Need help with 4x4 transfer case switches??

I have a 2002 Tacoma, V6, Manual Trans, TRD etc. etc. etc...

It's got the push button engage on the handle, I was off-road one day, found myself in a sticky situation sliding down a muddy hill, I put it in neutral, hit the button like you're supposed to do. Well the 4x4 engaged, but when it did it slammed in pretty hard because I was giving it the gas/clutch pretty good because I was about to slide over a cliff and I was nervous, but it went in. I was able to get up the hill, hit the button, and it disengaged like it should, but it hasn't worked since. I'm not an engineer, but I know enough to get stuff done, but I monkey'd around with no success. I caved in and took it to a trustworthy mechanic. Long story short, they unplugged the actuator and used a secondary power supply and they said they were able to get it to engage/disengage.

So where am I at on this?? Transfer case switch? Relay? Under the hood I see there's what looks like some sort of 4x4 computer looking thing?? Any Help on this would be much appreciated. Thanks

 

Simple but did you check the fuses?

 

oh and also, sometimes the green 4x4 light will come on for no reason???? and I know that the 4x4 is NOT engaged, but the light comes on sometimes??

 

yeah, checked the fuses. I checked the fuses that's inside the truck with the all the regular fuses (ac, lights, etc...) and I checked the fuses that are under the hood.

Whats the thing under the hood that say 4x4 on it with some wires coming in and out, and what looks like hydraulic lines??? 4x4 main control??

someone told me it could be a relay???

 

yeah the ones under the hood are the main power relays? do you hear them click when you press the button, I would have someone test those relays.

 

how do you test a relay? it's not like a fuse where you can visbly see that it's blown? and you can't just reset them right? it's either good or bad? thanks for your help!

 

fellars down at the shop said they're pretty sure this thing is what crapped out on me

 

That's your ABS actuator. Why is the shop saying this is the cause of your truck not going to 4X4? Is your ABS light on, in the dash?

 

thats your ABS...

 

alright, my bad, got confused because it said 4wd control unit on it.

So going from what my mechanic said, they were able to put some juice to the 4wd actuator and was able to get it to engage and disengage, so the problem must with whatever controls the actuator. He said it's probably one of the switches mounted on my transfer case that turns on the actuator? Are these easy to replace?

 

If it's just a switch, then yes, they're real easy to replace. They just screw in to the side of the tramns/transfer case.

 

alright, so I unscrewed these switches, used an electric meter and found out that one of them was bad!! yes!!! hopefully this solves the issue!! next question. I wanna check around to see if I can get a good price on this part, but I don't know what the 'proper name' of the part is. Transfer Case Switch? Control Switch?? And what are some good websites that sell tacoma parts. thanks again for all the help!

 

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