Is 4hi actually engaging

Yeah, I've had several 4x4 trucks (3 Rams, a Sierra and an old school Ranger) but this is my first Tacoma so I could be mistaken, hence the post. She's going in to the stealership tomorrow at 1pm so by this time tomorrow I hope to be able to shed some light on what was going on. I'll be sure to share what I learned.
At this point I hope there is actually an issue or I'm going to feel.pretty stupid lol.

 

I would do the same it’s new and should be covered. You know what’s needed to get the fronts to turn seems it’s not happening.
Please keep us posted this is a new one.
Best of luck bud!

 

Will do, thank you good sir

 

Where in Canada are you located?

 

I live about 45 minutes north of Toronto. It's a small town, Innisfil. Are you in Canada as well?

 

No politics in TW bro...it's a Supreme no no

Join us over here...plenty of locals with great knowledge

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ontario-bs-thread.249665/

Great peeps

 

Sorry about that. It was more of a comment to ask if you're also Canadian. I apologize if I offended anyone, my bad. Won't happen again.
So you're from Ontario. Sweet. Looking to hit some light trails this summer.

 

Sounds like the OP knows his way around 4X4's. So many people who ask questions are clueless so forgive some of the answers.

It wouldn't be unheard of for the light to come on, but not be in 4x4. Two things have to happen. The transfer case has to engage and the hubs have to lock. If the transfer case engages the truck thinks it's in 4x4 and the light comes on. But if something is preventing even one hub from locking you aren't getting power to either front wheel

I had a situation years ago with a Jeep that my wife drove and it wasn't used in 4X4 nearly often enough. I had a similar thing happen. Light came on, but no power to front wheels. We were leaving a rodeo after a thunder storm cut the show short. 100's of vehicles leaving a pasture in the rain made a muddy mess. I got to the road, but would have spun my rear tires a lot less if 4X4 had engaged.

It was still under warranty (right at the limit) and when I took it back to the dealership they insisted it was in 4x4 because the light was on. After the warranty expired I had an independent mechanic look at it. He determined the grease on the front hubs had hardened from non-use and would not allow the hubs to engage. All he did was clean off the old dried grease, relube it and put everything back together. It worked fine.

I don't think this exact thing is an issue with a new truck, but something could be preventing the hubs from locking.

I'd wrap a tow strap around a tree and to the hitch then slowly pull away in 4hi until my wheels spun. On dirt or other soft surface of course. If the front wheels are engaging you'll know for sure then.

 

Thank you for the link, I'm going to pop in and see what's up.
Cheers

 

OP, be prepared for the dealer to see the light on and just assume it's in 4HI and think you are a dumbass. You might need to insist they put it up on the rack to check for sure that everything is actually working correctly.

I'll be curious what you find. My '21 definitely lets me know through the steering wheel when I'm in 4wd.

 

No. There is a tcase actuator and a single differential disconnect (ADD). It will not solidly light the green 4x4 indicator unless BOTH are sensed into the engaged position.

So something is off here. I'm almost wondering if somehow he's missing a front driveshaft. If it's actually properly in 4x4 with no drive to the front then something is broken or a driveshaft is missing.

In these situations it often seems there's undisclosed historical information that'll hold some significance. OP, what's the truck history?

 

Hey, thank you for the comment and the info. I'd be shocked if the dealership doesn't find something was wrong. I was hoping someone in TW had the same issue and could provide some insight, but what you described in your post, albeit not a Taco, sounds like a possibility. Maybe not the grease hardening but something stopping the front wheels from engaging even if the light says it has. It's def driveable as it is, but my beautiful lady uses the truck as well and I would never forgive myself if I had a feeling something was off, didn't do anything about it and something happened while she was driving it. Better safe than sorry.
Cheers

 

I bought it brand new in September 2023

 

Guess I’ll add on.. Get it stuck in some mud puddle 2 hi. Then try 4wd. Be sure to put in neutral and hit traction control button to disable all the things. If mud flys into your window you have 4wd! Sounds like you know theres some weirdness. Other test is dirt road with traction stuff off (go to neutral and press) gun it while in s mode. Then do same thing in 4hi. Usually you can tell a difference.

 

It seems unusual that the truck would think it’s in 4wd and yet it’s not. Most of the 4wd transition issues include Christmas lights on on the dash and/or grinding sounds.

Additionally, it seems odd it went into low range without being in 4wd. On the bright side, the OP might have a free 2lo mod.

This also reminds me of the member that removed his front propeller shaft to do better burnouts.

 

"Additionally, it seems odd it went into low range without being in 4wd", I never thought about that. It shouldn't allow itself to go into 4lo without being in 4hi first. That's a very good point! . I'm really going to feel like an idiot if there's nothing actually wrong. Lol

 

Knowledge is power: especially when you're going to the dealership. I think there is a "Part 2" if you're interested. Good luck tomorrow!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FZcmDGVEmE

 

There's definitely something wrong or you would 100% feel it binding on dry pavement. Good luck tomorrow!!

 

That's a great video tutorial. Really seems like it's unlikely anything is actually wrong. Anyway, I'll find out for sure tomorrow.
Thank you

 

You'll be fine. Ask them questions if they say: "working normally", "No trouble found", "Normal", "get lost" (rare). A good start would be: "how do you know?" and when/if they answer something/anything that's foggy: "Can you show me?" (the: "both front/all wheels off the floor "jack-stands" check)

When things don't go well with a dealer and I suspect they are stalling me and didn't really check anything: a strategy that has worked for me in the past is to
go back/return there with my spouse unannounced. Let her do most (all) of the talking: They hate that, and it always worked: ("Good Cop/Bad Cop.") Keep us posted.

Bonne chance!