2wd to 4wd failure

What happens with ADD when a front locker is installed?

 

For 4WD to engage, it's not just the transfer case, the actuator at the front diff also has to be able to engage. I'd say it's probably a pretty hard argument to make that when installing the locker, they didn't touch that front actuator and that the fault still lies with Toyota.

 

Unfortunately that seems to be the case. It should be toyota should have to prove it wasn't the locker, but it's their warranty and we have to play that game until we prove it otherwise.

 

I've seen this type of thing a lot, especially when I had a Camaro. If you're going to modify a vehicle, don't expect it be warrantied when it fails. We all know what the moss act says, how often does it really matter. Pay to play, or remove mods for warranty work.

They probably don't look at it as individual components. All they see is the 4wd -system- is no longer stock. I don't blame them for not touching it.

 

Hard to remove ARB locker for warranty work lol, but I get you.

 

Not really. I'd have it done in a few hours. Where's your stock carrier?

 

in the truck....

 

I had the same problem and it was a loose abs sensor connector. And then I had a similar problem except I couldn't engage 4wd at all! And it was a abs sensor wire that snapped in half!

 

Good to know. As of right now, I'm taking my truck from them, and having my locker installer diagnose the problem.

 

Truth

 

Yup for 4wd to show its all the way in, ADD AND tcase have to report back that they are fully in. Front locker means removal and disassembly of full front clamshell diff housing and subsequently the ADD system.... not saying that the installer caused the problem... but its going to be a very hard case with toyota as you / your installer was the last person to touch and "modify" the part.

 

That is how it's supposed to work. The way the law is written the warrantor needs to demonstrate that the failure was caused by the aftermarket part. Key word is "demonstrate", not just look at it and say hey we THINK that thing you put on here broke it. Real world it's not that easy unfortunately.

 

I used the word "think" as a catch all verb. There is no specific way it works as every case is different. And all that stuff is already in the owner's manual anyway. They know the rules. There are also limitations too. Let's say you put different offset wheels on your truck, and you had a front bearing failure at 50K miles. The dealer has two choices: Approve the warranty as a bad bearing or deny warranty saying the high offset wheels contributed to bearing failure. Now, prove it. Well, I'm pretty sure that the dealership does not have the expertise to prove it, the owner does not have the expertise to disprove it and if you put it in the hands of someone like me, I will tell you there is not enough data to either prove or disprove that, in this one specific case, high offset wheels contributed to premature bearing failure! Too many variables. So now what... it goes to the dealer to make a judgement call.

 

Hell adding 33' tires void your power trains warranty if they really wanted to give you a hard time.

 

That doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

If it's a warranty issue they will fix it under warranty. If it's not, you'll pay them for their time troubleshooting like you would with any other non-warranty issue.

Am I missing something?

If you are sure it's not the front locker that's causing the problem then you should be fine. If you think it could be the front locker go to the guy that installed it and say wtf.

 

An ARB replaces your stock carrier...so no your stock carrier is not in the truck.

 

I pay to diagnose regardless.

 

Its in the bed of the truck literally....

 

What would you do about the hole thats drilled for the air line? Can't hide it from toyota.

 

Honest question, why do you say that? And do you mean to say you would test it after pulling the shaft while the truck is in motion?