4wd Issue... 4H, 4L are good. No 2H??? SOLVED

My 2013 automatic Tacoma is currently stuck in 4H and does not want to go into 2H for some reason. I can cycle back and forth from 4H to 4L quickly with no issues. But when I move the selector to 2H, nothing happens. No clicks or anything like she is trying to shift.

I have tried disconnecting battery, tapping on the rear actuator and all kinds of variations of forward/reverse/neutral/rocking.

This has been an issue in the past that seems to get worse over time.

When going from 2H to 4H it works instantly and perfectly each time. However over time I have noticed it takes longer for the truck to get back to 2H. Started years ago with it being a few minutes and grew to 30 minutes to an hour and now I'm at the point where it's been 3 days in 4H....

I've looked into the issue in the past but it seems like my situation is different than all the threads and videos I dig into....

I would remove the actuator and solder the connections that can work loose but my logic is telling me if I have no issues going 2H to 4H and 4H to 4L then I wouldn't be doing myself any good.

Any thoughts before I take her to a shop gentlemen? Thank you all s

 

When you are shifting from 4hi to 2hi are you moving at all?

 

I've tried various ways. Neutral, slow speeds, highway speeds, reverse, neutral rolling.... In the past when I've had the issue I just left the switch in the 2H position and sometimes it would switch back while cruising down the road.... Other times I'd be driving down the road fiddling with the switch and it would go from 4H to 2H....

 

pull fuse behind the little door/pocket under the switches on the left side of the dash (20AMP 4WD), quickly start truck and switch from 4h to 2h. my 05 does it every now and then.. think the actuator is taking a poop.

 

Just tried it with no luck.... Pulled fuse, started truck and switched to 2H, replaced fuse and still in 4H. Then I tried it starting the same way but turned the truck off before replacing the fuse. Then replaced fuse with truck off and restarted and I'm still in 4H. Interesting thought, but unfortunately no luck. Thanks for the attempt!

 

pull fuse, start truck, shift to N install fuse, switch to 2h. I cant remember the exact formula but it should work.

 

is the 4WD stuff just flashing fast at you when you try and switch from 4h to 2h?

 

Tried it with no luck.....

The 4H light is staying on solid green with no buzzers going off or lights flashing. It's almost like it doesn't know I'm even moving the knob from 4H to 2H.....

 

Could it be an issue with the knob itself?

 

It's possible.... Do I need to just youtube how to pull the dash? and check the contacts or something?

 

Maybe, Im just mentioning this because none of the other ideas work, and you said the truck doesn't even know that you moved it to 2H. It may be worth a try if you 1. Havent taken it to the shop yet 2. dont have warranty. If you do have warranty take it in to the dealership and dont tell em you moved stuff around.

 

No warranty It's still in the driveway..... I'm watching a dash removal video right now. Thankya!

 

What might I be checking for? Any way to test the switch?

 

If the 4wd light on the dash doesnt even blink it seems like its not even seeing you switch to 2HI.... so quite possible its the dash knob.

 

That makes good sense. I'm about to take her apart and see what I can find. Will report back

 

SOLVED:
Turns out it was the switch all along.

Removed the dash/radio.
Removed the switch
Noticed the back wasn't connected all the way around.
Popped it back in place
Cranked truck and BOOM, she popped right into 2H with the turn of the switch.

Thank you all for the input

 

Awesome!

 

Threads like these make me feel all warm n fuzzy inside! YAY for a KISS solution.

 

Excellent! And thanks for the feedback!