2011 4H won't engage anymore

I have a 2011 white gauge 4x4 Taco.
3K miles on it. Have had it since early summer.
Had the usual problem of difficult to engage 4x4 for
a little while, but it went away. I did the yellow wire mod
and had no problems with 4x4. Did not engage 4h for a few months.
Went out today and 4h would not engage or show dash symbol that
it was in 4h. When I would try to go to 4L it would chirp and not engage.
I understand it will not go into 4L without being in 4H first.
Once in a while it would engage 4L and show 4x4 symbol and 4L symbol.
When it would not go into 4L I would have to switch back to 2H to get chirp
to stop or disengage 4L if it went in.
Any suggestions ? I will probably remove yellow wire mod before taking back to the dealer to avoid the obvious crap from them.
I have had 2 other 4wds so I understand shifting into and out of 4wd.
Thanks

 

FJ Cruiser transfer case.

Should be under warranty, known POShit Actuators and don't let them tell you any different

 

I had exactly the reverse problem when it was new it would not work properly the dealer played with it twice and said nothing was wrong I picked it up tried it in the parking lot a least a dozen times drove it home and it has worked fine ever since. I really think when they are new they need to be used a lot to free and oil up every thing.

 

Warranty

 

It is under warranty, so take it to them... In the future, use it at least once a month for 10 miles (per the owner's manual).

 

It does not hurt anything to run in 4H for the 10 mile, each month on the hard road?
I thought I saw on here don't do it....

 

just dont take turns

 

ya id say its your transfercase motor. i had a 97 f150 and the t case motor went bad. id disconnect the tcase motor and see if it engages in and out. hope this helps

 

As the others said while I was away, driving straight hurts nothing on pavement... Turning on pavement is takes more effort in 4WD as the tires cannot slip as they can on dirt or ice. Pop back into H2 when you need to turn or park.

Who says the OP isn't in an area with dirt roads, beaches, or open fields? You get a 4WD to go four wheeling... or it the roads are too difficult to drive in 2WD... like during snow snorms. I wish I had more dirt roads close to me... pavement is so... unnatural!

 

I have a 2008 Tacoma with a little less that 50,000 miles on it. The 4WD indicator light constantly flashes and the 4WD will not engage. Any ideas as to why?

 

Well, i have never had a problem switching into 4wd. I have a 2010. Is this a common problem?

Also, I think people really overrate the whole "drive on pavement" thing.
Unless you are in 4wd on a speed track going 100mph around corners, the t-case should be fine. I dont recall reading anything in the owners manual about this.

Unless the taco has a unique problems with this. I have had several trucks and never even thought about not turning in 4wd.

If I am missing something, please advise.

 

You are. Its every 4x4 that will have that problem.
In 4wd the front and rear tires have to move the same distance due to the lack of a central differential. Think about how much further the front tires move than the rear tires in a sharp turn.

 

I get that, and its a valid point, but I think people over-emphasize this. I never had a bad experience (knock on wood).

Granted its not something I do regularly, I would be pretty upset if my tcase tanked because I drove on 4hi on pavement. I would say thats unacceptable.

 

Turning on dry pavement is the problem .

 

It is kind of weird that Toyota does not make a bigger deal of the 4WD on pavement "problem." Do you think they get a bunch of ruined T-cases in because people leave it in 4H all winter, for example.

I don't think it is unreasonable for the average consumer to think they will just put it in 4H and leave it there for winter. The dealer never said anything to me about it.

 

Why would you engage 4x4 " for winter " if there was no snow on the ground ?

 

This is sort of my thinking as well....

I mean, if I was the manufacturer, and I lost a ton money (not saying Toyota does) replacing T-cases because of this issue, then I'd put some sort of sensor that somehow checks for binding and 'gives slippage'

Outside of this forum, I have never heard of this issue. I am not saying it isn't possible, because it is by general physics But I duno that I would even think twice about this. Where I live, at least half the vehicles are trucks, and most are 4WD, and I never once heard anybody bitching about losing a T-case. At least, not anybody who didn't know that it was their hard-core wheelin on the weekend that caused it.

This really has me intrigued because I am very familiar with 4WD setups and differentials and the whole concept of tires rotating different speed on the same axle.

Anybody have first hand experience losing a t-case and directly related it to 4WD on pavement?

 

Mine has been weird since day one.
I came from Jeeps with twin sticks so I thought that this was the nature of these nasty electric controls.

I do everything, roll forward/back, neutral with clutch depressed, etc, etc.
When it's being particularly stubborn I have to shut the rig down and then restart.
That usually does it.

I always, eventually win, but it's a PITA.

 

Ok, this brings up another question I have. The front axle actuator, it is electric right? I have delt with heat actuators and they miserable.

 

I only have an issue engaging 4wd if I am turning under power