Can't get truck into 4Lo

Yup... use it or lose it!

Seriously, H4 is shift on-the-fly 0-55 mph, and to go on to L4 is 'shift when STOPPED' and tranny is in NEUTRAL (not PARK) for those with Automatics.

What takes some repeated attempts at in all three of my Tacomas has been locking the rear differential... Now, with A-TRAC, I don't have to!

 

This is why I love my second stick....wait...(that's what she said). I wish car and truck manufactures would keep things simple, more hands on user interface, not a push button or switch to push. Good luck on the dealer helping you, sometimes they shrug their shoulders and play dumb.

 

My 4wd system has worked flawlessly so far (3 years.) Getting into and out of 4lo used to require a bit of finesse. If it won't engage/disengage try going forward or backward and turning the wheel a bit then get back into neutral or push in the clutch before attempting again. The more you use it the easier it gets. Also, for a smooth and quiet disengagement without getting the "clunk" sound when going from 4hi back into 2wd let off the gas to where theres no load on the driveline then shift.

 

I have a 2011 that will shift into 4 hi perfectly every time also.. And when I switch to low range it never works.. I put in nuetral try backing up going forward sit there for 5 mins it just constantly beeps and flashes..

 

If you are in Neutral, you can't back up or go forward... Neutral is being not in gear.
Put the transmission in N (Neutral) and then rotate while depressing the transfer case dial (4WD dial switch) from H4 to L4. No beeping or flashing if you are in Neutral when doing that.
To go back to H4 from L4, you also need to be in Neutral. Most fail because they put the transmission into P Park, instead of N Neutral.

 

I'm new around these parts ... But I swear I'm shocked at the sheer number of people who cannot operate their transfer case properly .
The manner of shifting it is unchanged from the way it's done for decades , and from various manufacturers .... Only now there are a couple electronic Nannys to deal with .
Toyotas tcases arent magical or unicorn like in their operation.

Only caveat is that with solenoids , if you don't exercise them they may or may not function .

 

I wish it was that simple, unfortunately, not only can you not fix stupid, but it is not the answer in all situations.
I have hundreds of hours in 4Lo, and nearly the same in 4Hi.
If you had this happen to you, especially after having it work fine for years, then you would understand that it simply does not switch in and out as expected, with no warning, no matter how many ways you turn or reverse or go up or down a hill. There is a beeper in case you're doing it wrong too.
The last time this happened to me I was on the trail, and it simply would not disengage from 4Lo. So I ran it for another hour, probably shut the motor off at least once, and the next time I switched to 4Hi, no problems.

 

I was singling no one out .
I've shifted many a t case , and experienced binding that can keep a weak or poorly adjusted (or failed) linkage from shifting , as well as taken corrective action to remedy this in the field , sometimes drastic . If your t case is abnormally worn , or shift mechanisms failing , ok .
I still stand by the statement that 90 some odd percent of the "won't shift" threads I've read here boil down to technique . The techniques apply whether it's a 85 k5 blazer , 2015 Tacoma , or whatever (electronic Nannys taken into account )

 

I was having difficulty shifting in and out of 4low. Only would engage/disengage by cycling the engine. Read this thread, realized I had the clutch pedal in all the way but not !!FIRMLY!! Pressed to the floor. Engages/disengages 100% now I know the proper way.

 

i have to put on my emergency brake for 4lo to engage. i have a 6spd though.

 

any body have problems getting in 4 low on there 2nd gen tacoma

 

with an auto trans: while the truck is moving shift from 2H to 4H when it engages stop moving, put the truck in neutral, and then switch to 4L

 

mine is standard trans.

 

With the manual, I sometimes have to reverse a little bit before it will go into 4L
Or out.

 

Clutch HAS to be ALL the way to the FLOOR, just before and during turning the switch from 4H to 4L.

 

Manual or auto, it doesn't matter. Go to 4hi 1st. Once in 4hi come to a stop. Place transmission in park, neutral, or press clutch all the way in depending on the transmission type. Shift to 4lo. The odds are about 50/50 that it will go to 4lo while still at a compete stop. Often you'll have to roll slightly in order for the gears to line up and shift. With a manual letting out slightly on the clutch will spin the gears enough to get them to line up and engage. With an auto it may be best to make the shift when still rolling VERY slowly. The gears may not line up until you shift back into gear and start moving with an auto.

Getting out is harder. Once again DO NOT try to go straight from 4lo to 2 hi. Shift to 4hi 1st. If it doesn't come out of 4lo, then go back to 4lo and back up 20-25' then try again. It may take several attempts. Once you get to 4hi simply drive off and shift to 2hi and let it make that shift while you're driving.

BTW, this isn't just a Tacoma issue. Almost all 4X4's are like this.

 

my manual doesnt have any trouble.

as said above, shift to H4 while moving, once it's engaged, stop the truck, hold the clutch in, shift to L4

 

I miss the shift lever on the floor.

 

i have a 12 bought new allways had same problem until i changed fluid to a high grade synthedic never had any more issues

 

My manual 2014 Regular Cab will only go into 4lo if I have the clutch depressed, and my foot is on the brake pedal. I thought for sure when I first got it that the actuator was messed up but read in a post somewhere to depress the brake. Goes in/out every time. No brake pedal and all you get is a flashing light going in or out of 4lo. Nowhere in the owners manual does it say that this sequence is to be followed.