TROUBLE SWITCHING FROM 4 WHEEL LOW TO 4 WHEEL HIGH WITH THE DASHBOARD ROTARY SWITCH

I bought my 2009 Tacoma, used, two years ago. It replaces a similar 1995 Toyota 4WD pickup that served me flawlessly for fifteen years. I use the "new" 2009 Tacoma to plow my driveway here in New Hampshire, just as I used its predecessor. The 1995 utilized a lever on the floor to shift between high and low ranges. The 2009 Tacoma has a rotary switch on the dashboard to perform the same function. I normally plow in low range. Many (most of the) times when I go to switch back to 4 wheel high range, for highway driving in snowy conditions, the transmission does not switch back on the first try. Sometimes it takes two or three, or even four or more tries before I can get the truck into 4 wheel high. It's never NOT switched, but always makes me wonder if this is the time I'm stuck in low range...Anyone else with a similar truck and similar problem????????

 

Welcome to one of the 2nd Gens biggest flaws.
The Electronically Activated Transfer Case.
Yes, it been an issue for many people.
But typically it just doesn’t go INTO 4x4 PERIOD.

There have Been a few people that were stuck in 4x4 and 4Lo.

If it happens to you, you can physically get back to 2Hi
See post #6 here
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2005-stuck-in-four-low.299498/

If you want a good read, just research FJ Transfer case swap.

 

I’ve found rolling slowly (few mph), flipping the switch, then going into neural works best. The reason it isn’t shifting is because it’s bound up.

 

Yes, I have found that in Neutral while Stopped helps a lot.

 

well... in the auto you HAVE to be in neutral under 3mph for it to even attempt to shift between high and low ranges either direction. If both of those conditions are not met it wont even try to shift the transfer case.

In a manual you have to be under 3mph as well with the clutch pushed ALLLLLLLL the way to the floor.

 

I've owned 4X4's since the 1970's, my 1st had 3 sticks in the floor. I've had issues getting all of them out of lo range at times and no more issues with the electronic shifting than the older manual shifting.

It always helps to drive in reverse 10-15' before trying to make the shift out of lo range. The more time you spend in lo range and the more you try to turn corners or on surfaces with decent traction the tighter you bind up the drivetrain. I'd imagine you do a lot of that plowing. Driving a few feet in reverse relieves some of that binding. And it isn't unusual to need to do the reverse, forward, reverse, forward dance a few times to get everything unwound enough to make the shift.

You probably don't need lo range to plow, and maybe not even 4X4. I'd do as much as possible in 4X2 and use 4X4 and lo range as needed.

And the transmission MUST be in neutral and it helps if you can be on a slight incline so the wheels can roll slowly. Or make the shift to neutral while still slowly coasting.

 

And the manual says something like, "If it doesn't work, try again". Which does eventually work. So yeah it's a bit of a flaw.

 

This^

 

This^
I’ve found sometimes for getting it both into 4L and out of 4L back up a few feet and then into neutral. If it still doesn’t come out then drive forward a few feet, back into neutral and out it comes.

 

you definitely want low range for plowing. Way too hard on the trans moving all that weight using the torque converter for slip.

 

I guess I’ve been lucky.
I haven’t had much issue with mine going into or out of 4x4.
The only time I have had any issue (which wasn’t really an issue) was with the locker.
I have found that some times it takes a few seconds to unlock.
Sometimes it will unlock faster by going to reverse the drive.

A lot of the REAL issues arise from faulty actuator motors.
One thing the Manual Transfer Cases trucks (1st Gen) did seem to suffer from.

I love my Tacoma. But if you want a “bullet proof” system. ( Don’t take that literally they all break )
I’d go with a Manual Transfer Case and Locking Hubs.
Unless you have physical damage to hard parts, it’s going to go in and out of 4x4.
Of course it isn’t as convenient, and I’ll admit I love the 2nd Gen system as long as it’s working.