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4wd System Operation & Help Thread

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Dm93, Oct 27, 2021.

  1. Dec 23, 2024 at 1:22 PM
    #921
    Finn0406

    Finn0406 Member

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    Hey @NoCoTacoMan , I recently replaced that hose. As long as you don’t have massive hands or arms, there is room to reach up there and replace the entire hose. It wasn’t to bad. Mine was brittle on both sides with loose connections due to being old and stretched out. I’d recommend at least trying incase yours is like mine. (2006 auto, long bed 4-door). Also, just dealt with that blinking light. hopefully the thread with dm93 just above your post can give you some insight if you haven’t already looked at it.
     
  2. Dec 26, 2024 at 4:24 PM
    #922
    taco4r

    taco4r New Member

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    I have a 2015 Taco 4x4. I am having 4 wheel drive light flashing intermitently. I started to perform the voltage checks noted on this thread and found low voltage throughout. I realized I should start at the source and concluded the battery is weak, so, presume this could be the cause? Thoughts? Thanks
     
  3. Dec 26, 2024 at 5:21 PM
    #923
    Dm93

    Dm93 [OP] Test Don't Guess

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    I mean it's possible but if that was the case it should still work fine with the engine running.

    Not sure what you mean by this? As in everything was at 0v?
     
  4. Dec 28, 2024 at 2:38 PM
    #924
    NoCoTacoMan

    NoCoTacoMan Active Member

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    Again I can't thank you all enough for all the time, effort and information you've shared here to help others. Big props especially for @Dm93 for starting the thread and putting in so much useful documentation, @TnShooter and @6 gearT444E for all the helpful guidance throughout the thread, and all the others that contributed.

    I finally got some time to dig into the issues I was having with my 4WD system. It's a stock 2010 TRD V6 4WD automatic Sporty with quad cab and long bed. As I mentioned before, 4H worked fine when needed during our travels to Southern California and on up to the great Northwest and back home. The "troubles" started (became noticeable...) on our return. I wanted to test 4 Lo as I haven't used it in a while.

    I backed my truck out of the driveway, put it drive and started going forward. I turned the 4WD selector switch to 4H while going ~20mph. It felt like it was in 4H. I stopped the truck, shifted to neutral (neutral "N" indicator light on), foot on the brake, and pushed in the 4WD selector from 4H to 4Lo. Both the 4H and 4Lo display lights started to flash. When I went from neutral to drive both continued to flash and also started beeping.

    I went back to neutral, turned the selector from 4 Lo to 4H back to 2H. The beeping stopped, the 4 Lo indicator light turned off, but the 4H light continued to flash. I got out, checked the front drive shaft and it was locked tight even though the 4WD selector switch was in 2H. I drove it back and forth a few hundred feet - no change. Regardless of what I put the 4WD selector in, nothing changed and i couldn't hear any response from the TC actuator. I shut the truck down, restarted it - no change.

    I shut it down again and attempted to go from 2H to 4H to 4Lo. This time when I moved the 4WD selector switch from 2H to 4H to 4Lo it sounded like the devil was screaming in my ear. Seriously, it sounded like a wood planner with dull blades. Or a wood chipper making short work of your ex. My instant reaction was to shut the truck down ... which I did. While it was off and in park I moved the 4WD selector switch back to 2H.

    When I started it back up there was no beeping, no noises/signs of actuators working, and both the 4H and 4Lo lights were flashing. I turned around at the end of the block and pulled her into the garage. Based on how she handled/turned on the very dry pavement, she was definitely stuck in 4WD. I jacked up the front and checked the rotation of the tires and front drive shaft. She was definitely in 4H.

    Fast forward to today to do some troubleshooting. First I pulled the TC actuator cover/motor to check for corrosion/damage to the contacts. Since I had a cracked breather hose and just came back from driving 100's of miles in snow and rain I was curious what the insides looked like. The TC actuator contacts didn't look like they were in bad shape/corroded to me. The inside of the cover was clean and dry. The contacts for the wiring harness were also clean and dry and no signs of obvious cracked/damaged wires. I cleaned and greased the contact surfaces. The large gear appeared to be in the 4H position. I easily moved it by hand through it's range multiple times. I left it in what I thought was the 2H position and replaced the actuator cover. I also placed the 4WD selector switch in 2H.

    After I did all that, I fired her up. No noises from either actuator motor and no lights on the dash. Hmmm I went on with my testing and following are the results of my voltage testing based on the information here.

    20241228_134307.jpg 20241228_151154.jpg 20241228_151401.jpg 20241228_151735.jpg 20241228_151513.jpg
     
    Dm93[OP] likes this.
  5. Dec 28, 2024 at 2:50 PM
    #925
    NoCoTacoMan

    NoCoTacoMan Active Member

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    After all that, with the voltages looking fairly good/normal, I took it out for a test drive. It went from 2H to 4H and back multiple times and at various speeds. I could hear the shift/change from 2H to 4H and back, no loud clunks etc and it worked as smooth as it usually did.

    Next I tested 4Lo. Again, it worked fine multiple times. It went from 2H to 4Lo and back just fine. It also went from 4H to 4Lo and back just fine.

    At this point there aren't any obvious problems that I can identify so my thought was to continue to use it and see if anything pops up. Just not when I really need the 4WD! Any thoughts or suggestions at this point?
     
    Dm93[OP] likes this.
  6. Dec 28, 2024 at 3:09 PM
    #926
    winkel

    winkel Well-Known Member

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    I have a bunch of small diameter stainless tubing. I cut about a 2" piece, deburred the ends and superglued it into another piece of vacuum line and extended mine. Then I shrink tubed the outside so I have about 6" extra to use for future snips, when the end splits. It's just a vent, yes you can splice some new tubing onto the end of the old line once it's terminated to good material.
     
    TnShooter[QUOTED] likes this.
  7. Dec 28, 2024 at 5:03 PM
    #927
    TnShooter

    TnShooter The TacomaWorld Stray

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    All of your 0v reading are about .05v-.07v high.
    Not to bash your meter, but those Cen-Tech meters are not the best.
    Mine likes to find .5v with out even touching anything.

    The one that does stick out is the TL2 @ 3.7v when 0v is expected.
    You may have a "less than ideal" ground.

    But I go from my battery Negative to the body/frame and see what my meter reads.
    It should be 0v. Or close to it. This will tell us if we are working with a stray bias voltage on the meter.
     
  8. Dec 28, 2024 at 5:24 PM
    #928
    taco4r

    taco4r New Member

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    I was getting less than 12V when testing at the ECU, The battery was reading 10.9V. Replaced the battery, 4 wheel drive is shifting normal and no flashing 4 wheel indicator.
     
    winkel likes this.
  9. Dec 28, 2024 at 7:52 PM
    #929
    Dm93

    Dm93 [OP] Test Don't Guess

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    Not sure but the electronic 4wd systems do tend to get unhappy when they aren't used often, mine get's exercised quite often because I have the 2Lo module and I use it pretty often. It was kinda clunky shifting when it was new but now it almost always shifts without any fuss.
    I also check the actuator vent hose any time I'm under the truck.
     
    winkel likes this.
  10. Jan 13, 2025 at 4:49 PM
    #930
    Ianbud

    Ianbud New Member

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    Hello everyone I am new here. I have a 2010 Tacoma SR5 and I am having a problem with my 4WD. When using the 4WD control switch to engage into either 4H or 4L the chassis and 4Lo blinks on my dash. I took voltage readings at the 4WD ECU underneath the dash. Below are my findings, I am not sure what my next steps should be. Any help is much appreciated.
    Thank You in advance!

    IMG_6693.jpg
     
    Dm93[OP] likes this.
  11. Jan 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
    #931
    Dm93

    Dm93 [OP] Test Don't Guess

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    Need to unplug the Transfer Case Actuator and verify TL1 goes to 12v but it looks like an issue with the contacts in the Transfer Case Actuator.
     
  12. Jan 13, 2025 at 5:07 PM
    #932
    Ianbud

    Ianbud New Member

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    Thank you so much, I will try that out.
     
  13. Jan 14, 2025 at 7:40 AM
    #933
    taco4r

    taco4r New Member

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    Are your voltage readings with the key "on" or with the vehicle running?
     
  14. Jan 14, 2025 at 7:50 AM
    #934
    Dm93

    Dm93 [OP] Test Don't Guess

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    Key on engine off.
     
  15. Jan 18, 2025 at 10:47 AM
    #935
    meolabine

    meolabine New Member

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  16. Jan 18, 2025 at 11:08 AM
    #936
    Dm93

    Dm93 [OP] Test Don't Guess

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    We have seen this several times, I have it linked in post #2
    Bad ground on EE causing flashing 4wd lights, no cruise, & EVAP codes (See Posts 236, 237, 254, 257, 259, 272, 274, 275, & 278

    I suspect that to be your issue, easy check. Take a meter set to volts DC and check between Pins 4 and 5 of the DLC, should be less than 0.2V.
     
  17. Jan 19, 2025 at 4:13 AM
    #937
    meolabine

    meolabine New Member

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  18. Jan 19, 2025 at 4:18 AM
    #938
    meolabine

    meolabine New Member

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    What voltage should i read ? Is it with ignition on ?
     
  19. Jan 19, 2025 at 7:03 AM
    #939
    Dm93

    Dm93 [OP] Test Don't Guess

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    Key on between PA Pin 18 and a known good Ground should be less than 0.2V.

    upload_2025-1-19_9-2-58.png
     
  20. Jan 19, 2025 at 10:02 AM
    #940
    meolabine

    meolabine New Member

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    Man ! Thanks so much ! I just did the repair that the dealer didn’t find ! The mécano says to replace the ecu module ! That’s why I did all what I can by myself ! The ground is probably cut somewhere between the 18 pin and the EE location ground. It probably happen when they swap the frame ! Thanks guys for your post. You make my day !
     
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