4WD problems 2013

Hey guys,
Im having an issue with my 2013 TRD OR with 25k miles. Bone stock truck, never has given me any issues.

A few months ago I put the truck in 4H right before I pulled my boat out of the lake. It engaged fine and the truck ran back to the boat storage just fine. As I was backing the truck up at the storage unit (still in 4WD) I could hear some squiling and screeching coming from the rear end. Also some resistance feeling as I hit the gas. I disengaged the 4wd, and the problem went away.

Last night, a few months later, I was thinking about the problem and was running up to the store and decided to run my truck in 4wd just to get it moving and test it out. It engaged fine and as I was backing out of my driveway and started to turn, the truck completely bound up. I would give it gas but it would just act like it was trying to go. If I gave it more gas, it would start to move, but with a screeching sound. Almost like a wheel was slipping. I took it out of 4wd and it started to work just fine.

On my way back, I was at a stop sign, I engaged the 4wd to test going forwrd, and it would run but with a lot of resistance. Almost like the feeling of trying to drive with E-bake partially on, it goes but just feels rough. Disengaged and got back to the house with the green 4x4 light flashing. When I went to pull into the driveway, as soon as I turned, the truck bound up again.
I went in and out of park, N, reverse, turn off truck, 4WD switch on and off. Was able to get the truck into the garage, but now the green light flashes. It will go solid if I put it into 4WD, but if I go back to 2WD, it just flashes.

I have read about the actuator that goes bad and need to be removed and tested, but what is causing the binding?

Thanks for any response!!

 

Do not use 4wd on pavement! That is your problem. Try it in dirt or gravel and see if it works properly.

 

This ^^^^^^

dirt......gravel.....snow.......

remember.......use it or lose it.......

Keep 'er lubed & moving.....Warn's old saying......'mile a month'

 

im sorry, but my truck should be able to back up at 1mph in my driveway in 4WD without problems

 

It should as long as you are going in a straight line. Your own statement says: "as soon as I turned, the truck bound up again"

 

It's 4wd, not AWD, google it.

 

very true.....as far as the dash lights flashing.......

Take it in the dirt and switch back & forth.....they can be a real PIA sometimes

Shut motor off.....in & out of 4x4....hi & low...etc.....use it or...................

 

Deffently sounds like the transfer case is the problem. I have never had a problem with a Toyota t-case but I had a similar issue with a Jeep. It was particularly engaging in 4hi and 4low causing it to lock up, as soon as I would put it into 4hi it was fine. Also had a t-case go bad in a Raptor locked up and then grenaded, put it into 2hi and was able to drive it over 300 miles home.

 

Your actuator most likely has moisture in it, you will need to remove it and shift fork manually to get back into 2WD. It's a common issue with Toyota.

As for a strong binding while being in 4wd on dry pavement... It is putting a lot of stress on a components. You need to familiarize yourself how 4WD system works.

 

But they do not. In 4wd the wheels are pretty much locked together. Turning on dry pavement (or any dry surface)forces one wheel to turn more revolutions than the other causing the mechanical system to bind. Not good for 4wd. That's why it's only to be used on slippery surfaces.

 

Is this your opinion, or something that you learned from toyota? I think Toyota might have a different thought on this matter.

 

4x4 is allowable for use on the pavement, as long as you stay mostly straight and don't turn the wheels very much.

The way our 4x4 system works it is designed to see slippage in order to work properly while turning. Loose stuff like rocks, gravel, dirt, sand, mud. If you use it while there is no slippage present while turning the way you have been you will bind up and can cause some ugly damage to the 4x4 system or potentially your drive axles.

Chalk it up to a rookie mistake. Don't do that again unless you are going mostly straight on pavement.

The system is part time 4x4 not AWD as previously mentioned. There is a prime difference between the two.

 

you cannot turn in 4wd in dry conditions. The truck is going to bind...ALL 4wds will bind

 

ok, a lot of what you guys are saying makes scene. But what if I need to use 4WD to pull my boat up a steep ramp and its a paved ramp?

 

Keep it mostly straight. No extreme turning angles as that will cause the binding.

 

You will need 2LO mod. Something like this, but for 2nd gen.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-2wd-low-range-for-the-3rd-gen-tacoma.614743/

 

Thanks guys! it amazes me that the manual says the truck should be under 62 MPH when shifting into 4H. Who would ever be on a dirt road going that fast?

 

You can use 4H or 4L in a straight line on a boat ramp. You shouldn’t turn the wheels much in those conditions because the ground doesn’t allow slipping, hence the bind.

You can use 4H at any speed you want if the ground allows slipping and the truck can sustain the terrain at speed.

I’d do some reading, not for the experience but you seem really unfamiliar with 4x4.

 

check out these links....