Truck stuck in 4 Lo

As a thought, find the actuator connector plug, unplug for a while. Also check for damaged wires or corrosion.

 

Yeah positive, I had the one key

 

This sounds like wiring or the switch itself, I know hard to diagnose over a computer screen. But really, a transfer case just doesn’t fall apart while sitting. Corrosion on the other hand never sleeps. A friend of mine is a tech at a Toyota dealer and I had asked him some issues he had run into with the 2016+ and all he could think of right off was wiring going to the fuel pumps. He said they had a few trucks come in with wires that had chaffed through and corroded.

 

I use 4wd everyday for about 5 months a year to get in and out of my driveway. I can’t even imagine being denied a warranty claim for “use”.

 

Gotcha. So I'm assuming the truck is relatively clean. The underside has road dirt, but the wheel wells and frame aren't packed to the gills in mud, right?

As long as this is the case, you can win the argument easily. Do as others said, call Toyota, and call the service manager and demand the denial on dealership letterhead. You can be polite and friendly, but explain that you need it for escalating your claim, and take long pauses, mid conversation and say "sorry, bear with me, I'm taking notes."


Oh, and for the odd question. Once upon a time, 6 year old me found the keys to the family bronco. It got halfway out of the neighborhood before grandpa realized it was in 4L. I still remember the red ass from that paddlin'. That same year on the other side of the country, 3-year old cousin managed to back uncle's new S-class into the neighbor's lawn. I'm not sure what happened to him after that. Parents, you might want a gun safe for your keys.

 

It’s your actuator. Unplug it like others have said and give it a good banging. It will come out of 4L, but needs to be replaced.

 

It's not a "dealer" issue, it's a warranty issue with Toyota. GL getting it covered.

 

I was going to suggest checking the linkage.......missing the days of the super simple 70s blazer!

 

Yeah and when you dont use it and the actuator no longer works correctly, denied for lack of use.

 

Its very likely it's the actuator.

Think it's like a $700 piece and can be replaced. They're just cunts and trying to sell a whole tcase.

 

I think it’s the same as the second gen. Cost me 200 bucks online when I had to replace mine.

 

Ok, this is probably a dumb suggestion, but did you, by chance, stop the truck, put it in neutral, and then try to disengage 4WL?

I had some problems getting out of 4WL. No matter how I turned the little knob to 2WD and 4WD it just sounded that annoying alarm. Neutral fixed the problem I had, fortunately before I wrecked the transfer case.

 

I had a 16 do this at my work, we changed the actuator and freed up the check ball slots. It's more than 700$ and required the transfer case to be split.

 

Probably .One of my friends had it happen to his t case as well . Part was $700 from dealer but that's hear in Canada.

He ended up doing FJ swap

 

What dealer is this?

 

If you didn't damage it from your knowledge, I would def not let the dealer get off the hook that easy. Call Corporate, make a fuss about it and they will eventually give in. I think dealers like to place blame immediately when stuff like this comes up but if you push back then eventually they cave

 

I don't off road, but I got a 4X4 because I visit family in states where it snows a lot. I have been at at the beach a few times and I use 4H just to keep everything in working condition. This might be a dumb question, but do I need to run my truck in 4L to lubricate the moving parts or is ok if I only use in 4H?

 

It is advised. I work with large machinery as an equipment mechanic and would also recommend it simply because actuators don't like to go years without functioning. We use the term "exercising the actuator" for a reason.

 

Thanks for the reply. Next time that I go to Galveston, I will use the 4L

 

Culver City, California