Who has had problems with their 4 wheel drive (electronic transfercase)

Hey Everyone,

My truck (2010 trd sport dc lb) is at the dealership for the 3rd time in a little over a month for the same problem. My 4x4 light on my dash blinks all the time and my 4x4 control knob does nothing at all.

They have (supposedly) replaced the 4wd actuator as well as the front diff actuator.

They have (supposedly) spent hours on the phone with toyota engineering to try to determine whats wrong with it.

They have (definitely) pissed me off and made me really doubt the quality of their vehicles, and their work.


I just want to know who else has had problems with their 4 wheel drive.

If you have had the same problem as me, great, if something similar please explain. I would just like to have some record of other people with this issue incase they try to say its just me.

I know there are a growing number of people swapping out their electronic transfer case for an fj cruiser transfercase so they can have manual 4 wheel drive.

Thanks in advance, I hope I will have some good news soon.

(and incase anyone tries to say I use 4x4 wrong, I do not. I use it exactly as it explains in the owners manual. I spent alot of money on this truck, I use it in the best way that I can, and I expect it to be able to hold up to the small amount of mild wheeling that I do)

 

i havent yet and really hope that i dont. sometimes it wont come out of 4wheel (meaning hard to get the control back into the 2wheel mode.)

 

Sometimes it takes a second,

I usually shift to neutrual then drive and it kicks in.

 

Yea mine just blinks all the time.. I havent had it in 4x4 since after the last time they fixed it, and now its just everyday.. blinks all day.

 

My T-case front output shaft now makes a small ping when shifting from drive to reverse or vice versa.

I have determined it to be caused by play somewhere in the shaft assembly, which is taken up in one direction or the other when the gears engage. I haven't cracked it open to determine exactly what the cause is. The truck does seem to have a particularly high amount of slop in the front DS.

This is possibly a residual effect from when I grenaded my rear diff. It was a particularly bad breakage and may have traveled up the drivetrain and done something to the t-case, such as stretching the chain.

In any event, it does not negatively affect the truck's performance. I am just very careful about taking up gear lash in the drivetrain with two-foot method before any offroad maneuvers that require significant skinny pedal. I intend to ride the issue like it is until it forces me to fix it.

 

I know this is a fairly old post but to the OP
I have this same problem!
The dealer is going to replace the actuator this week, and I hope this helps!! They weren't going to cover it at first (800$ part). But because I have had it in about 10 times over the last 4 years, and after some feet stomping they now will.
This better fix the problem.
Check out my thread on this:http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/30277-4high-4low-lights-flashing.html

 

I've had two Tacomas with that system and never had that problem. I have a 2012 now and seems fine.

 

Yep, mine clunks when put into 4wd and half the time won't come out of 4wd until the power is cycled off and back on. A crappy design all around.

 

Mine has worked flawlessly...no problems at all.

 

My front diff actuator went out last year. The 4wd light just blinked. It was an easy fix though--cost $375 for a new actuator and took about a half hour to replace!

 

Other item that occurred to me:

You Jersey boys, from what I've seen in the photos, spend a lot of time dunking your trucks in H20. Never was much for that myself...

 

I had a problem with mine not shifting into 4lo the dealer replaced the transfer case because some shaft was bent and wouldn't allow 4lo to engage

 

when my truck was new it was quite difficult to get it in and out of 4wd. Now it seems to work flawless.. but i dread the day and electrical part fails.

 

I think the high desert has something to do with that. We that live in the salty slushy crap 6 months of the year seem to have this problem more often.

 

yea I've decided there is a direct relation between the weather and if my 4wd will work or not.

Last weekend it was dry, 4wd worked. Weekend before, it was wet and cold, 4wd did not wok.

 

I've experienced this when it was extremely (sub-zero Fahrenheit) cold. Had to shift into neutral (5spd) then cycle switch 3 times w/ clutch pressed in to get it to disengage back to 2Hi.

 

no problems here either. or on dad’s 2000 tundra that is push button and has over 200k miles on it. i know we have had the tundra in 4wd for a week or so and never took it out. (to much snow and stuff on the roads in NY when we wear up one time)

 

Mine only blinks for a few seconds when I engage it, I let up on the gas to engage it, and then after it blinks, apply gentle throttle and it kicks in.

OP it is reasons like this I like the old style 4x4 shifters on the floor, with my 78 Bronco with the hubs turned in, if I put it in four wheel drive, it is in four wheel drive, no screwing around. I think the first generations had those type of 4x4 shifters as weel but am not sure because I have never driven or rode in a first generation.

 

Not me.. I avoid puddles when I can.
But that is what Toyota is claiming. They say I submerged the truck and that the corrosion in the actuators and t case is the problem.

I grease them all the time. doesn't seem to make a difference. I even cleaned out the t case actuator yellow grease and filled it up with dielectric grease

 

how often do you guys use the 4wd in your trucks? I use mine pretty much whenever it rains (I know, I know its not for on road, but ive been doing it for 20 years on various trucks and have never had an issue) so its constantly being engaged and disengaged...I've had 3 2nd gen tacos with about 70k miles total between them, never had a problem...maybe you just need to use it more?