2LM PnP - Plug and play 2WD low range for the 3rd gen. Tacoma

Hard to say without being there or having a video of when it happens. Mine can be picky going both in and out. Rolling the truck a bit usually takes care of it. The other problem may be that the actuators are getting sticky.

 

Well, the symptoms have changed.
Now it won’t go into low range at all.
I push the 2Lo button, switch to 4Hi (the 4x4 symbol lights up on the dash), and then switch to 4Lo.
I get a flashing 4Lo light on the dash with a warning buzzer and the TC is still in high range.
And the actuators shouldn’t be sticky, there’s only 2,000 miles on the truck.
Strange.

 

The warning beeps indicate that you do not have the correct conditions where it will even attempt to go into low range. Check your visor card and make sure you are doing things correctly, and in the correct order.

Try it without the 2LM first.

 

Yup, I’ve been using the same order:
2Lo button, 4Hi switch, and then 4Lo switch (stopped with clutch in).
In the beginning it went into low range fine but wouldn’t come out. Now it won’t go into low range at all.

I just tried putting it in 4x4 normally without the 2Lo button at all. It wouldn’t go into 4Lo. I get a flashing light and warning buzzer again.
It may be a long shot but I just pulled the battery cable off hoping it may clear things.

EDIT: unhooking the battery cable didn’t help. I still get the 4Lo flashing light and buzzer. I now have no 4Lo.

 

The only thing I can tell you is to make sure all your plugs are securely connected and that the relay is fully seated in the socket. If you are still having issues, remove the 2LM harness and return to stock. If it still doesn't work, bring it to the dealer.

As I said, the beeping indicates the ecu is not happy and refuses to shift. If you are not getting a 4x4 system malfunction on the dash, there is no fault in the system.

 

Sounds good.
I’ll take it back apart.

 

If you are manual, the most common issue is people not pressing the clutch ALL THE WAY DOWN... Not the amount of pedal you use to shift, the amount you have to use to start the truck. (it needs to trip the electrical switch). The second most common is going too fast, like it says 5 mph but its really like 0.5 mph.

 

Everything sure comes apart easier the second time!

LOL

I've got the OEM plugs reconnected and it seems to work fine.

I then plugged back in the 2Lo harness and weird things happen. For instance WITHOUT using the 2Lo button I’m getting a flashing 4Hi light on the dash with buzzer. And now I can’t get the truck back to 2Hi even if I cycle the ignition, and I know it’s still in 4 wheel drive because the driveline is binding. I’ll need to reconnect the OEM plugs to get out of 4 wheel drive.

 

Take a picture of the relay and base please. Also, what switch are you using?

 

Ya but you only need to push the clutch in for 4Lo correct? I’ve experienced issues coming in and out of 4Hi also.

BUT, I was reading the manual on toggling between the different drives and something it mentioned more than once was IF YOU GET A FLASHING LIGHT CYCLE THE SWITCH AGAIN or DRIVE A SHORT DISTANCE. I’ve been playing with the truck in the garage in OEM configuration and learned that is IS finicky.

I left everything apart (but for bolting in the airbag) so I can play around with it more.

 

It’s the Air On Board switch.

 

Well that figures—that’s the one I purchased. Given that I have not yet installed mine, how did you isolate the switch as the cause of the problem?

 

I haven’t.

 

To go from 2hi -> 4hi and 4hi -> 2hi, it is almost always best to be moving. You dont have to have the clutch in for this change, but at least dont be heavily accelerating.

 

From your description of the problem I am assuming 2lo/4lo were working properly at some point and gradually stopped working?

When you press the 2lo button, do you hear the relay click (once)?
When you press the 2lo button again, does the relay click again (once)?

When going back to 2hi from 2lo, you must turn off the relay (button in the off position) before changing the 4x4 mode.

There really isn't much else going on with this mod except for a bunch of wire splices. If it was working at all to begin with the only thing that could really cause an issue is a failed relay, which isn't common unless it has been cycled thousands of times.

 

Alllright, I’ve got it. Things are good.

I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t even USED four wheel drive before I installed this. I’ve only got 2,000 miles on the truck and it hasn’t even seen RAIN let alone SNOW. CAN YOU SAY GARAGE QUEEN???

I went back to OEM confirmation then took it out to see exactly how it operated which I should have done before even starting. I learned it is definitely finicky. The manual kinda backs that up with disclaimers about recycling the switch if things don’t go right on the first attempt.
I also learned: 1) the truck definitely needs to be moving to go into 4Hi, 2) the clutch definitely needs to be all the way down and make the switch to go into 4Lo (thank you Bigwhite TDR), and 3) when switching from 4Lo to 4Hi to 2Hi give the relays time to switch between steps. If you move the switch from 4Lo to 2Hi in one continuous motion the truck DOES NOT like it. LOL All of these little tidbits just served to confuse me when using the 2Lo option along with the fact I was fiddling with it in the garage while the truck wasn’t moving.

I think I’ll go to my mechanic and have him remove all the error codes before Toyota ever gets the chance to see them………because there are many! LOL

Thank you lapoltba for jumping right in and trying to help me out. I’m so sorry for the confusion. And a special thanks for coming up with this idea in the first place and providing it to us. I back my truck into the garage uphill snaking around a retaining wall so it’s TIGHT. I’ll be using this everyday.

Thanks also to pyrotech for his pictured write up. I could have never installed this without it bud.

Ok, I’m gonna go wash off the egg on my face before it starts to get hard and crusty!

 

Glad things are sorted! I didn't want to come right out and say operator error, but it usually is on these trucks.

Definitely thank @BigWhiteTRD for developing as I just put it all together.

 

Also, go get yourself a copy of techstream and a cable (tactrix) and you can reset codes (and do customizations) yourself.

 

No egg visible.
You can be sure when we mention something that seems obvious, its because we have each and everyone been tripped by it.

 

Thanks for coming back here, admitting your mistake, and taking your lumps lol

JK. Glad you figured it out. Yeah, I've got about 6000 miles on my 2021 TRD OR manual, and have taken it off-pavement already. Still reading my owner's manual, but I previously heard that the electronic-controlled TC can be finicky--make sure you're moving (I prefer 20-30 mph or higher) when going from 2H to 4H or vice-versa. Give it time to switch over and keep that in mind based on the terrain. For example, I attempt to switch back to 2H well before dirt turns to pavement, etc.

Obviously you need to be stopped to go from 4H to 4L...This switch sometimes can take even longer and I will need to roll forward or backward in various throttle positions. Keep in mind if you're on a trail with a group of other trucks in a line waiting for you to move!

Just confirming what you've learned, with my own experience