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Stuck in 4wd?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by avw4x4, Apr 13, 2014.

  1. Apr 13, 2014 at 5:51 PM
    #1
    avw4x4

    avw4x4 [OP] Well-Hung Member

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    Hey guys, this afternoon I was messing around and when I finished up I went to shift into 2wd and it wouldn't go. The truck won't go into 2wd or 4lo right now, I tried rocking it, pulled the battery, every combo of shutting it off with the switch in a different position I could think if but it won't go. I ended up just pulling the front driveshaft to get home but I want to take care of this ASAP.

    Are there any good ways to troubleshoot the actuator? Is there a good place to get a replacement? Any ideas what caused its sudden death if its the culprit?
     
  2. Apr 13, 2014 at 5:59 PM
    #2
    aficianado

    aficianado Well-Known Member

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    no go in neutral?
     
  3. Apr 13, 2014 at 6:00 PM
    #3
    avw4x4

    avw4x4 [OP] Well-Hung Member

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    Nope, it will not go no matter what :notsure:


    Pretty sure the actuator is hosed but want to rule out other things too.
     
  4. Apr 13, 2014 at 6:01 PM
    #4
    carcharias

    carcharias Giggiddy what what

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    Aaron had an excellent actuator thread, and I recently pulled mine to solder some unconnected terminals. You may need to do the same.

    EDIT: Everything you need.
     
  5. Apr 13, 2014 at 6:10 PM
    #5
    avw4x4

    avw4x4 [OP] Well-Hung Member

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    Awesome, thanks a bunch man! I'll take it apart tomorrow, I'd much rather rebuild it if I can! :thumbsup:
     
  6. Apr 13, 2014 at 6:18 PM
    #6
    carcharias

    carcharias Giggiddy what what

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    No worries! The uppermost bolt may give you issues unless you drop the whole thing. Otherwise, the actuator is just cheap plastic. Nuts that Toyota would make something so crucial so feeble. M'eh. Anyway, have fun!
     
  7. Apr 18, 2014 at 9:14 AM
    #7
    avw4x4

    avw4x4 [OP] Well-Hung Member

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    Alright so, to be clear the transfercase itself will not switch drive modes. I manually switched it into 2wd today so the front half of the t case isn't spinning when I drive and I cannot get it to shift into 4wd. Could the front diff actuator be engaged and not let the transfer case actuator shift into 2? If this was the case I would think it would go into 4lo though? I'm thinking the actuator is actually shot but I really don't want to buy another and still have the same issues :notsure:
     
  8. Apr 18, 2014 at 9:18 AM
    #8
    bjmoose

    bjmoose Bullwinkle J. Moose

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    The way the actuators are wired, a common reason that the transfer case won't shift is that the front differential won't properly activate - or if it does, doesn't signal that it did.

    However, if that were your problem, and the front diff actuator were stuck in the engaged position - I agree with your conclusion that you ought to be able to shift back and forth into 4 lo.
     
  9. Apr 18, 2014 at 9:23 AM
    #9
    avw4x4

    avw4x4 [OP] Well-Hung Member

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    Do you think it's worth looking at the front diff actuator or after what I described it seems like it must be the transfer case actuator?
     
  10. Apr 18, 2014 at 9:44 AM
    #10
    carcharias

    carcharias Giggiddy what what

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    A few weeks ago mine wouldn't go into 4lo no matter what I did. 4hi was fine, but absolutely nothing would get me into 4lo. Pull the front actuator and check it out. We noticed 4lo doesn't do anything to the front actuator, though. At least, we didn't notice it doing anything to get into 4lo.
     
  11. Apr 18, 2014 at 9:52 AM
    #11
    avw4x4

    avw4x4 [OP] Well-Hung Member

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    So did fixing the front actuator solve your problem? Somehow it affects the functionality if the t case actuator?
     
  12. Apr 18, 2014 at 10:02 AM
    #12
    bjmoose

    bjmoose Bullwinkle J. Moose

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    Somewhere on TW, and I don't have time to search it down, sorry, but there's a detailed link to the factory diagnostic steps that work through the complete electrical 4wd actuation and how to test and diagnose the complete system.

    If you follow those steps, you'll figure out where the root problem lies.
     
  13. Apr 18, 2014 at 10:08 AM
    #13
    avw4x4

    avw4x4 [OP] Well-Hung Member

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    Thanks man, I'll start searching!
     
  14. Apr 18, 2014 at 10:40 AM
    #14
    avw4x4

    avw4x4 [OP] Well-Hung Member

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    matupu2e_73c086c12167089481dfe786ab345176ec86f3f6.jpg

    Don't think it was the front, also looks great. Soldered it to be sure. Next, to power the transfer case actuator directly and see if it works...
     
  15. Apr 18, 2014 at 11:23 AM
    #15
    carcharias

    carcharias Giggiddy what what

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    I did a trail run afterwards and everything engaged. My actuator looked good when I disassembled it, and I simply soldered the ends like you did. I still don't know why my 4lo didn't engage, and that irks me. Of course, I only looked at the front one, which probably has nothing to do with 4lo.
    Should be part of the same thread by Blackhawke which was previously posted.
     
  16. Apr 18, 2014 at 11:44 AM
    #16
    avw4x4

    avw4x4 [OP] Well-Hung Member

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    Anyone know which wires on the transfer case actuator connector are power and ground? Having a hard time finding a wiring diagram.


    If the transfer case actuator is the problem and it's over a few hundred bucks I may twin stick this bitch! This is the type of shit that drives me insane, ease of use over functionality and durability :puke:
     
  17. Apr 18, 2014 at 11:50 AM
    #17
    moondeath

    moondeath Well-Known Member

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    I agree. I thought it was stupid to get rid of the manually engaged 4wd. Electronic is just asking for trouble.
     
  18. Apr 18, 2014 at 1:52 PM
    #18
    bjmoose

    bjmoose Bullwinkle J. Moose

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  19. Apr 18, 2014 at 2:43 PM
    #19
    02Duck

    02Duck manuals make it better

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  20. Apr 18, 2014 at 4:27 PM
    #20
    avw4x4

    avw4x4 [OP] Well-Hung Member

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