‘12 Tacoma- 4WD issue

Recently bought a 2012 Tacoma.
She’s built.
I put her in 4WD over the weekend, had the wheel cranked left and got up on the gas and heard something snap.
Now the 4WD light flashes and 4WD won’t engage.
Seems fine in 2WD....

Haven’t gotten into it yet.

Any ideas about what I should’ve looking for?

 

Did you put it in 4wd on dry pavement?
Ummm...

 

Need more details. Any oil leaking? either xfer case or add aren’t working properly if the lights are flashing.

 

Definitely not on a dry road. Ha ha. We were in the dirt & snow.

 

No oil leak.
Heard a snap when I gassed it.

 

What likely broke?

 

Sounds like you maybe snapped something in the transfer case or front axle, you will have to see which one is not engaging.
There's alot of info links about the 4wd system here.

 

Don't do that!

4X4 isn't intended for use anywhere but slippery conditions. Especially when turning corners. Even on dirt there can be too much traction. Hopefully you just snapped a U-Joint on the front driveshaft. But this could get expensive.

 

Don’t hit the gas during shifting into 4wd, it ends up placing unnecessary stress on all the components. They are pretty stout, I don’t think you broke anything. Turn the truck off and repeat the process of shifting using the door card as guidance. Shift into 4wd while moving at maybe 5-10 mph without throttle.

 

Yet another 4x4 problem,good luck O.P.

 

I always have engaged FWD with wheels straight, and on slippery surface. I need FWD to get up and out of my driveway to the plowed street, and when turning, I go very slow to straighten out wheel and then dis engage. With wheels turned and you gassing it, yes something snapped, hope not expensive

 

Thanks for the input.
We’ll see....
Just for clarification- I was in snow/ mud/ loose dirt on top of a mountain pass in Leadville, CO.
I thought 4WD drive was fully engaged when I rallied her.
My thought is it was only partially engaged for some reason and when I gassed it and cranked hard left something disengaged hard or broke.
Any other insight to the mechanics is welcome.
I’ll get busy researching and pull it apart this weekend hopefully.
Thanks again.

 

Most likely is a broken ADD component. The transfer case and driveshafts have a lot more strength, the fuse of the 4wd system is the front end half shafts and center axle disconnect system.