Significant delay for to and from 4x4 on 2nd gen taco?

I just text drove a 2012 Tacoma 4x4 today and I went to make sure it goes in and out of 4x4 fine and there was a significant delay for getting in and out of 4x4 is this fairly normal for a second gen? I have heard that it's fairly common I just want to make sure it's not a problem. I'm used to 1st gen Tacoma's and never noticed this with my first gen.

 

How long is significant? Are you coasting with no throttle or brake when making the shift?

 

If you're rolling and it takes forever, no throttle or brake as listed above, that sounds unusual. If you're stopped (sometimes that's the case even if it's not the recommended way) you might need to *slowly* rock the vehicle back and forth. This is easiest in a manual because you can barely creep it and push the clutch in and it usually catches/shifts no problem.

 

Mine almost never locks in until I move the truck forward or backwards just a bit.
I’d say 1 out of 5 times in goes “right in”.

It has to do with the splines inside the front differential have to lineup before it can “lock” the front differential.

 

[QUOTE="SharHow long is significant? Are you coasting with no throttle or brake when making the shift?[/QUOTE]
About a minute probably I was coasting about 7mph with a little gas no break

 

That’s not “normal”.
But it can happen.

The longer you go without using 4WD. The more finicky these trucks get.
I bet I would go into 4WD faster the next time. If not, I’d be weary.

 

Normal,they all have delay AND problems,typical junk system.

 

Almost always due to water intrusion into an actuator.

 

Toyota needs to go back to a SAS system and manual locking hubs with a manual shifter.

 

I've seen (owned) trucks with manual locking hubs and manual shifters fail to work too. The key is "Use it or lose it". If you operate the truck in 4X4 for a few miles on a regular basis you will rarely have problems even with modern 4X4's with the electronics. 99% of the 4X4 issues are operator error. Either they aren't used in 4X4 enough and fail to engage when needed. Or drivers use 4X4 on dry hard surfaces and prematurely wear out components.

It works a lot better to make that shift while in motion. If you're at a dead stop there is about 50-50 odds that the gears are aligned properly to make the shift. If you're moving the shift will happen when the gears align. Most of the time mine engages from 2hi to 4hi and back to 2hi within 1-2 seconds. If you're accelerating while making the shift it will usually delay until you let off the gas.

Getting out of 4lo and back to 4hi often takes some time and may require you to stop, back up a few feet, then pull forward again in order to disengage. That's common with any 4X4. Even the ones with manual sifters.

If the OP will get the truck out on a dirt or gravel road and engage 4x4 and put some miles on it, I'm betting it will get better. But I've seen cases where the hubs had to be removed, clean out all of the dried grease, relube, and reassemble to get them working again.

 

Electric will never be better than manual,EVER.

 

Honestly just start to use it a little bit more before you start worrying about it or trying to "fix" things. It is going into 4wd after all.

My recommendation is to try and go in and out of 4wd say once a week for a short distance over the next few weeks. It will likely get better. Try to do it on any surface other than dry pavement. Even dry gas is better so long as you just drive in a straight line for a little bit.

The more you use it, the better.

 

If you can see the truck again, crawl under it with a flashlight and see if the vent tube is still connected to the transfer case actuator. Over time, they will split and fall off. If it's off, that actuator is questionable. You should check the front ADD actuator as well but you have to remove the front skid to see it. Same deal here.