4wd problems

This question may have already been asked. I’m new so I’m not sure how to search this on here, but here goes nothing. So I hardly ever use my 4wd but we’ve had a lot of snow and ice recently. However it shifts to 4wd fine but I cannot get it into 4L. I’m shifting to neutral and turning it but it does nothing but beep. Also to turn my 4wd off I have to turn the truck off and turn it back on. Any recommendations?

 

Honestly? I wouldn't push it, if the tcase actuator is failing to get it into 4LO, it may not come out.

I usually have to hotwire or replace transfercase actuators due to them getting stuck in 4LO.

If its not going into 4LO from 4HI in neutral at low idle, its a good idea to leave it unless you truly need it.

The actuator is not a simple replacement, it requires disassembly of the transfercase.

 

thank you sir, that’s a good point definitely don’t wanna have to deal with that. Do you think that’s the same reason I have to turn the truck off and back on to get it out of 4wd?

 

Likely its the actuator struggling. It's really hard to say, but its my experience with the system professionally. The front differential disconnect could also be the issue with 4WD to 2WD, but the fact you have issues with 4Lo makes me think Tcase.

Does it blink or beep?

 

If it’s manual you need to already be in 4H and make sure you get the clutch push all the way down. And being in 1st gear. I initially use to struggle but I use mine all the time.

 

Does it stop blinking in 4Hi?

 

Sound suspiciously like the front A.D.D Actuator.
Although it could be the Transfer Case, I’d start with the A.D.D Actuator.

 

No sir it blinks continuously.

 

Automatic though I wish it was manual

 

And to get it to stop blinking, you have to turn the truck off?

 

Even when it’s in 4wd it will blink even if I’m driving. The only way I can get the truck out of 4wd is by turning the truck off and switching it to 2wd then turning the truck back on.

 

Are you sure that it's actually in 4wd? Blinking to me means it's trying to shift.

 

Does any one know if the truck will go into 4LO if the front A.D.D. isn’t engaged?

I’ve never been able to figure out if the 4WD ECU looks at the state of the A.D.D. BEFORE it allows a shift to 4LO.

(Yes, I do know about the 2Lo Mod. I asking about a STOCK truck).

@6 gearT444E

 

That was my thought at first so I put it on a lift and made sure it was actually switching to 4wd. It is switching but the light is still blinking

 

You had it on a lift, so I'm guessing it's all clean under there and no ice build up or anything?

 

In that case @Bishop84 was probably right on the Transfer case Actuator.
If you really want to try to figure it out. The link below has some of the best Diag I’ve come across.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-case-or-diff-actuators.695818/#post-24612674

 

So blinking 4x4 means its not engaging, simple way to diag is if the front prop shaft is spinning but the front tires are not, its the ADD, if the front shaft doesn't spin, its likely the tcase.

This sounds like an ADD now that you've described more.

 

Thank you sir I’ll look into it

 

I don’t know how the Techs do it. More power to you Bishop.
This 4wd system is definitely complicated.
I guess long gone are the days of manual transfer cases and locking hubs.