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4wd transfer case solenoid - preventative maintenance

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by soggyBottom, Feb 19, 2025.

  1. Feb 19, 2025 at 5:39 AM
    #1
    soggyBottom

    soggyBottom [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I use my 4wd at least one a day in the winter. Is there anything I can do to keep it running smoothly?

    For example, pull it off, clean, lube.
     
  2. Feb 19, 2025 at 5:50 AM
    #2
    Inyo_man

    Inyo_man Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining.

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    If you're asking about keeping the electrical connection of the solenoid operating...
    Dielectric grease is a good way to keep electrical connections corrosion free.

    Cheers
     
  3. Feb 19, 2025 at 5:52 AM
    #3
    jmneill

    jmneill Well-Known Member

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    Consult the manual, and somewhere to engage and use it once a month, weather you need it or not.
     
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  4. Feb 19, 2025 at 5:53 AM
    #4
    Dm93

    Dm93 Test Don't Guess

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    Use it and make sure the vent hoses on the actuators don't crack/come off, that's about all you can do. Considering the majority of 4wd issues on these trucks are caused by non-use or vent hoses becoming detached I'd say you should be good if you keep those 2 things in mind.
     
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  5. Feb 19, 2025 at 6:11 AM
    #5
    Dm93

    Dm93 Test Don't Guess

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    It's fine to put it on the seals of connectors but don't put it on/in the pins, there's other stuff that's much better for that.
     
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  6. Feb 19, 2025 at 10:41 AM
    #6
    gudujarlson

    gudujarlson Well-Known Member

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    Don’t sweat it. It’s essentially maintenance free aside from changing the transfer case oil every 30-60k and differential oil every 15-30k.
     
  7. Feb 19, 2025 at 1:39 PM
    #7
    Toycoma2021

    Toycoma2021 Well-Known Member

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    Please, elaborate.
     
  8. Feb 19, 2025 at 1:46 PM
    #8
    blu92in99

    blu92in99 Hates everyone, equally

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    Dielectric grease is a contact insulator. Hence not recommending its use directly on terminals.

    For contact promotion directly on/to terminals, something like Stabilant-22 is preferred.
     
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  9. Feb 19, 2025 at 2:08 PM
    #9
    OnHartung'sRoad

    OnHartung'sRoad -So glad I didn't take the other...

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    Don’t do high water crossings; the solenoid case floods easily.
     
  10. Feb 19, 2025 at 2:32 PM
    #10
    Dm93

    Dm93 Test Don't Guess

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    This^
    Dielectric grease acts as an electrical insulator so it's not ideal for use on connector terminals, works great on the sealing surface though to help the weatherpack to slide.
     
  11. Feb 19, 2025 at 4:16 PM
    #11
    soggyBottom

    soggyBottom [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I feel like they should have chosen a better term. It's rooted the same way "disagree" is where is the opposite from "agree". With dielectric, it's pronounced different so it's. It obvious at least to me. I would have preferred "diselectric.
     
  12. Feb 19, 2025 at 4:29 PM
    #12
    Marshall R

    Marshall R Well-Known Member

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    I've been driving 4X4's since the 1970's. My Tacoma has 253,000 miles on it, my F150 160,000. A couple of million miles combined on the rest of them. I engage 4X4 on a regular basis and have never had a single issue when I did that. I've never done anything else.

    My wife drove a 4X4 Jeep Cherokee from 1991-1996. I didn't drive it often and 4x4 wasn't engaged for a year plus. It failed to engage one night when we were leaving a rodeo. Parked in a wet pasture it got sloppy when everyone started leaving. I made it back to the road, but with some wheel spin in 4X2.

    But even that wasn't the transfer case. The grease in the axle hubs hardened and wouldn't let the hubs engage. The hubs just needed to be disassembled, cleaned and put back together. It worked fine after that.
     
  13. Feb 19, 2025 at 6:46 PM
    #13
    Toycoma2021

    Toycoma2021 Well-Known Member

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    That is some expensive stuff!!

    Anything other than Stabilant-22 you may know of?

    "Di" simply mean without. When I asked about something to "increase" the conductivity of an electrical joint at a NAPA store I was referred to a Dielectric grease - had to inform them it would not work to increase the conductivity, just to keep water or other contaminates out.

    I wish to add something to enhance my high current ground cables to the frame. Currently have copper washers between lugs. Any suggestions besides the Stabilant-22? Does it work in high current environments - 100-500Amps DC - winch, air compressor, multiple batteries, etc.
     
  14. Feb 19, 2025 at 7:03 PM
    #14
    Dm93

    Dm93 Test Don't Guess

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    Yea it is but it's about the best contact enhancer there is and it doesn't take much.


    DeOxIt is good stuff too and cheaper but you don't want to get it on weatherpack seals because it will swell them up with prolonged contact. It's a cleaner and contact enhancer.
     
  15. Feb 19, 2025 at 8:22 PM
    #15
    soggyBottom

    soggyBottom [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Silver conductive paste is the best. Copper or nickel anti seize will work almost as good for a fraction of the price.
     
  16. Feb 19, 2025 at 8:47 PM
    #16
    Dm93

    Dm93 Test Don't Guess

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    That would work fine for a single heavy duty connection but you certainly wouldn't want to put it in a connector with multiple pins.
     
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  17. Feb 19, 2025 at 10:01 PM
    #17
    Toycoma2021

    Toycoma2021 Well-Known Member

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    A search for "Silver conductive paste" only brings up glues, epoxy and thermal heatsink pastes. The glues and epoxy I imagine would not be resistant to vibration. Silver is the most conductive metal.
     
  18. Feb 19, 2025 at 10:21 PM
    #18
    TnShooter

    TnShooter The TacomaWorld Stray

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    Keeping stuff off the connection (out of), would be better than putting stuff on the connection.
    As Dm93 said, a little dielectric grease to help the weather pack seal better, would be the better choice.

    The pins and contacts are so small, you risk bleed over if you get too much past in the connector.
     
  19. Feb 20, 2025 at 1:33 AM
    #19
    Cement_wheels

    Cement_wheels Well-Known Member

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    To avoid confusion just call it ‘silicone’ grease.
     
  20. Feb 20, 2025 at 4:07 AM
    #20
    soggyBottom

    soggyBottom [OP] Well-Known Member

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