what are bad transfer case symptoms?

[Trip_84]

i have had the 4runner 5 months. shortly after buying i noticed knocking/clicking noise from the front end. kind of sounds like a hooptie, i have had the truck in 4 wheel drive id say about 10-12 times since ive had it no issue, worked great.

I put in 4 wheel drive high today and back out of parking once i got the wheel to about 2 turns in i mean it tightened up and the trucked barely moved, made the knocking sound alot louder too. so i go forward, the more the wheel turned strait the better in got, i made a sharp slow 5mph turn in the parking lot going forward and same thing, steering got real hard and the truck stopped if i let off gas and knocking was loud.

i was too scared to move, felt like something was stretching or getting ready to snap, but back in 2wheel drive and it drove fine but still the knocking sound.... could this be the transfer case?

98 sr5 4 wheel drive automatic.

 

[reelamin]

i have had the 4runner 5 months. shortly after buying i noticed knocking/clicking noise from the front end. kind of sounds like a hooptie, i have had the truck in 4 wheel drive id say about 10-12 times since ive had it no issue, worked great.

I put in 4 wheel drive high today and back out of parking once i got the wheel to about 2 turns in i mean it tightened up and the trucked barely moved, made the knocking sound alot louder too. so i go forward, the more the wheel turned strait the better in got, i made a sharp slow 5mph turn in the parking lot going forward and same thing, steering got real hard and the truck stopped if i let off gas and knocking was loud.

i was too scared to move, felt like something was stretching or getting ready to snap, but back in 2wheel drive and it drove fine but still the knocking sound.... could this be the transfer case?

98 sr5 4 wheel drive automatic.

Lots of needed information:

What is a "hooptie"?

Noise from your front end has nothing to do with the transfer case. The transfer case sits under the rear seat.

Does the noise always happen or only in 2WD or 4WD? Does the frequency increase with speed increase. Does it only make the noise when turning or going straight. If you can hear it while backing up simply have someone listen and isolate it as much as possible.

Just for clarification...are you doing this 4WD testing on a dry pavement parking lot? If you are then of course your going to bind it all up and yes you are making the chances of something breaking much higher.

First guess is a bad CV joint or bearings going out. Jack up the tires and see if they have play in the hub.

 

[vukos]

OK so when you say you put it in 4WD, do you mean full 4WD with center diff locked or not full with center diff unlocked (also known as AWD or multi-mode in some models)?

If you are in full 4WD, then you definitely do NOT want to use this on asphalt or pavement! What you are experiencing when turning the wheel in 4WD is binding of the drive line. This can cause severe damage eventually so only use 4WD when you are on a surface that allows your wheels to slip, such as dirt roads or snow.

Familiarize yourself with basic 4WD operation before you do some serious damage to your vehicle

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

the OP's sig says 98 sr5 4WD. this model doesn't have a center differential hence the OP shouldn't be using 4WD on dry pavement. as previous posts have mentioned, this will cause driveline bind and damage the transfer case, and/or the differentials.

 

[Trip_84]

Lots of needed information:

What is a "hooptie"?

Noise from your front end has nothing to do with the transfer case. The transfer case sits under the rear seat.

Does the noise always happen or only in 2WD or 4WD? Does the frequency increase with speed increase. Does it only make the noise when turning or going straight. If you can hear it while backing up simply have someone listen and isolate it as much as possible.

Just for clarification...are you doing this 4WD testing on a dry pavement parking lot? If you are then of course your going to bind it all up and yes you are making the chances of something breaking much higher.

First guess is a bad CV joint or bearings going out. Jack up the tires and see if they have play in the hub.

I dont know how to describe the hooptie sound lol. i thought on car forum something described as hooptie was just a known thing..... I dont think the transfer case is under the rear seat though. theres nothing under the rear seat other than the muffler, driveshaft and fuel tank.... isnt the drive shaft on a 4 wheel drive 4runner near or under the engine? Im not 100% on that but from google thats where it seems to be.

 

[Trip_84]

the OP's sig says 98 sr5 4WD. this model doesn't have a center differential hence the OP shouldn't be using 4WD on dry pavement. as previous posts have mentioned, this will cause driveline bind and damage the transfer case, and/or the differentials.

yes i did it on dry pavement today but it did it 2 days ago with 2 inches of snow on the ground. that was the only reason i tested it today going slow, to see if the noise was still alot louder than in 2wd. even in a strait line in 4wd the clunking noise is 10 times louder than a strait line in 2wd either in snow or dry pavement.

i just stated it got bad while turning. youre right i shouldnt turn on dry pavement but that doesnt explain driving strait and having the issue

as the title post was asked, im just wondering that the symptoms of a bad transfer case are. dont have a lot of experience with these

 

[reelamin]

yes i did it on dry pavement today but it did it 2 days ago with 2 inches of snow on the ground. that was the only reason i tested it today going slow, to see if the noise was still alot louder than in 2wd. even in a strait line in 4wd the clunking noise is 10 times louder than a strait line in 2wd either in snow or dry pavement.


Ok sorry I miss understood...Bad Transfer Case symptoms would be one or more of the following:

It won't go into 4wd, wont come out of 4WD, Wont go into or out of 4lo, grinding/popping noises under truck either in or out of 4WD, goes into 4wd but no front shaft movement, 4WD suddenly kicks in or out, once shifted into 4wd vehicle does not want to move. Any of those things are a good indicator your having problems with your transfer case.

Hope it helps, and you are able to get your transfer case problems worked out.

 

[Trip_84]

yes i did it on dry pavement today but it did it 2 days ago with 2 inches of snow on the ground. that was the only reason i tested it today going slow, to see if the noise was still alot louder than in 2wd. even in a strait line in 4wd the clunking noise is 10 times louder than a strait line in 2wd either in snow or dry pavement.


Ok sorry I miss understood...Bad Transfer Case symptoms would be one or more of the following:

It won't go into 4wd, wont come out of 4WD, Wont go into or out of 4lo, grinding/popping noises under truck either in or out of 4WD, goes into 4wd but no front shaft movement, 4WD suddenly kicks in or out, once shifted into 4wd vehicle does not want to move. Any of those things are a good indicator your having problems with your transfer case.

Hope it helps, and you are able to get your transfer case problems worked out.

ah ok cool thanks. ya it goes in and out of everything no problem, it might be ( and i am hoping financially) it is what you posted earlier with maybe cv joint or bearings, The truck is going into the shop thursday to a good mechanic so i will update what he said he was. Thanks again!

 

[HiluxSurf SSR-G]

without a center diff, 4WD shouldn't be used on hard surfaces, whether going straight or making a turn.

when 4WD, whether 4H of 4L, is engaged, there is 50-50 distribution between the front and rear diffs. some of the causes of binding are the following:
1. there is unequal weight distribution hence frictional resistance will be different between the front and the rear
2. the outside diameter of the tires aren't exactly the same hence the rolling speed is NOT the same (Edited)
3. the tire pressures aren't exactly the same and the surface is not really flat resulting in different frictional resistance

yes i did it on dry pavement today but it did it 2 days ago with 2 inches of snow on the ground. that was the only reason i tested it today going slow, to see if the noise was still alot louder than in 2wd. even in a strait line in 4wd the clunking noise is 10 times louder than a strait line in 2wd either in snow or dry pavement.

i just stated it got bad while turning. youre right i shouldnt turn on dry pavement but that doesnt explain driving strait and having the issue

as the title post was asked, im just wondering that the symptoms of a bad transfer case are. dont have a lot of experience with these

 

[Trip_84]

without a center diff, 4WD shouldn't be used on hard surfaces, whether going straight or making a turn.

when 4WD, whether 4H of 4L, is engaged, there is 50-50 distribution between the front and rear diffs. some of the causes of binding are the following:
1. there is unequal weight distribution hence frictional resistance will be different between the front and the rear
2. the outside diameter of the tires aren't exactly the same hence the rolling speed is the same
3. the tire pressures aren't exactly the same and the surface is not really flat resulting in different frictional resistance

thanks for that info!

 

[bjax4x4]

Did your problem get solved? I also experienced a binding issue and it felt like my 4Runner could not possibly drive any further. I parked and waited til it felt like it finally released and I drove off in 2wd. Unfortunately since then I have noticed that when accelerating mainly at low speed and rpms I get vibration like something is a bit loose.

I thought it was an injection issue and changed plugs, air filter and cleaned MAF Sensor and throttle body.

2008 Sport Edition.. Please help.

 

[Bad Luck]

Did your problem get solved? I also experienced a binding issue and it felt like my 4Runner could not possibly drive any further. I parked and waited til it felt like it finally released and I drove off in 2wd. Unfortunately since then I have noticed that when accelerating mainly at low speed and rpms I get vibration like something is a bit loose.

I thought it was an injection issue and changed plugs, air filter and cleaned MAF Sensor and throttle body.

2008 Sport Edition.. Please help.

You would probably get more help in the 4th gen 4runner section: https://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/

You can also try using this 4th gen 4runner specific google search for answers to your problem: https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&rlz=1C1QJDB_enUS784US793&ei=nN_2XNSwD5KWsgWrx6GgCQ&q=site%3Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.toyota-4runner.org%2F4th-gen-t4rs%2F&oq=site%3Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.toyota-4runner.org%2F4th-gen-t4rs%2F&gs_l=psy-ab.3...2931.2931..5221...0.0..0.1010.1010.7-1......0....2j1..gws-wiz.z7sVv_rWd5Y

Good luck!

 

[Cvilleguy2019]

Good info - thanks.

 

[Dirty Dingo]

So I have a 2002 and have an interesting issue I can't get to the bottom off. I put a MCM LT kit on it over the summer. Everything ran fine but I was using these 18 inch springs so the front rode high, which could have put some unnecessary wear on some components. Coming back from camping a weird slight knocking/vibration sound developed from what feels like under both the drivers and front passengers feet. I bought 16 inch springs so the front came down another inch and the CV Axles are nearly level now. I replaced the needle bearing but that didn't change anything. The sound is heard at low speed when coasting. No difference when in 2wd verses 4wd. No difference when turning to the left or right. I have a hard time believing its the tires out of balance. Getting them rotated and balanced tomorrow anyways so I will be able to eliminate that from the scenario. Kind of at my wits end. The only thing spinning is the rear driveshaft and front axles when coasting. Anyone have any ideas as to what this could be?