2WD-4WD mode change malfunction

Anyone get this message before after going off-roading “ 2WD-4WD CHANGE MODE MALFUNCTION”

after going off-roading I tried to put my truck into 2WD and it wouldn’t let me... I was stuck on 4WD so I had to get it towed home. Anyone know what can be wrong? I called the dealer but they haven’t gotten back to me.

Please help! Thanks!

 

If your truck is a 2020 then bring it to dealer for warranty repair. Nobody here can fix it and if it’s under warranty I wouldn’t attempt to touch it. Let the dealer fix it

 

Thank you so much!! Appreciate the quick response!! I’ll take it in! Yeah I just got it 5 months ago!

 

Just book it in, they wont fix that over the phone.

 

@BigWhiteTRD probably knows. I think we get free AAA or someshit right? With our warrantys? Make sure they reimburse you

 

They’ll sort it out. Good luck and hope you’re not without your new toy for too long!

 

It could be the actuator and / or transfer case. Plenty of information available on TW. You just need to use the search function.
Here is one thread:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/help-asap-stuck-in-4wd.559749/

Let the dealer take care of it.

If your undercarriage is dirty / muddy you might want to clean it up before taking it to the dealership.

 

True, good call

 

@Skydvrr really! I had to pay for a tow earlier today for it to get to my house! And it wasn’t cheap lol

 

Why tow it? It’s fine to drive in 4x4

is it stuck in 4LO?

 

@Sharpish it flashes 4LO but the rpm stays at 4 when going over 40.. and i don’t live to close to the dealer

 

Too late now, but no charge towing is included with your ToyotaCare plan. You could call Toyota corporate and see if they will reimburse you. They probably won't but it's worth a try.

You could use the no charge towing to have it towed to the dealership for inspection / repairs.

 

When you’re stopped and in neutral it won’t go from 4LO to 4HI?

 

NO! It's not OK to drive it on pavement in 4X4. If he had done so he would have ruined any chance of getting warranty work done. People who give out this type of advice is why I won't buy a used 4X4.

Getting stuck in 4lo is pretty common, with any 4X4 vehicle, not just Toyota. Putting the truck in reverse and backing up 10-15', then shifting to 4hi will usually get it unstuck. Sometimes I've had to do the back up, and pull forward dance 3-4 times before it would shift out of lo range.

I also find it easier to shift from 4lo to 4hi and then shift to 2hi after I get moving. In theory it should go straight from 4lo to 2hi. But that requires the transfer case to do 2 things at once. I find fewer problems making the shift one step at a time.

You also need to be in neutral with an automatic, or have the clutch fully depressed with a manual to make the shift out of, or into lo range. It also helps if the truck is rolling VERY slowly while making the shift. I like to stop on a slight incline, move the switch to 4hi and then let off the brakes slightly to let the truck roll. It only takes about 1/4 tire rotation to get the gears inside the transfer case to mesh. If you're at a dead stop and the gears aren't lining up properly it won't make the shift until you let the truck roll a couple of feet.

 

Get a grip Marshall. The steel gears in the transfer case and differential are way stronger than the grip one tire has on the pavement. I’m not suggesting 4HI is a good idea ALL the time but to limp home one time it’s not going to grenade the truck.

 

Just keep it at a low speed. No worries.

 

I appreciate everyone’s help here!!!! My truck was stuck on 4Hi the whole time, I just got it into for 4Lo but it still won’t go down to 2WD!

 

It isnt too bad troubleshooting the typical 4wd errors, ideally with a multimeter and a copy of techstream both, although either alone helps alot.
An introduction to troubleshooting with a multimeter is here. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/4wd-actuator-troubleshooting-transfer-case-and-add.578262/ ,but the best thing to start with is techstream, because it helps to quickly narrow it down between the front, rear, and diff actuator. If you wanted to do this, ask for more help.

HOWEVER, I would not try to diagnose or repair it yourself. Get it to a dealership. You can tow to the dealership, or alternatively if you want to, there are a few ways to force the truck into 2wd. You can remove the front driveshaft (between transfer case and front diff). You can also drive the front ADD (front diff actuator) into 2wd position by applying a few volts to the actuator with some temporary jumper wires... This isnt too hard, but it is not exactly easy... Let me know if you want instructions for this.

I suggest calling toyota, I believe they will tow it from your house to the dealer, but they may not reimburse your previous tow if you tow it in now...

Let me know if you want more help...

 

If you succeeded in changing from 4hi to 4lo, the front (ADD) actuator is 95% likely culprit