Truck has been at the shop since August 3rd

I have a 2006 sport double cab 4.0L V6 4x4

 

There could be some sort of miscommunication going on I suppose, its not clear what "we have to order another one" refers to. The only way I can see the rear diff having any impact on 4wd operation is if they somehow managed to install the wrong ratio gears.

Given the other electrical issues you've described after their work, I would guess thats the issue here. Could be as simple as transfer case and/or A.D.D. actuators not being plugged back in. Could be much more complicated if a wiring harness was damaged along the way. Pics in your first post show everything from engine to t-case being pulled as one unit which would point me toward the front A.D.D. actuator.

It easy enough to sit here on the internet and armchair quarterback, but I do agree with others here, seems like this shop is not up to the task.

 

This was my thinking too, that the shop may not know how to communicate the issue or they are dumbing it down for customers. With all the other issues added in I think its more the shop that just cant get the job done correctly. Also as far as the rear gear ratios, that would matter for long term issues (burning up the diffs); however, the 4wd would still engage with incorrect ratios. I am betting they either forgot to plug something in, or pinch/damaged wiring somewhere.

 

Am I correct in assuming you are the one who chose this repair facility? If so, you are the one most responsible for ensuring the repair facility proceeds with the repair in a timely fashion. If you allow the repair facility to string you along for months on end without finishing the repair it is very possible the insurance company will attempt to negotiate paying less than what your car rental ends up totaling. Even though you say you have no control over the repair timeframe, this might fall on deaf ears at the insurance company. Look at some of the previous responses here and there are quite a few who think this garage has you bent over an oil drum and are taking turns boring out your man-cylinder. You can always put a call in to determine if they intend on paying for what is going to end up being a half year or more worth of car rentals.

 

I did a 4x4 swap on my Tacoma and i can tell you with confidence if your truck is a non TRD truck that doesn't have the factory locker then it is the same diff as 4x2 trucks. I know because i used mine in the swap and it was 2wd.

 

@Inbred - Agreed but I think the OP's only hope here is to get it fully inspected from Toyota and move on. I do agree he should probably speak with an accident attorney and see if they can help.

 

My thought was switching from 2Hi to 4Hi at speed might not engage if the ratios were off. Im not sure.

But yes I do agree otherwise.

 

Its the same diff as prerunner 2wd

Theres nothing to plug into the diff so that would make 0 since as to why 4x4 would not engage. What does your dash show when you flip it to 4wd?

 

The symbol flashes and it feels like the truck is in 4lo and the wheels slip. The symbols stays flashing and tho get it out of it flashing it has to go on reverse

 

First thing i would check is every sensor on the truck is plugged in. The next culpurit would likly be somehow they shorted the 4x4 front diff actuator. Sounds very similar to that issue.

 

100 bucks says they forgot to hook up a connector or 2 and just didn't check enough afterwards, so now they are just throwing shit at the wall.

 

At this point I don’t doubt anything

 

so this is the rear axle that they are getting my “new” differential from.
I think they are just fucking with me at this point.

 

New shop immediately.

 

That's a tough one to do, Sub Par. His truck is in pieces at the shop. If he goes in there demanding that he take his truck to another shop, there likely to hit him in the wallet, holding his truck hostage. Maybe even sabotage his truck. Then has to find another shop. With towing fees, a half assembled truck and and boxes of parts, other garages may shy away from getting involved. Pretty likely the cost will escalate to much higher numbers than he wants to spend. I got no idea of the status or nature of his insurance payout. Take a very big set of balls to make such a move. Low. low hangers.

Seems like he's caught himself a big nasty wave. The kind of wave that provides for limited options, each one with it's own set of dangers. Make a wrong move and he might be bashed onto the rocky bottom. It seems to me that he's gotta ride this one out. The shop is responding to some degree and seems interested in getting him back together and out the door. There's a pulse of hope there despite signs that they are incompetent. He'll have a doable lawsuit if they make deliver of a shoddily-repaired vehicle. To some extent they have to meet a certain level of quality with the repair. If not he opens up a can of legal whoop ass on them. ONCE he's got his girl back in the garage at home.

In any event, I feel bad that old bloggerstomper has to go through this crap, all because someone gave it to him in the rear end TWICE!!

 

Sounds about right -

I managed to game them at their own game when I 'totaled' my E36 328is - I hydroplaned and slid it off the road, a log took out the catalytic converters; the adjuster wrote it up using OEM parts [b/c I demanded it - and you can do this, make them use legit parts but you gotta be on top of them] and OEM cats were worth almost what the car was worth at the time.. so they totaled it.
I took the check and bought it back - I replaced the cats with aftermarket ones; they failed a few years later but I don't have to pass inspection so whatevers - AND I put in a new clutch and replaced every other wear bit and then drove it for another 100K miles before it was just time to part

The price difference in OEM and aftermarket was almost 3000 vs. 300 - so there is huge profit to be scammed in some situations..

If you have the time/energy to be on their asses/have someone you trust to work with - you can work the situation out; frame damage is the limit for me though b/c that = significant impact and who knows what else could have been damaged [showing much later] in such an impact. I might repair and then just sell it -

 

Long read, but his truck is back together and still has some minor issues. It’s a simple call to the insurance company to tell them he has no faith in this shop finishing the repairs as they are highly incompetent. Insurance could say no, and in that case I would immediately trade the truck in and get the hell away from it. Who knows what else they screwed up they would show up later on.

 

You should go over there with a buddy and check for unplugged connectors before those clowns dismantle that truck anymore. I will seriously put money that that's what the problem is.

 

Yeah, I also found my old rear axle in their graveyard and I’m going to take the third member off and see how it looks and compare it with the one they want to use.
This whole thing is so frustrating, but I hope it ends soon
Thank you everyone for your comments, support and tips!

 

I just hope it all gets resolved.