4wd acting up.

OK so I was playing with the four-wheel-drive this evening to see how it works and got the truck in for high and four low fine twice. But when I went to put it back in four high and two high the light keeps blinking and it seems to have gone to two high but now it won’t go back to four high or four low. Any recommendations on where to start with this? I hate electronic four-wheel-drive systems. All my other trucks were a nice reliable lever.

 

Ok. I got it w the truck off. So whats the deal w that? Truck holding pressure on the system or something w it on and wouldnt go back in or just glitchy or what?

 

Automatic or manual transmission?

Mine's a manual and 4-low gets stuck sometimes... there's a problem with the thing on the back of the transmission.
If you leave it set in 2hi and just keep going forward and reverse for a bit it might fall back into 2h.

If not, you'll have to take the thing off of the gearbox behind the transmission and do it by hand. I don't have the information on that handy (Fortunately I've not had this problem yet) but I'm sure someone here has a whole thread on it

 

It is best to shift between 2hi and 4hi and back to 2hi while the truck is in motion. Make the shift as you drive. It may take a few seconds particularly if you are accelerating when you make the shift. Letting off the gas usually lets the shift take place. Between 4hi and 2hi is almost always trouble free if you do it on the move.

If going to 4lo I find it works best if I go to 4hi 1st. After you get to 4hi place the transmission in neutral, (or press the clutch pedal all the way to the floor). You need to be either stopped, or under 3 mph. I actually find it works best at a very slow roll. I like to stop the truck on a small incline, shift to 4lo, and release the brakes so the truck rolls slightly. If the gears in the transfer case aren't aligned correctly it won't shift until they are. By letting the wheels roll a partial rotation the shift will happen when everything lines up.

Getting out of 4lo is often a PITA with any 4X4. The gears get in a bind and don't want to let go. Putting the truck in reverse and backing up 15-20' then pulling forward the same distance will usually help release the gears. I've had to do that little dance 2-3 times before to get it out of 4lo. Once again, I like to go from 4lo to 4hi. Then start driving before making the shift to 2hi. Technically you should be able to do this in one step. I just find I have fewer issues if I do it in 2 steps.

 

Check your actuator vent hoses, they can crack and come off allowing dirt and moisture to get inside and destroy the actuators.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/4wd-system-operation-help-thread.742420/

 

Mine is a manual has electric shift it is finicky. I push snow with mine and use low range and it can be a real pain to get it to shift out of low it really the only complaint I have against the truck I would kill for a shifter on the floor like my older trucks.

 

FWIW I just had my 2013 get stuck in 4HI, 4HI and 4LO lights were both blinking and transfer case wouldn't do a thing. Ended up being a broken wire on on the wiring harness pigtail connection into the transfer case.

 

Often I have to turn the truck off and start over again to get it out of low range. Been that way since day one.

 

Second on checking vent hose , mine cracked and gave me this problem. Trimmed up end, and fixed.

 

I did have better luck getting out of 4-low in mine by turning the truck off, switching it to 2wd and letting the truck cool for a few minutes.
As soon as the engine started, it dropped out of 4L right into 2H again- I've had to do this a few times.

I don't need 4L nearly often enough to be worried if that works consistently, but I've been afraid to use it because getting stuck in that gear could mean not getting home.
Maybe it's a Maine thing?

 

its AT 2014 CC. I will keep that in mind but with the truck not running and the key in the On positionnit works fine so I will keep doin that if it happens again as long as it works

 

Word of advise: Only buy genuine Toyota actuators! Don't fall for the low price of 3rd party copies. And I don't care if they have life time warranties.

I went the cheap route and had to replace both actuators within a few months. Those 3rd party parts were sheet!+

 

A year or so go, I couldn't get my Tacoma to into 4WD. The light would just blink. Maybe once out of 20 times of trying, it would engage into 4WD. I found that many Tacoma owners had similar issues. As it turned out, it was an easy fix for me. Before replacing the actuator, look into this first.

https://youtu.be/ZJESG91GbCQ

 

Great info everyone! I saved that vid as well. This atleast gives me the knowledge on how everything is working in these trucks. I atleast know where to look now.