4wd problems engaging

Just bought the truck and the guy I got it off of said to get it into 4h its tricky sometimes. Well ive had it a month and its a real pain.
07 tacoma 4.0l 6speed
To get it into 4h "He said" turn the truck off. Turn the key to on. Press clutch all the way in then switch to 4h and wait for the light to be solid. Then turn the truck on and your good. Well any other truck ive had ive always had it moving just a little bit to switch from 2h to 4h. Sitting still with the truck off doesn't seem right.
We just got 8 in of snow over night and the truck still has highway treads on her so 4h is a must. The light will come on and blink and blink and blink but wont engage. Ive tried with the truck rolling and turning the front little and still wont engage.
Now these 18° nights, when I go out in the morning I can flip it to 4h before I even start the truck and it will engage first try...
Im leaning towards just buying a new accuator. But im not sure if it could be something in the front end or not.
Any advice would really help me wrap my head around this one. Thanks in advance
Pete

 

Sounds like you got bum directions. If actuator is bad it’s expensive, and it pays in advance to diagnose the proper issue before hand rather than just shotgunning parts replacement

 

I 100% agree. Previous owner also said he had it to 3 different shops and no one could figure it out...just doesnt add up. I'm thinking about trying couple things myself first then before I order the part in goin to take it to a toyota garage and have them diagnose it. If it is just the accuator, I'll just replace it myself for $600. Instead of toyota wanting upwards of 2k.

 

there are two different actuators. Transfer case one being much more expensive. Double check, the transfer case should engage first so if your sure you’re following proper directions, check to see if front driveshaft is spinning when shifted to 4wd. If it’s not it could be a number of things. Could be the switch, the ECU, the case actuator
or the detent switches on the transfer case.