Stuck in 4h! Help!

Nice!!! Ok this is the information I was hoping for! Thank you BigWhiteTRD Tacoma guru I can’t do anything today as it is
-27c with wind but I will be looking in detail at what you suggested and I’ll see if I can figure this out.

Thank you guys for all the responses so far too. Good help

 

Yeah, (you have my condolences, it was 72F today). I can give method to do same thing from the ECU, but its definitely harder in alot of ways.

 

I just want to thank @BigWhiteTRD and several others for helping those with less knowledge out in this forum. I have never met him, but I am buying him a virtual beer for coming to the assistance of this guy.
I don't learn a lot here as I have a bit of experience but when @BigWhiteTRD posts, I pay attention and learn.
Thanks man!

 

Hear, hear!

 

Thanks for the kind words.
I love about how the forum allows for specialization of knowledge.
One thing is for sure, the breadth and depth of knowledge and assistance you get here is incredible. Really makes my day
(and to all of you in the cold, stay warm... BRRRR)

 

Plus, now people will try doing a wide variety of insane things with their truck, because of my hairbrained recommendation.... If they only knew how crazy that is.

Right now @CAtacoWaves is getting ready to try some insane front ARB control with 4Lo-only and 2-Lo lockout, lets hope I dont cause his truck to spontaneously ignite on fire.

 

I live in snow country and I tend to put my truck and in 4 wheel drive several times on a trip in snow and ice as needed and I’ve noticed that sometimes the light will blink and all I have to do is drive it for a little while and it will eventually turn off. I’ve never experienced a problem where it actually was stuck in 4 wheel drive. Did you try restarting the truck? Page 247 in users manual has instructions for changing between low and high high and low.

 

Catch on fire? Heavens no, that is the job of Toyota Canada's OEM dealer installed block heater caused by faulty fancy plug-in thru the bumper extension cord overheating and/or improper installation of the heater itself.

 

Hey OP, hope I'm not way out in left field here but does your truck have a chrome delete kit installed with the 4wd selector knob included? I ask because the pins inside the switch can be bent very easily, preventing the selector from working properly.

 

Mine does the same. My truck is in 4hi almost all winter as we get a ton of snow where I am. I shift it between 4hi and 2hi routinely to make sure everything is working as intended.

Occasionally if I'm switching into 4hi while in drive, stationary or moving it'll blink for 5 or 10 seconds then engage. Could be my mind playin tricks but when moving if I let off the gas it typically goes solid. Maybe once or twice I have heard a "clunk" sound when it engages, but usually its silent. If it's parked or in neutral mine usually pops into 4hi almost immediately.

 

Ok I’m back! Truck still in 4wd. question for big white trd. So I have a friend that is going to lend me a ODll . Could that help me out with diagnosis of the problem?
If yes how should I do this and what should I be looking for?

i really appreciate all your help guys. Your a good bunch

 

If you want to get someone's attention, you need to tag them. So, @BigWhiteTRD can you help him out?

How to tag... Simply type "@" and their screen name. That will alert him he is needed in this post.

 

Have you checked anything out with the transfer case? fluid level or anything? If level is good I would drain and fill to rule out water or something in the t-case. I would then look at the actuator itself. make sure power is going to it first.

 

It will help, however I have never tried it. It provides less data, but can still at least point in the direction that the ECU has tripped.

Try to check to see what codes are stored and active, and let us know

 

The likely ADD ones are P17A0, which indicate that the issue is likely in the ADD motor, and P17A4 which indicates a likely issue in the ADD feedback position sensors.

(and teh harness running to the ADD of course)

However this is not an all inclusive list of possibilities... (and just me ASSUMING that it is probably the ADD)

 

Just curious, are you on a flat surface? I've heard that sometimes being off kilter can trick the sensor (which if true is a terrible design). Slanted driveway? Did you try driving it around at all yet?

 

Not sure where you are located, but the times I have had issues with this in Taco's and Sequoia's, it was below freezing. Then when temps above freezing truck would switch back to 2wd. In most instances I had run in 4hi for 6-7 months then attempted to switch back to 2hi and once above freezing temps came they would switch. Changing fluids did not help.

They were used vehicles and it is possible prior owners never cycled them. TBH, regular cycling is obviously the best for our trucks. But I do not come from an elite culture that practices regular 4wd cycling. No doubt I

 

I will take a SWAG and say your guess is correct. I could refine it and say something smacked the connector on the ADD but that would be silly of me...

 

You never know, I remember @Goochwarmer did find this out on the trail after 4wd system failure.... so cant ever write it off as impossible

 

K so had a chance to get under the truck in a friend’s garage and take a look at things. I just took a general look to see if there were any damaged wires/connection issues on ADD, hose on ADD and transfer case. Everything looked good.
Next tried plugging in the OD2 to search for codes but it came back no codes
?
I wanted to test the pins with an ohm reader but I was so wet from the salty slush falling off the truck i didn’t even give it a shot. Also couldn’t get the plug to pop off the ADD.
Winter is still in full swing here for a few months so I think I am gonna take it to the shop and get them take a look.

I’ll let you know what happens.