Question about 4wd on 2nd Gen Tacoma

Guys,

I have a question that a buddy of mine asked I posted here for the TW masses. We'd really appreciate the help.

My buddy has a second gen trd off road 4x4. I don't have 4x4 on mine so I can't help much. Anyway, so he says that the 4x4 engages and disengages fine but he says that the light keeps blinking ALL the time. He says that the light blinks at a faster pace when he puts it in 4hi and a little slower when in 4lo (I imagine that's by design?). The issue is that the light blinks all the time, 4x4 engaged or not. As soon as he turns his truck on, it begins to blink. I don't think it's normal for that light to be flashing like that.... Is it?

EDIT: By people's responses, I now know that the light blinking all the time isn't normal... Has anybody experienced the light flashing like that?

 

Mine only blinks when its trying to engage, once it engages its on, and if I'm not in 4wd its off

 

i dont think its normal, mine never blinks while using it or not using it...its probly throwing a code if the light is blinking...get it checked at autozone or local parts store...

 

No its not normal. Mine blinks when it's waiting to engage. If you're shifting gears or giving it a lot of gas it will not engage. My guess is that it is not engaging 4wd as long as its blinking. Sounds like he should take it to a dealer. Hope its still under warranty.

 

Thought so...

I don't have 4x4 so i don't know what it should or shouldn't do. I imagined it shouldn't keep blinking all the time though.

Has anybody experienced anything like this where the light keeps blinking all the time?

 

Try backing off the throttle and then back on the throttle, seems to help mine engage.

 

it just wants to be taken offroad . . poor truck give it some mud thatl fixer right up

 

Something is wrong.

He can try using some documentation to diagnose his problem.

 

HaHa. He hasn't used it much since he bought it. It maybe just needs a good ol' shakin' caused by the desert to have everything fall into place.

 

Its probably the 4wd ECU malfunctioning. Take it in, its not normal.

 

Thanks. Will do

 

Mine's done it when its wicked cold out (like -20) once or twice, and 4wd just won't engage.

 

I'm not sure if you mentioned this but if the truck is a manual try pushing in the clutch and take the truck out of gear before trying to put it in 4wd.

 

This is the second thread I have read here lately on the flashing 4WD indicator.

Mine did that around 16k. The truck would not go into or out of 4 hi or lo and all I got was a flashing light all the time. The dealership replaced the actuator under warranty. It has worked great since then now at 40k. I have read a couple of others here say theirs went out too after warranty on their dime. The part is around $350

This is the post I am talking about fwiw.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/75741-4x4-light-flashing-any-thoughts.html

 

If blinking he needs to turn the wheel back and forth a couple times it will lock in

if not it needs fixed

 

Judy,

Thank you! Seems like the guy in that thread didn't get many answers. haha

 

Nope. Never had or heard of that problem.

 

Not all the time, especially with 4hi it usually engages pretty quickly, though as others have mentioned, if you're giving it lots of gas or turning it may not engage right away. You also didn't mention if it's a manual or automatic. Either way there are instructions for both in the manual, and he should read it if he hasn't already.

Especially if his truck is new, the 4lo is a different matter as you HAVE to basically stop and shift into neutral (in an auto) or engage the clutch (in a manual) to get it into 4lo. The wheels should be straight, and even then he may have to rock back and forth a bit. If it buzzes, then turn it back to 4hi and try again. He may have to try several times, again especially if it's new.

I know the differential locker on my 2010 doesn't like to engage very easily and for a bit I wondered if it was faulty, but then I read on these forums and others that it just takes some time to break in. The 4hi and lo system is the same. But if he has any questions at all, and if it's under warranty especially, go down to a dealer and ask them to explain how it works to you. Then if they find a problem, they can fix it.

 

Thanks for the replies guys & gals!

My buddy lives about 2 hrs away so I won't see him or his truck until about 3 weeks from now. I'll see if we can get that light to stop blinking with the tips you all gave. I just spoke with him on the phone and he says that he can hear the 4x4 engaging. He said he can hear a sort of "clunk" but the light doesn't stop flashing. He says that his 4x4 IS engaging. But i'm starting to get the feeling that it's not even engaging. The truck's got 60K+ miles so no longer under warranty (05, trd off road, auto)

I'll update when he resolves his issue. That way if there are other people who experience something similar, there will be a thread about it..