4x4 not working

Hello all
I have a 2019 Tacoma SR5
When I switch to 4H i get a flashing light on the dash. I do hear a click coming from the bottom of the car. To return it back to 2WD, I have to turn the knob and restart the vehicle.

what might be the issue?

 

Interesting.

How often do you cycle trough 2hi-4hi-4low-4hi-2hi?

 

Been through water lately?

 

Are you doing this while driving. If at a dead stop the gears in the transfer case may not be aligned to let the shift happen. Sometimes it takes a few seconds even when you are moving. If you're moving the shift will happen when everything aligns.

This is important too. The owners manual suggests about 10 miles/month in 4X4. That may be a little overkill, but if you let one sit for months at a time without ever shifting into 4X4 the internal parts don't get lubricated and are harder to get to engage. Use it, or lose it. I don't worry about exactly 10 miles each and every month. But I find myself on a dirt or gravel road at least every few weeks and will shift into 4X4 if only for 1/2 mile or so. Some months I may only get in 2-3 miles, other months 200-300 miles. Occasionally I may skip a month, but I won't skip 2 months.

Years ago we had a Jeep Cheorkee that my wife mostly drove and I neglected to use 4X4 for several months and it wouldn't engage until the hubs were disassembled, the hardened grease cleaned, everything relubed and reassembled. Haven't made that mistake since, and no other issues. But I've seen it happen to several others.

 

Hey all

I have never been in water.
I have not been using it the 4wd for a year +. That may be the problem.

how can I fix it ?

 

Are you rolling when you try to engage 4 H?

 

I would suggest a fluid change on the transfer case by a competent 4x4 shop, tell them you let it go unused for as long as you did and ask them what else they might suggest. I would agree with the others, it's likely a combination of you trying it while sitting still vs moving and the lack of use. Even my brand new '21 won't shift into 4HI unless I'm moving at idle speed or greater.

 

No I am not. I am still.

 

That’s your issue most likey. Get rolling in drive and switch it to 4 H. You will hear two clicks. One for the transfer case actuator and one for the front diff. Then the light will stop flashing.
Check out your owners manual.

 

Correct and I'll add- it's best if you're not accelerating. So accelerate up to about 15-20 mph, let off gas, then engage. You essentially need to engage 4wd, before you need it.
I make a habit of engaging on the gravel hill, (going down), to keep everything moving.
Also, definitely read the manual and watch some videos, it's not a complicated system, but is one you should understand.

 

Try engaging 4hi while slowly driving forward. If it's still flashing then stop while leaving 4hi engaged. Put the truck in reverse and slowly back up. If it is still flashing. Put the truck in neutral and letting it roll slowly. Still flashing? Try putting the truck in low range, while in neutral. Try all these things a few times. Read the manual on the engaging 4low. Try it some more. How do I know this? I bought my 2017 with about 15,000 miles on it. I don't think it was ever into 4WD before I bought it. I was about to take it to Toyota and ask what the hell? Anyways, its been working fairly flawless since. 4low is a little touchy to get engaged now and then. Seems like the more you use it, the better it works.

 

i work at a construction site and do the same thing, maybe 5-10 miles a month but not often i get them all at once

 

I'm surprised my 4x4 works after accidentally engaging it while going 80 down the highway. I usually have to move the truck around to get it to engage and same with disengaging.

 

Relax, nothing you describe sounds out of normal with the exception of a restart helping which I think is probably just a fluke. Changing between 2hi and 4hi is not 100% reliable in all situations. If things aren’t aligned correctly or there is excess bind up in the drivetrain, the truck will refuse to engage 4hi. It’s preventing damage to the truck. You can increase your chance of success by driving in a straight line below a speed of 60mph (I might be off a bit on the limit).

Don’t fret it. 4hi to 4lo is even finickier.

 

I've on my 04&16 engaged it in 4hi at speeds up to 60mh and no problems. I believe the manual says it can be done. Up to that speed.

 

It doesn't actually engage at that speed. It may indicate it, but it drops out at like 60 MPH or so automatically, then reengage below that.

 

So are you rolling forward when you get the flashing light . It will go solid once you start rolling .

 

Hey

I tried that and it is still the same issue .

I took out the front diff actuator and tested the motor. The Motor spins.

I don’t know what else to try

 

Either throw some weight in the back and rock 2hi or take it to a shop.

 

FWIW The 4wd system seems to work better the more it gets 'broken-in' so to speak. When I bought my Taco 4HI was hard to engage; sometimes I had to be moving, sometimes stopped, etc. I'm pretty good about using it once a month or so and currently probably have 500 on my truck in 4wd. That said now that my truck has 9K on it and 4wd gets used monthly and it now shifts in and out of 4HI easily, even 4LO isn't as finicky as it used to be.

It's funny, yesterday I had the choice to take a 20 mile trail which would have required crossing the same creek 5-10 times and I opted to take another (drier) trail. I've heard too many horror stories about what happens to the Actuators on these trucks when they get dunked.