case and ADD actuator on front diff) - which means that something is broken inside the case.

Why not just get a new case or fix/rebuild your current one?

-Charlie

 

[Rex10]

T-case shift type

Are the j-shift t-cases a foward shift or a top shift? If they make both styles what style do we need for our 3rd gen 4runners?

 

[ajordan1975]

Are the j-shift t-cases a foward shift or a top shift? If they make both styles what style do we need for our 3rd gen 4runners?

3rd gen would be a forward shift i guess.
the top shift is a totally different tcase, mostly used in first gens w/ 22re's.

 

[Rex10]

T-case shift type

Yes the old rigs up to 95 (not all) used gear driven top shift and foward shift tcases. But from what ive seen the j-shift transfercase i would need would be from an sr5 auto Tacoma/4runner. I just dont know if the foward shift placement would be correct for the factory shifter hole to work. I was hoping someone would post a pic to confirm.

 

[phattyduck]

Yes the old rigs up to 95 (not all) used gear driven top shift and foward shift tcases. But from what ive seen the j-shift transfercase i would need would be from an sr5 auto Tacoma/4runner. I just dont know if the foward shift placement would be correct for the factory shifter hole to work. I was hoping someone would post a pic to confirm.

(j-shift on an A340 auto)

Forward shift would come out of the transfer adapter cover plate. It comes out of the transfer case itself, thus 'top shift' - though the term isn't really used for the later chain cases like ours.

-Charlie

 

[Rex10]

J-shift A340

Awesome. Thank you.

 

[RustyLinkz]

(j-shift on an A340 auto)

Forward shift would come out of the transfer adapter cover plate. It comes out of the transfer case itself, thus 'top shift' - though the term isn't really used for the later chain cases like ours.

-Charlie

Hi Charlie,

You seem to know what you’re talking about. I have the opportunity to buy a ‘99 limited 4x4 but I would want to swap the J style tcase for the push button if I were to buy it.
I have a J shift style from a ‘00 5-speed...would that be able to mate with the a340 auto 4x4 trans? And would I be able to fit the shift lever through the tunnel without tearing up the interior trim?

Thanks!

 

[phattyduck]

Hi Charlie,

You seem to know what you’re talking about. I have the opportunity to buy a ‘99 limited 4x4 but I would want to swap the J style tcase for the push button if I were to buy it.
I have a J shift style from a ‘00 5-speed...would that be able to mate with the a340 auto 4x4 trans? And would I be able to fit the shift lever through the tunnel without tearing up the interior trim?

Thanks!

"AWD" mode is pretty helpful for on-road variable slick conditions... assuming the multi-mode case still works, why would you want to get rid of it? There isn't really much of a strength difference between the two. Keep it exercised and the actuator is fairly reliable. They stop working when they aren't used (owners manual specifically states to use 4WD once a month or more).

Assuming the shifter on the transfer case comes out like my picture above (not sure if it does on the manual trans transfer cases), then it will bolt right up. You will need new front/rear driveshafts (multi-mode and j-shift cases are different lengths) and you need to do some wiring to fool the computer into lighting up lights and actuating the front diff...

-Charlie

 

[RustyLinkz]

Got it, and I won’t be needing the AWD mode/ actuator module (solid front axle) and I guess I just prefer the feel of the J shift. I’d prefer pulling the lever through the gears than pushing a button to engage my front driveshaft. I also just talked to someone on the phone and he said the collar in between the output shaft on the trans (auto vs manual) and the tcase is different so it won’t fit around the input shaft on the tcase
I’ll see if I have any pictures I can post of a manual trans tcase

 

[RustyLinkz]

Not sure how to post pictures but he’s a tcase from a r150f

 

[farmerjon]

Well decided to look a little closer at this swap today. Measured driveshaft lengths off of my 1997 SR5 and they are the same as my 98 limited so I did the swap.

Everything went well and she is back on the ground with functioning 4wd again. The j-shift TC was exactly the same dimensionally minus the actuator.

One thing I should note. The 4wd position switch is on the opposite side of the case and had a female pigtailed end on it so I swapped out the switch from the one touch TC and everything worked.

Thank you guys for all the assistance. I love this sight and all the knowledgeable people .

Doing this myself from a 98 SR5 to a 98 Limited, keeping the jshift.

Confirming you didn't have to change ADD, VSV/vacuum valves, or 4WD ECU, but only the pigtail 4WD position sensor?

Thanks!