BUZZING SOUND - VF2 Transfer Case Swap Push-Button to J-Shift

Hello Everyone,

Before you tear my head off: Yes, I am aware that this has been talked about before. Yes, I know how to use the search function on this website. No, the threads I've looked at didn't answer my question. Yes, you may have found a thread that answers this question that I didn't see- if so please share it with me.

I've recently swapped a 2000 4Runner J-Shift VF2 into my 2003 Tacoma, which originally had a Push-Button VF2. The swap was relatively easy/straightforward, however I have noticed 1 unique quirk since installation - a buzzing sound from the 4WD ECU for about 3-5 seconds after startup. Everything works, the 4wd indicator light, the A.D.D. actuator, the E-Locker. Everything works like factory. I just have a startup buzzing.

To make the electronics work, I jumped the 2 wires that originally went to the 4WD-Button on the shift knob.

I then jumped wires #4 & #6 on the 4WD plug that used to go into the back of the transfer case.

P.S. This is NOT how I left the plug(s), I was just demonstrating my process here. I spliced them after the installation.

My 2 questions are: 1) Is this buzzing sound safe? 2) Is this something I can fix?

I'm not here to plug my channel, and I'm no professional (you can tell how I stumble over my words and keep calling the 4wd button an indicator light), but you can hear the buzzing sound in my installation video at 14:08 and then it shuts off. It happens like this every time I start the truck without fail. 3-5 seconds of buzzing and then nothing the rest of the time I drive.

 

@TnShooter Any advice? I've seen you respond to threads with similar issues

 

I'd have to look at diagrams.
It's been years since I owned a 1st gen, so I don't remember why, or what, the buzzing indicates.

@Speedytech7 is the 1st gen guru.
He may know why it buzzes.

I'd have to do some research.
And diagram reading.

 

@TnShooter thank you for the quick reply! I appreciate any/all assistance you are able to provide!

 

It looks to me like the 2-4 push button switch was a normally open button.
You don't want it jumped unless you are in 4WD.

Maybe the truck is buzzing because it thinks it is/tries to go into 4WD each startup?

 

By those wires being spliced (= 4wd button on shift knob being pressed) the computer wants to send power to the plug for the motor on the back of the transfer case, which no longer exists, where I jumped #4 and #6. So nothing to change there?

 

I’m amazed that you were able to just splice/jump the pins on the connectors and get the transfer case and ADD to shift correctly.

Not sure if you stumbled on any of the threads I added details to, see the one below for pretty much all the info you need to wire up the j-shift correctly.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2-4-select-to-j-shift-conversion-help.808308/#post-29369605

 

I'm taking this as a compliment!

And no I didn't see this thread so I'm going to give it a read through!

 

Yeah so I absolutely read through that thread like 4 days ago, but I didn't understand needing the switch because I had already jumped the wires where the switch goes, and everything was working.. so I stopped reading the thread and kept going with my install..

 

I think everything I found or could figure out indicated that just jumping the connections would not do everything that needed to be signaled between the transfer case, ADD, 4wd ECU, and dash light. Just to check, have you confirmed that your truck actually goes into 4wd, and the dash light works, etc?

As to your original question, I don’t know why the 4wd ECU would make a buzzing on startup. Sounds like it is continuously trying to send power to the push button actuator and obviously isn’t receiving the feedback signal that it has shifted successfully. It may be simply a capacitor or other component on the 4wd ECU circuit board that is reacting to the continuous power signal where it would normally only see intermittent power, and is causing the sound. Talking out my ass here, I don’t know anything about electrical components.

 

@drr yes 100% my truck goes into 4wd, dash light comes on, A.D.D. engages and I can go into 4-low and use my E-locker. I've tested it about 10-15 times since doing the swap and not had an issue.

 

Update, did some EXTENSIVE testing of the 4wd. Still get the buzzing on startup for 3-5ish seconds but never again after that. Absolutely ZERO issues with engaging the front differential when the transfer case is shifted.
I'm now under the assumption that everything is OK unless I'm told otherwise. I'm not going to bother with it for the time being. I am in the process of developing a mechanical replacement for the front A.D.D. system anyways, so when that's installed I will just pull the 4wd computer all together