Manual 4wd light not turning on

I have an '01 4x4 tacoma. Manual transmission and manual 4wd actuator. When I put it into 4H, the dash light only comes on occasionally. Is is still going into 4wd even if the light doesn't turn on? If not, how do I fix this? And if so, how do I make the light more reliable? Thank you!!

 

It's that time of year!

When you say "the dash light only comes on occasionally"? does it go solid ever, or is it just blinking? If it's going solid you're in 4wd. If it's blinking, you're not. If it's going solid intermittently, I'd bet it's more electrical than mechanical. I am assuming that when you say "manual 4wd actuator" you mean J-shift? I'd get under there with some electric contact cleaner and disconnect the sensors and clean the contacts. Then determine which ADD actuator you have (early trucks are vacuum operated, while later 1st gens, even with J-shift can be electronic). If vacuum, check the lines, if electronic check the connectors and sensors, etc..

 

Check your position switches at the top of the transfer case. Be sure they're connected. If connections look ok and one hansn't come loose, its time to break out the multimeter.

 

It never blinks, only goes solid. It has the J-shift (its not electronic)

 

Awesome thank you so much!!

 

Seem pretty identical to the circuit in the 2nd gen, if that’s the case those are normally open switches that provide a path to ground for that light to turn on once the range is selected. So you should have .5 or less ohms of resistance.