2018 TRD ORD stuck in 4Lo - any advice for interactions with dealer

I was 4hi, stopped went to N, switched to 4lo. I got out of the muck, stopped, put the truck back in N. I changed to 4hi, the 4lo lights went out and it looked like it had engaged 4hi. I put the truck back in gear and it would just grind.

 

Thanks Boss! Hopefully that's how Toyota feels about it as well.

Side note: The master tech at my local dealer is a nice guy. Super knowledgeable. Not putting anyone down in my process of learning what is and isn't an issue acknowledge by Toyota.

 

Welcome subordinate!

 

I am hoping for the best too. I use my truck in a similar fashion and really don't want the dealer to try and stick it too me either.
Good luck.

 

I’m pretty sure your issues are caused by the Pro grill on a non Pro truck...

Have you tried rolling in neutral to get rid of any gear bind?

 

I don’t see how any of this could be your fault. Yes you went through some mud, it obviously wasnt as bad as the douche canoe a handful of posts above seems to think it is being that you were able to get out under your own power. I’m not sure what the dealership will do but the right thing would be to repair it under their dime. No reason for you to cover the repair on a new truck when you’re using it as designed. It’s literally got a crawl control mode specified for mud lol.

 

if you look in the red folder Toyota gives you when you get your truck, it gives you a warranty owns manual supplement book.
may be some answers for you in there.

i work for a dealer .. good look trying to get it covered under warranty OP.

 

I have a 2006, but here is the advice that I can offer for you.

Have someone cycle the switch between 4lo, 4wd, and 2wd. Do you hear the transfer case actuator doing anything? If not, start checking everything around the transfer case. The plug that goes into the actuator - try cleaning it then putting it back in. I had the same thing happen and I'm out a transfer case.

For the dealership stuff, no idea.

 

Can you move it in neutral at all by pushing or gravity rolling? I wonder if something is just perfectly misaligned.

 

All of my Toyotas have lived in the mud. It's not the mud that messes your truck up, it's the muddy water that gets into seals and bearings and speed the wear on moving parts. If it's watery mud, I stay out of it. If it's thick red clay mud, I'm all up in it playing around.

OP, when you locked it into 4lo, were your tires still spinning? I hope you were at a standstill when shifting your transfer case.

 

I saw one of these posts before on a third gen. I do believe it ended up being the shift motor on transfer case, was covered under warranty. It was a while back.

 

If the F'in taco cant go in mud and they deny you based on it you might want to point out the Multi terrain select -
5 modes
Mud & Sand
Loose Rock
Mogul
Rock & Dirt
Rock

 

I never understood what the mogul feature was for. WTF is a mogul?

 

Wish you the best of luck, hopefully they don't try and find a way out of covering it with the Warranty.

 

I looked a few times and didnt see any loose connections or anything that was leaking

I was able to roll it in neutral. we pushed it about 25 yards and it didnt seem to help. I even tried driving in reverse for awhile and then forward

Thank you, I will go look for my red folder!

It sounded like it wants to change and it looks like it even engages 4wd but it just grinds and when you restart the truck it is back in 4lo

I was able to roll it in neutral. we pushed it about 25 yards and it didnt seem to help. I even tried driving in reverse for awhile and then forward

i was just trying to help the poor trucks ego. so i shouldnt put the 17" trd pro wheels on that are in my garage?

 

yeah, I was stopped and no tires were spinning.

 

Well, I don't see why the dealership would deny warranty, since you did use the truck for how it was intended!

 

Thanks, I hopefully will find out tomorrow or the next day. They have the transfer case out and will be taking it apart tomorrow and they gave me a rental for now

 

A wise man once said “fake it till you make it”. If you had already installed the wheels it’s highly unlikely you would even be in this predicament

 

For those that are interested, I still don't really have a firm answer from Toyota. I do know that the truck needs a new transfer case and the Tech mentioned the actuator was not working the way it was suppose to work. The Tech said we will find out from Toyota but he does not see a reason the repair should not be covered. Once I get a real answer I will post an update.