4wd not engaging...

I parked next to a snow mountain to help a friend get out of a ditch and when I jumped back in, I didn't realize I was in 2wd. So as I took off I started to spin. Well I let off the gas, but I guess I didn't wait for long enough for the rest wheels to stop free spinning, and I clicked the 4wd button and heard a decent sounding bang from the tcase. Well now 4wd won't engage. Doesn't even matter of I shift into low. When i hit the 4wd button I hear the actuator by the tcase moving... But nothing happens. The 4wd light in the dash doesn't blink, it doesn't come on at all. What's everyone's thoughts? What am i in for.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/transfer-case-transfer-cases-in-first-and-2nd-gen-trucks.345652/

 

well that sent me down a rabbit hole. very good information. I ended up on this thread: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/4x4-issues-front-diff-actuator-or-t-case-actuator.358059/

sounds like he had the exact same situation, but his 4wd light was blinking. mine wont come on at all.... but he fixed it by 3d printing a tiny gear in his actuator.... and he hasn't been on TW in 3 years..... and i have no idea how to contact him.

 

gearcuncher, the tcase in the 1st and 2nd gen is the same correct?

 

They work similar but they are different .
Here is an excellent source for identifying your Tacoma Transfer case
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/faq/parts/

Next after you identify your transfer case is to verify your issue is not in the transfer case itself .
If you jack up the truck and select 4x4 , does the front driveshaft turn in 4hi or 4 low ? yes /no

The transfer case switch on the side of the transfer case sends a voltage signal to the front actuator when you select 4x4 .
Verify you have voltage going to the front actuator .
Your light on the dash will only come on once the front actuator moves the shift fork to the 4x4 position .
Considering your light is not coming on , There is a possibility your front actuator fork is broken or there may be an issue with the synchronizer hub on the front axle .
If the front driveshaft turns when you select 4x4 , I would pop that front actuator off and have a peek inside to make sure everything is functioning fine . I think your going to find your problem when you pop the actuator off

 

Ok good info. Thank you

 

So i got it in a shop (i don't have a garage and I'm not working in -20 weather) and put it up on the lift. Front axle spins, so they are taking the front actuator off to check it. Anyone know the part number on that?

 

Gear cruncher, if it is the shift fork or sync hub, what do I need to buy?

 

did you get the actuator removed from the front diff ?

 

can you see anything broken ?
did you try to move the shift fork by hand into the 4x4 position ?

 

Got it back from the shop. They said the actuator had seized. They put a Dorman unit on and it is all good. I drove it yesterday. We had a heavy snowfall last evening. Like 8 inches in 4 hours. (I need to update my profile location). I haven't shifted it in and out of 4wd much but in the parking lot it shifted in and out just fine. Knock on wood it stays that way.

They gave me the old actuator. I kind of want to investigate it. When it warms up maybe I'll take it apart and take a look inside.

 

You should take it apart. There's a chance it's still usable with a good cleaning. I love doing that just to see how things work too

 

Thanks for all your help gear cruncher. I really appreciate it. Ideally I would have done the work myself, but with the weather up here like it is it just wasn't possible. But when you go to a shop it is nice to go armed with some information so you can demonstrate to them that you know a thing or 2, and they can't take you for a ride

 

Yeah that's what I'm thinking. I bookmarked the solder fix page.

 

I how a Toyota Tacoma 2009 four-cylinder Manual transmission four-wheel-drive not working when you put it on for high the light is blinking replaced front actuator ADD transfer case is engaging you can hear it and I also check for power and ground to the connector on the front actuator there is Power and ground Is a six pin connector I took out the front actuator and installed it in another Tacoma and it works any ideas

 

Sorry for reviving this thread… but I exhausted all my options and I’ll admit- I NEED HELP.

2004 tacoma 4wd, crawl box, everything done to it.

4wd hasn’t worked for a while. I have it up on stands right now. 4wd light on dash is blinking. I took actuator off of transfer case. Reset it, put it back in, and light was off. Then pushed 4wd button, I can hear it engage. Still blinking. I have the ADD actuator off now, and tested it with a spare battery and it moves the fork left and right just fine. When I go to plug it back in, it does nothing. When I try to Unclick the 4wd button it does nothing. I can only manually disengage it.
On the 1st gens I saw that the tube on the actuators is not a vacuum line. Is that correct?

 

The autimatic disconnecting differential (ADD) front differential is a vacuum actuated - manual hub trucks don't have any vacuum system, but were not a factory option after 2000. There's a little canister (reservoir) in the driver's wheel well. It only serves so that you can engage / disconnect the front differential if the engine is off and not making vacuum. It can be bypassed for trouble shooting if you are doing your testing with the engine on.

 

Vacuum ADD started to be fazed out in 95 iirc. After 99 they were all electric. The hose on a 04 actuator is a breather. It terminates in the engine bay at the drivers side wheelwell.

I recommended to test the sensors on the transfer case and ohm out the harnesses. Their locations & wire colors are all listed in the ewd section of the fsm downloadable from this site.

It involves ripping out the dash. If that's scary for you, just swap out the actuators for new ones. Because they're the most likely problem causing issues with your 4×4 circuit.