Tacoma 4WD low, beeps, will not engage or disengage - SOLVED

I have a 2015 I4 MT 4X4 Tacoma Access Cab with the "dial" 4WD switch on the dash.

This is a real solution that works 100% of the time for that ANNOYING beep/chime. That beep means the truck will not engage/disengage 4WD LO (low range). I was very annoyed for a time at this nonsense, because I could not seem to find a consistent solution. Until I figured it out.

1) Gently accelerate forward. You only have go 1 or 2 mph.
2) Brake to a full stop and keep your foot on the brake. (You need to depress the clutch too. Hope I don't have to tell you THAT!)
3) Switch the transfer case while holding the brake.

This works because it removes any stress/tension/torque (call it what you want) from the truck's drivetrain, allowing the actuator to engage / disengage the xfer case without being "held" by the drivetrain.

If you are trying this while driving uphill, you may have to go a little faster and brake a little harder, because as I said, the idea is to unload the drivetrain.

You DO NOT have to be in neutral, or any of the other stuff I have read anywhere else. You DO need to unload the transfer case from the stress forces of the weight of the vehicle and HP of the engine.

Try it, it works!!!

Once you are in (or out) of 4WD low, then getting from 4WD to 2WD or vice-versa works without incident. To be easiest on the transfer case and actuator I like to wait on taking the truck out of 4WD (not a steep hill or a tight turn, for example) until I'm level cruising and can take my foot off the accelerator for a moment. Between shifting gears works too.

 

Odd...

My '11 kicks in and out of 4 Low instantly with no trouble, ever.

On an automatic, you do have to be in neutral though. On a manual, you are correct--just need the clutch to the floor.

 

No one said you had to be in neutral for a manual. That's the procedure for the autos. You do have to have the clutch to the floor, you should have pushed the brake and you should be in 4wd high already before trying to shift into low.

Correct. Problem I was having was, my driveway is an incline. I would follow the directions on the card, which say "stop". But because I wasn't braking suddenly enough, I wasn't completely unloading the drivetrain. The difference here is not just coming to a stop but holding the vehicle dead still once you do.

My drive is so steep, and my garage is tight. I use lo range every time I pull in the garage. I don't want to bump this baby on the way in...

 

My truck will rarely go from H2->H4 or vice versa if I have my foot on the gas. I usually let off before I try to shift. As long as I do that, it will immediately.

Makes more sense now that you explained it, though. I don't think I have ever tried H4 > L4 while on a hill, so mine may struggle there too.

 

I'm sure my question has been asked many times, but I just didn't see my question on the search engine for this site:
I've owned several 4X4s, including Toyotas, and have driven them on and off road for 30 + years in my own trucks, both in the U.S. and in third world countries, and also during my Park Service job (am now retired). I bought my current 2005 4 cylinder manual shift Tacoma new. Now I'm able to shift it into and out of 4WD high with no problems, but to get it into or out of low range, I must shut off the engine, restart it, and it then goes into or out of low range instantly with no problems. It will not go into or out of 4WD low unless I shut it off & restart. Also, even though it is definitely in low range (and works as it should in low range), the 4WD low warning light continues to flash forever until I once again shut it off, restart, and it then comes out of low range & the 4 low warning light goes out. I've always "exercised" the 4 WD every couple of months for a few minutes, just to keep it working, and actually use 4 low about 20 times per year.
Does anyone have any thoughts as to what the problem is. My local Santa Fe, NM dealer wants to be paid for looking at it, and refuses to even hint at what the problem might be even though he said that he's heard of this previously. I'm pretty good at self-repair for most of my problems, but not sure about this and hate spending $ on what might be a common complaint.
Thanks for your thoughts!

 

I think I REALLY know the answer this time. The clutch has to be MASHED to the floor. Someone posted a scan of that sun visor card, and so I read it YET AGAIN, and it does say "all the way to the floor". Well, that really does seem to do the trick.

I like to drive in a reclined position, and leave a lot of room for my legs. Problem is, I put the seat so far back and so reclined, that I can shift and brake with no problem, but if the floor mat is the slightest bit in the way, I don't have enough "leg" to really floor that clutch pedal.

And THAT was the problem, at least for me. Thank you, whomever posted that instruction card (a different thread) because sometimes I have to read something several times to get it.

Mash the clutch to the floor, while in neutral... no more beep. It's as simple as that.

 

MIKO: I was driving down Baja for 5 weeks during my wife's school break (neat place!) so could read your email but not respond. We just got back.
YES, I tried what you said and it worked every time! I can't beleive that I wasn't pushing the clutch pedal down hard enough. I had put different plastic mats in, so it required just a bit more push for that last 1/2 inch travel.
In Baja there were an incredible number of times that I needed 4 low. One road was 88 miles long and took from dawn to dusk, + 3 hours the next day. REALLY rough roads.
Thanks again for your suggestion. My 4 low light still flashes even though it's completely engaged, but works fine.

 

Always glad for these forums. Had the owners manual at home and was up at cottage and though you just needed to be completely stopped to use 4wd lo. Never used it before and thought it was broken till I read it had to be in neutral..