Transfer case screeching/grinding noise

2020 off road trd 4x4, manual transmission. Has someone ever run into this problem, so yesterday I went off road, slight rough incline, nothing high center. Decided to test the 4hi and 4lo, so going no more than 5mph switched from 2hi to to 4hi, Green light came on, worked fine. Then tried 4lo, came to complete stop, pressed clutch all the way down, in neutral with brake applied switches 4hi to 4lo, climbed about 30 feet, worked fine. Parked truck went for a short hike. Got back turned truck on and got a warning 4lo flashing with triangle warning. 2wd-4wd mode change malfunction, visit dealership. Had to get home, pressed clutch all the way down, I’m in neutral, switch 4lo to 4hi, tried going in forward but the front transfer started a horrible screeching/grinding sound, it did this for a good while going in reverse and forward. Then from 4hi to 2hi, continued with the screeching noise and 4lo and triangle flashing. On gravel road I could tell I’m rolling in 2hi. So about 10 minutes going back in forth it continued screeching/grinding, finally went away. But the 4lo and triangle still flashes, even though turning off and on several times. Very concerning, I’m at 30000, never had issues with switching, now out of the blue this. Any advice would be appreciated!

 

Did u leave the truck in 4 low when parked ? Not recommended to leave the truck in 4 low when shutting it off. Always put the truck back in 2wd and when u are not using 4 low or 4 high . The system is electronic so by shutting it off while in 4low might of caused the system not to properly engage that caused the grind noise . Hopefully u didn’t do any damage doing this .best of luck .

 

Yea I did leave it n 4hi when I parked and hiked. The trailhead was in that rough road area, I didn’t think nothing of it, I was just in a routine mood of shut off and go. Im gonna have the dealership look at it just to be safe.

 

I don’t think leaving it in 4H or 4L is a problem while restarting. Never has been for me. My guess is something else is up, hopefully dealer figures it out.

 

i have never had that happen and i never heard of having to shift into 2WD before parking and shutting it off. i could not find that in the manual and it has never made a difference on other trucks i owned.

i am curious, when was the last time you were in 4WD and how often do you engage 4WD?

 

Did you possibly shut it off before it fully shifted into a new position?

 

Don’t need it very often, live in AZ, when I lived in CO it was different, more often. I use it I would say 3-4 times a year. A lot of off road driving but no need for 4hi or 4lo. I never use 4lo on this truck, this one time I decided just to test it…

 

At joba, I never shut it off right after shifting in 4hi or 4lo

 

When we go camping, depending on the terrain the Taco usually gets left in 4Lo or 4Hi. Never had problems with mine either starting back up, besides the christmas tree of lights that are associated with 4Lo being enabled.

 

20 yrs of driving Tacomas I park it and turn it off in 4H all winter long.
Not the issue.
Lack of using 4L, 4H is more likely.
Hasn't been exercised.

 

At bkh.., I did read that somewhere, shifting in all gears on a gravel road every now and then thanks.

 

Sounds to me like the actuator didn’t fully disengage. That’s why it was blinking and grinding

 

If it was screeching and grinding you’ve done damage to the transfer case. You should still be under warranty thank goodness!

 

Thank you all, I never had to use a warranty on all the taco I’ve owned. So this is the first, what you all know, what is Toyotas coverage in my situation?I have a 2020, 30,000 miles.

 

5Y 60K on driveline components. If you’re the original owner there should be a warranty guide booklet in your owner’s manual package that outlines what is covered under each different included warranty.

 

I did everything the right way, even holding the clutch all the way down till 4lo engaged…

 

Not a thing. Park it in 4LO all the time, it's not a problem and going back to 2HI isn't a recommendation.

 

On very cold winter days, in my '01 not so much the '16, there would be difficulties with 4H engaging because of the cold. The actuator would just make a "zzzzzzzzz" sound until I turned 4H off. Turn it on again and it engaged. Actuator was just a little frozen, or stuck, like what might happen from not using it much.

 

I exercise my transfer case monthly. I also often leave the vehicle in 4WD hi or lo. I do wish we had a mechanical shifter. The electronic actuators feel like a weak spot in these trucks - tempermental. Hopefully there will be enough symptoms of what went wrong that the dealer will take the issue seriously and actually dig into the transfer case.

 

I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.