Transfer case Issues

ok so i hit Moab over the weekend. First time out there with my 05 Taco, I ran 4 hi for most the trail and hit some more technical spots that required 4 lo. My truck has 36,000 on it has been very well maintained, fluids and all have been checked and are all in order per the dealer. 4 lo wouldnt engage when i needed it, then when it did it wouldnt disengage for about an hour. That is after all the out of gear, reverse, level ground, shut off, battery disconnect, and all that jazz. Im used to manual 4x4, this sent me into a world of pissed off. So i finally after having a major wigg out just shut the truck down for 5 minutes and bam there she was. The truck was back in 2 wheel drive. What the hell? I got back into town and talked to a auto parts store, they say this is common and that Tacomas with electronic motors have solonoid sticking problems that the motor isnt strong enough to push or release the solonoid and shutting it down to equalize the pressure is the only remedy, minus making a conversion to manual.

Anyone have this problem any advice, or is my truck on the fritz????? Again Fluids are good, runs fine, no noise, the thing is solid as hell.

 

Yep it's a piece of Shit design, the Stealership service manager even told me with a straight face that having to make multiple attempts to get 4Lo engaged or disengaged is perfectly normal.
They have worked on mine twice and although it is much better I can't count on it working when I may really need it.
For 30 years I was a Toyota 4X fan and never had anything but positive comments about them, I convinced a lot of my buddies to get into them but my 08 changed that, Toyota is nothing special too me any longer.
Sure wish they'd get back too what made them stand out in the offroad world when it came to dependability and reliability.

 

Unfortunately the only solution I think is to use it more. When I bought the truck first time I used had the same problem. Now It is much better but I do use 4x4 more often and use 4L from time to time just to lubricate

 

I refuse to help you out of pure jealousy of you wheeling Moab.

just kidding x2 on what ^he said. You seem to know your stuff but I don't want to ASSume.

 

No problems with mine this first year, and I don't even bother with the 10 miles/month in 4x4. Popped in and out of 4Hi/4Lo with just a little cuddling (the occasional couple feet in reverse) every time I needed it this past winter.

 

They should have kept the old school version with the manual 2h 4h 4l shifter.

 

ha, i missed that to. It's not too often that there's a manual double cab, I know they are out there I just don't see/hear about them much so apparently I did ASSume and didn't even know it.

 

Ya but mall crawlers had problems shifting into 4x4 since in left hand they hold iphone, in right hand starbucks coffee which was getting spilled when you pull the lever. Knob you can turn with out removing coffee from your hand ..
Plus soccer moms were confused by two sticks next to their legs

 

Yeah but first gens are getting crushed... and Toyota is making trucks for shopping in walmart.. So either way we are screwed. Only solution is to get 2006-2008 truck with out electronic traction help and putting manual things from Marlin. Thats what my plan is if that transfer case craps on me.















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I'd love to have a crawler box.
Uh oh 3 shifters total!
Might have to hire a driver!

 

Peddle to the floor dead stopped and in nuetral is the way i rolled it. I did the stop, all of the latter then the reverse, the level ground, the anger of crawling underneath and smacking the transfer, all of it and nothing. it took a shut down 5 minute break with the truck completely off and a restart to get the damn thing to release.

 

Not all Taco's are created equal. My 2009 shifted in and out of 4H and 4L no problem, even when brand new. My 2010 has had issues, (1 - 20 minutes and multiple tries in cold weather). Stealership replace the actuator, and it is still not fixed. Point being, those who comment that theirs works fine, it's not always the operator.

 

Wow Hemi, you're still having issues with the xfer case... Sorry to hear that.

 

LMAO!!!!!

 

that sound liek it is binding somewhere. Is that only when shifting to 4H or to 4L
Is it still taking long time to shift...?

 

Its true
Damn I am missing my 99 Taco.