4x4 issues... please help. Thank you.

Tried to engage 4hi going over a mountain pass- constant blinking would not engage.

While under the vehicle and my girlfriend switching between 2h and 4h the transfer case was making the normal noise and locking the front shaft. I could not hear or feel anything from the front add so thought it had something to do with the front. Opened the add up and it looked pristine- soldered connections reinstalled still nothing.

Took it to a Toyota specialist- that morning on the way to drop it off I thought what the hell (it was snowing) and tried to engage the 4hi- it worked! I was able to get it in and out and back in 4hi. I left it at the shop in 4hi.

They called later that day and confirmed it was the add. I ordered a new oem add installed it and nothing. Curious, I hooked up the old add (should have done this before) to the battery and got it to switch back and forth (it was working fine).

Thinking it was electrical I did the same test on the new- freshly installed add and it too worked fine.

The problem now is when I roll the ignition to the on position the 4hi and lo lights are flashing and when I switch from 2h to 4h there is no sound at all. Clearly I've done something by testing the newly installed add.

What have I done? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your time.

Cheers,

Kory

 

These trucks IFS are nothing but junk,thread after thread of problems,wish Toyota would go back to a straight axle.Someone will be along soon O.P. to help you out.

 

Thank you, sir.

 

check that you installed it correctly in relation to the collar and remove and clean the transfer case actuator assembly.

 

Actuator was installed with the collar positioned on the passenger side (2wd).

After installation and plugging it back in I turned the ignition to on then tried to engage 4hi (listening and feeling for movement from the front actuator. The only thing happening was the tranfercase engaging and disengaging as it had before nothing from the front actuator.

What I think might have confused the 4wd computer is.. when I applied power to the installed actuator via alligator clamps and the battery (to test for operation) I engaged 4we via the actuator then rolled the ignition to the on position. When I did this the switch was still in 2hi..

 

Let's be glad we still have the straight rear.

 

No kidding.

 

Have you tested to see if there's power coming from the connector when you switch it?

 

I am about to do that- can I use my multimeter? Guessing ports 1 and 2? What setting should I set the multimeter to? Thank you in advance.

 

Multi meter or trouble light, set the meter to low setting DC power, guessing 0-20VDC? Depends on your meter. Touch black to ground, red to terminal giving power.

 

ok i've got readings of -11.7 and +11.7

depending on how the positive and negative are oriented on the harness. What else do you have in mind? I am very grateful for your responses!

 

I'm thinking about testing the switches on the tranfercase? It just throwing me off now that both 4wd lights are blinking and i've got no noises anywhere. Which makes sense i suppose (if the 4wd computer has shutdown or is temporarily not functioning).

 

Well now you can eliminate a wiring issue & concentrate on the ADD. If it works with alligator clips giving it power & you know there's power going to it, only issue left is proper install. That's where my knowledge ends, never done it, but have done tons of basic trouble shooting. Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

Did you check the transfer case actuator?

 

It was working just before I tested the front actuator via the batter terminal and alligator clips.

I just tested for continuity on the two switches on the xfer case. The switch closest to the rear read 0.2 while the switch towards the front gave me a reading of 9.0 to 50 something..

 

you might want to take it off and looks at it. it's held on by 3 screws. the connections on the cap were worn down on mine. I replaced it with one from a junk yard and fixed the issue.

 

this is what mine looked like that caused the problem

 

Thank you for the reply- done for the evening next step is to replace the switch with the continuity issue- then check out the xfer case actuator.

 

evening bump!

 

well i'll bring some closure to the thread- it ended up being the indicator switch on the xfer case. $30 part and all is working as normal. I've got an extra front actuator too! haha, thank you all for your help.