Why do some Tacoma's have a 4WD Button on the transfer case lever and some dont??

My 04 v6 trd limited auto has the 4x4 button on the shifter

My 02 v6 standard 4 x4 has a transfer case shifter

I know of a 04 trd limited 4x4 standard with the button on the shifter

 

Even I'm clueless on this 4wd, all 4wd, lock, e-lock system. Just answer the guy as there are going to be other noobs who need to know.

 

Alright. I see a bunch of misinformation here, so I'll jump in.

The transfer case without the button is often referred to as a "J shift" case due to the shift pattern. It is a completely manual transfer case, and could come with either manual front hubs or an ADD front diff with live CV axles.

The transfer case with the button is an electronic case. There's an electric motor that activates the shift fork to put the case into 4H, and then you have to manually push it forward into 4L. I do not believe this case ever came with manual hubs. Only the ADD front diff.

No Tacoma has auto locking hubs. They either had manual hubs, or the ADD front diff. The ADD has live axles that always spins and has a passenger side disconnect that moves back and forth.

 

My 02 Trd off-road had the push button on the t-case shift lever for hi, low had to be engaged manually. I think the lower trim levels did not have the push button.

 

ok well here is a fun one... so I have an 03 Tacoma 6 cyl, TRD, manual transmisson and while I was changing out the upstream O2 sensor, when removing the shift knobs (because I am dumb and didn't even think about it) I severed the wire inside the knob that is for the on the fly 4wd trigger. How you even get the knob off without severing this wire is beyond me. And now I have this severed connection and the 4wd wont engage because, well, the severed wire. Fun. I am digging into this now to see how it gets fixed but if anyone has any insight, I am all ears. It looks like there is a plug connection downstream from this but how you would even get at without removing the knob is beyond me?

 

It really all depends on the first gens dont quote me but of course the older models have a J shifter with 2H-4H-4L which i have in my 96. The newer first gens come with a 4wd button that has a actuator instead which is electronic while the J shifter is manual. Also a cool fact if you dont know with manual hubs you can break a axle and take it out and drive home fine while with the ADD 4wds you could not do that.

 

I traded the charcoal interior from my 2001 DC into my (originally) oak 2003 when I upgraded a few years ago, to keep the best-of-the-best and the color I liked.

My charcoal 01 had electronic 4WD and my 03 had the J-shifter. So that part couldn't switch. I did change the gear levers, so I figured out how to do the wiring/switch change there, but luckily never had to dig into the transfer case.

One can see just a bit of the electronic 4WD engagement switch here in its original charcoal as the oak interior got installed.


Here are some detail pix of the gear shift lever. The T-case is likely similar. The switch levers out gently past some clips and the switch has small spade lug connectors. I had to take the switch apart to get those connectors off, and putting all the pieces back together under spring tension is great fun. I laid a drop cloth throughout the interior to find the spring when it was sure to go flying, and that did indeed help a few times before I got it all together.




The electronic t-case shift is almost like the J-shift, except for the knob with the switch that seems to have a single screw holding it on. I haven't found the details on the switch to see how similar (or different) it is compared to the gear lever.

Electronic 4WD:


The J-shifter:

 

Same here.

 

I had an 04 reg cab Stick shift 2.7 and the 4wd lever was all manual. Shift it into 4wd hi, neutral or lo. The 03 TRD/OR I just bought is a 3.4 stick shift and it has the button on the 4wd lever. It’s not a limited. I’ve shopped about 8 1st gens in the last month and it seemed random to me. None were Limited models, some were off-road models and it varied truck to truck.

and I never had to step out to lock the front hubs on my 04.

 

I had the same truck for over 10 years but an 02. The manual t case was great for having some fun in the winter. Driving in 4H and then you could push it forward to 2H and then shift into second, pop the clutch to drift a little sideways into your next turn (or maybe a full donut ) and then when you’re done pop it back into 4H real quick and give er hell. Can’t do that (at least that quick) in a 2nd Gen. Man I miss that little truck.

 

2001 manual 4wd here, and no button on my J shifter.

 

2002 3.4L 5 speed TRD xtra cab here with 400k miles and a very tired button/ electronic transfer case.....

Been looking for a good core or usable T-Case and the E ones are impossible to find. Are the two different cases compatible? they look almost identical!

am I able to simply pull the electronic actuator on the back of my case an install it on a non E case along with shifter & button or are they completely different inside as well?

 

Some front transfer cases use different shifters. J shifters do not have button. The newer electronic shifters have push button