4wd light blinking after new actuator installed

Hey everyone, I just installed a new front diff actuator on my 06 Tacoma, now the 4wd light blinks, but it won’t go into 4. If I switch to 4lo that light comes on and starts blinking but even in neutral nothing happens. When I switch to 2hi however, the light just continues to blink. Kinda stumped and not sure where to look next. Any thoughts?

 

Were you moving at all while trying to put it in 4HI? If not, give it a try.

 

I went for a drive and tried it. I even pulled the actuator back off and checked to make sure the fork was in the sleeve and still nothing.

 

How did you come to the conclusion the ADD actuator was bad?
If you’re willing, you can diagnose it yourself.
See the link below.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/4wd-system-operation-help-thread.742420/

 

Are you sure the transfer case actuator isn't bad?

 

I replaced the oem one with a cheap Chinese one to test it, it worked well for a year, and started being wonky this year, so I replaced it with a much better quality one off rock auto. So I do know for a fact it was the front diff actuator at least for that. With the old actuator my 4wd would work alright but was inconsistent about shifting into 4.

 

Could be. I wouldn’t think it would be though, 4 worked with my old actuator, albeit when it wanted to work.

 

Hopefully you get it figured out. I lost 4WD once on a nasty trail. Thankfully it was at the top of a hill and gravity helped me get it back down. The light was blinking at first and then nothing. Turned out to just be the switch on the dash.

 

Worst case I’ll unplug the 4wd ECU for the week. Don’t need the 4 randomly kicking on at turnpike speeds. If I have to, I’ll throw the cheap Chinese actuator back in next weekend and try something that I just thought of.

 

When replacing use only OEM parts for the 4wd system otherwise you’ll be replacing in short order on your dime. There is a reason those other actuators are cheaper, they don’t work lol

 

Check your limit switch voltages as outlined in the thread @TnShooter posted and post your results so we can see what part of the system is having a problem and test further.

 

Well, turns out the actuator itself is faulty. Going to get a refund and buy an oem one. For now the cheap Chinese one continues to work so I threw that back in.

 

It was actually helpful advice.
You just didn’t know it.
Now you do.

It happens, we all fall victim to the cheap prices of poor quality aftermarket parts.
It took me awhile to learn my lesson.

 

It was relevant to my post though. I know to buy OEM when needed. He aided no help in what could be wrong, and it wasn’t what I was asking for as advice. Yes the advice is correct, yes, I should, and will be buying an OEM replacement, but no, it was not necessarily needed on this thread.

 

it was necessary because apparently you don’t. No thank you is required consider this one on the house.

 

Sorry for coming off as a douche. Anyways, I can hear something shifting not sure if t case or front diff actuator. If the engine is cold it’ll go into 4 no problem, however, after driving a while when the engine is warm I cannot get it to shift into 4 for the life of me. What would my next move be? Limit switches? Still front actuator? I’m back to the cheap Chinese one for now. I had this same problem back when I had the oem actuator as well so I’m becoming increasingly confident it’s not actually the front diff actuator…