Transfer Case Noise, Possible Loose Chain

Hi Everyone. First post here. I did a search and did not find what I am looking for.

I have a 97 tacoma 2.7L standard transmission and a chain drive transfer case. The case makes a loud whir, whir, whir noise only in 4-low. I popped the fill plug off and the level is good but the chain feels very loose. Is this normal?

Thanks

 

How long have you had this truck?

 

Only in 4low? Sounds more like the planetary gears.

 

I agree with mechanicjon that a planetary issue is more likely .
I believe this is a gear drive transfer case with no chain ?

 

Toyota switched to a chain drive transfer case when the model changed from "Pickup" to "Tacoma." They're less noisy than gear drive cases but I don't think there's such a thing as a transfer case that's silent in 4 Low. @Spin Drift, a video of it making the noise would be helpful.

 

@DJB1
I have had the truck since around 2013/2014. This is not a daily driver, this is my offroad play truck. This truck has made this noise since I got it but now I want to deal with it. It has somewhere around 225,000 km. My original plan was to run the t case to destruction and then put in a gear driven t case but now I make much less money and I want to see if I can repair it before it gets that bad.

@mechanicjon
Yes only in 4 low. 4hi and 2wd are just fine

@gearcruncher
I can see a chain through the fill hole and I can push it way up with my finger, it seems pretty loose.

@DJB1
I have owned and driven many 4wd trucks in my life. This noise is way beyond any normal sounds I have encountered in the past. A video is a great idea. When I get a chance I think that's what I will do and I will post a link.

 

Does anyone know what the model # of this t case is?

 

You should be able to identify your transfer case at this website
https://www.marlincrawler.com/transfer-case/rebuild-kits

 

I finally got out and recorded the noise. I hope this helps. You can hear it best at about 00:12

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSOVtUa0bUI

 

You're right @Spin Drift, that is not normal. It sounds like a rebuild or replacement T-case is in your future.

 

@DJB1 I can't find any info on this darn thing. I followed the link that @gearcruncher provided but didn't find anything there. I wonder if it's better to just do the conversion to a gear drive case?

I will probably drop the case when I get time and take a peek inside to see if there is anything obvious happening inside.

 

So maybe my case is the VF1A

looks like there isn't a rebuild kit out there for it.

 

More searching
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/transfer-case-transfer-cases-in-first-and-2nd-gen-trucks.345652/

 

WOW! That's the info drop I was looking for lol.

So it looks like they used vf2bm/vf2am for this model. And since mine is not electric shift then it looks like I have the VF2AM??

 

I'm not sure if you can swap in a gear drive transfer case with stock IFS because those only came on trucks with the front diff on the passenger side, while Tacomas with a chain drive transfer case have the front diff on the driver's side (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

I don't know what the model number is for the transfer case our 2.7L 5 Speed trucks have, but it looks like all the parts are still available, even if they're not conveniently bundled into a rebuild kit with a singular part number:

http://parts.villagetoyota.com/show...=1997&ukey_category=19382&ukey_driveLine=6094

You could also get a used chain drive transfer case from ebay or car-part.com.

 

This is helpful as well thanks. A used case is probably my best bet as those replacement parts seem very expensive. I live in a small town in Northern Canada so it's not quite as easy but I will hunt around anyways.

There are adapter plates available to put the gear driven case on this truck (as far as I understand it anyways).

 

Just a little update.

Got a case shipped here from a wrecker. Bugger let sand get in the top when he removed it. I tore it all appart to clean and inspect. It all seemed great after cleaning so I put her back together and installed it in the truck. This case is WAY quieter so I'm very happy. I gave it a good test yesterday out mud bogging.

I'm going to bust open the noisy one soon so I will let you guys know what I find.

Thanks for all the help.

 

Took apart the old case and found nothing wrong.

When I put oil in the new case I used synthetic 75w90. The old case was running dino 80w90. Maybe this was the difference I don't know. Maybe the old case was just noisy.

But at the end of the day this was a success, I now have a quiet case and a spare/parts case.

 

More then likely your planter gear has bad needle bearings or thrust washers. Have to know what your looking for to see it. glad you got it fixed.

 

Ya I could have dug into it further but it just wasn't worth it. I tossed it in the shed to use as spare parts or to swap out if I grenade the other one.