05 gets stuck in low range

My 72 yo dad has an 05 4cyl Tacoma he uses around the farm as well as on the highway. He bought it used and has always had trouble getting in in and out of low range, even got it stuck in low a couple times and drove it home on the pavement. I told him not to do that any more. Now he won’t even try to put it in low. He pulls a small trailer with a couple 4 wheelers or a couple round bales of hay. (Too much weight, but that’s what he does and I can’t change that) it needs a clutch now. Any common problems with the transfer case not shifting? I’ve tried pulling forward and back and cycling the switch which will work eventually. It goes from 2h to 4hi with no problems.

 

Read the instructions over the visor, follow them to a "T". It bedazzled me at first too. Takes a try or two.

 

I recently used low to drive a few feet over a snow bank. I had a hard time getting low to lock in, then once on the other side, it would not disengage. After trying forward and reverse a few times with no luck, I drove about a tenth of a mile and backed into a driveway. Once back on the road again, she disengaged just fine.

 

Toyota should have left well enough alone.

Manual transfer cases were reliable and hassle free.

 

Been driving 4X4's since the 1970's, manual transfer cases do the same thing. This is a common issue with any 4X4 and has always been so. When pulling hard in low range the gears bind up tight and don't want to disengage. Having to go to reverse and back up has always been the solution. Sometimes driving in S curves will help.

 

I’m pretty sure I did read and follow them but I will look at them again, it’s been a while.

 

Yep, I had an 88 Toyota truck and it worked. I prefer to pull a lever and hear a clunk and you know it’s in. The new stuff is catering to the soccer moms and city folk. Too much crap to go wrong.

 

All I can say is it never happened in any of mine:
Early 70s Ford, and Landcruiser, 80 Toyota Truck and 82 Landcruiser... of course like anything else everyone had different experiences.

Reading the forums the electrical actuators seem to have more issues.

 

I agree


All in the name of convenience- (but probably because it cost less too)
In a since it’s “simpler”, but not as reliable.

I’ll take a Manual Transfer Case and Hubs for reliability.
I’ll admit, I’m lazy. But not that lazy.(yet)

 

If you're going somewhere that is questionable, get out and lock the hubs. Then when it gets bad just shift the transfer case and go.