Transfer indicator switch, ADD, and CV joints

[Eacook1]

I think I am heading in the right direction but maybe some of you more experienced 4runner owners can confirm.

Is the transfer indicator switch connected to the shift lever or transfer case and is it adjustable?

My 93 3.0 manual tranny 4runner wouldn't go into 4wd. I checked the vacuum at the actuator. It switches as it should when I move the transfer case lever from 4H to 2H and back. I hooked the lines back up but the actuator would still not engage the dif. I kept going back and forth between 2h and 4hi and what I realized was that if I held the transfer case lever back firmly the front diff would finally engage. If I wiggled the lever while in 4hi it would sometimes dis-engage the dif and sometimes stay engaged.

It was getting late and I didn't have a chance to climb back under the vehicle and see what was going on.

Also I need to replace my cv joints and I know from reading here that I should go with OEM. Is there a way do determine that my current CV joints and axles are original toyota? I was thinking of getting them rebuilt if they are.

Thanks for any help you can give.
Evan

 

[KidVermicious]

Welcome to the board. I'm no help with the transfer case actuator, but the Factory Service Manual up top might be. Regarding the CVs, definitely go with OEM if you wheel hard. If you must buy aftermarket, NAPA is supposed to be the best of the rest. If you only wheel lightly, I wouldn't worry about it, buy whatever is cheap.

 

[Eacook1]

Thanks for the welcome. I have been going thru the service manual that is stickied but I didn't see anything. I will crawl back under the truck today.

I don't do any serious wheeling......yet, but I think I want to buy Toyota cv joints. If mine are factory toyota though I wouldn't mind having them rebuilt. I just don't know how to tell.

 

[KidVermicious]

Thanks for the welcome. I have been going thru the service manual that is stickied but I didn't see anything. I will crawl back under the truck today.

I don't do any serious wheeling......yet, but I think I want to buy Toyota cv joints. If mine are factory toyota though I wouldn't mind having them rebuilt. I just don't know how to tell.

I haven't used them yet, but the Colorado guys are very impressed with CVJ Axles. You might give them a shot.

 

[fourwd1]

I kept going back and forth between 2h and 4hi and what I realized was that if I held the transfer case lever back firmly the front diff would finally engage. If I wiggled the lever while in 4hi it would sometimes dis-engage the dif and sometimes stay engaged.

OK, does the 4WD indicator light on the dash go on/off when the actuator engages/dis-engages, or when you switch from 2Hi to 4Hi regardless of the diff locking?

 

[Eacook1]

I am not 100% positive but I think that whenever the 4wd light was on, it was engaging the diff. When the 4wd light was off, and the lever was in 4hi, I do t think the diff was engaged. It was kinda hard to tell in the street. I need to get it in the dirt and test it. I think that what it comes down too is that if I pull the lever hard back into 4hi, the light will come on and the diff will engage and it will stay in 4wd as long ad I don't bump the lever.

 

[Eacook1]

I am reviving this thread. I still don't have working 4wd. I haven't spent any time trying to fix it but it is next on the list as I finally got around to replacing the front axles and shocks with some bilstiens.

I have looked around a bit but haven't found any info yet on trouble shooting the add system. I will keep searching. If any body can point me in the right direction I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

 

[4runnerBrett]

The indicator switch is right in the front of the transfer case.
Hopefully this helps you.

 

[Eacook1]

That's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks. I saw that somewhere awhile back but couldn't remember where. I figured a good start would be to make sure all the connections are good as the system quit working completely after I had the clutch replaced. I am hopeing its something simple.

 

[4runnerBrett]

Ya I have same issue. Mine quit working after motor swap.

 

[KidVermicious]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you've got some slop in your linkage.

 

[Eacook1]

Thanks Kid, I'll check that out too.

 

[CodeButcher]

Forgive my ignorance, but doesn't the truck need to be rolling inorder for the ADD to fully engage? At least that what I've read in the past.

 

[Eacook1]

I'm not sure if it has to be rolling or not. I have tried it rolling forward and backward and stopped.

 

[fourwd1]

Forgive my ignorance, but doesn't the truck need to be rolling inorder for the ADD to fully engage? At least that what I've read in the past.

No. You may be thinking of auto-hubs on a non-ADD truck.

 

[CodeButcher]

I recall there is a delay when I shift into 4WD. The light takes a few moments before it turns on and then I feel the front wheels engaging. I have not used 4WD in my T4R in a long while.

 

[Eacook1]

Well I thought it best to close out this thread as I finally fixed the problem. There is a switch called "transfer indicator switch". It is on the right side of the transfer case near the top. It is a PITA to get to. You need a 27mm crow foot wrench to change it. I didn't have one so I made one out of a smaller crowfoot wrench and a socket and welded them together. Anyway, put the new switch in and viola....4wd light comes on. I have had the truck off road several times now and it seems to be working as normal.

Thanks guys.

 

[Eacook1]

And I do have to be moving ever so slightly for it to engage and disengage.